Research Article| July 01, 1971 Glacial History of the Last Eleven Thousand Years in Adams Inlet, Southeastern Alaska GARRY D McKENZIE; GARRY D McKENZIE Department of Geology and Institute of Polar Studies, The Ohio State of University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar RICHARD P GOLDTHWAIT RICHARD P GOLDTHWAIT Department of Geology and Institute of Polar Studies, The Ohio State of University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information GARRY D McKENZIE Department of Geology and Institute of Polar Studies, The Ohio State of University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 RICHARD P GOLDTHWAIT Department of Geology and Institute of Polar Studies, The Ohio State of University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 22 Jul 1970 Revision Received: 03 Feb 1971 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1971, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1971) 82 (7): 1767–1782. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[1767:GHOTLE]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 22 Jul 1970 Revision Received: 03 Feb 1971 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation GARRY D McKENZIE, RICHARD P GOLDTHWAIT; Glacial History of the Last Eleven Thousand Years in Adams Inlet, Southeastern Alaska. GSA Bulletin 1971;; 82 (7): 1767–1782. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[1767:GHOTLE]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Thick sections of Wisconsin and younger deposits exposed in recently deglaciated Adams Inlet, Glacier Bay National Monument, southeastern Alaska, reveal the glacial history of the area. Following deposition of the late Wisconsin Granite Canyon till, Forest Creek glaciomarine sediments were laid down. These sediments contain volcanic ash that may have been derived from Mt. Edgecumbe 200 km south of Adams Inlet on Kruzof Island. Wood on top of the Forest Creek sediments is dated at 10,940 ± 155 yrs B.P. Land was nearly 90 m lower than present levels; it rose an average of at least 2 cm per year, causing retreat of the sea. Adams Inlet and tributary valleys were then filled in Hypsithermal time with glacial out-wash and inwash gravel. By 1700 B.P., the entrance to Adams Inlet had been dammed by growing fans forming glacial Lake Adams in the inlet and adjacent valleys. Glacier ice of Neoglacial time then advanced into the lake. Retreat of this ice from the tributary valleys to the central part of the inlet was followed by deposition of a local sandy outwash into the valleys. The time of this retreat and the stabilization of Adams Inlet Glacier possibly coincides with the Little Optimum (A.D. 1150 – 1300). Adams Inlet Glacier then expanded to its maximum Neoglacial extent about A.D. 1700, and it may have remained there as late as 1835. Several glacial lakes formed in tributary valleys during subsequent deglaciation. Deposits of these lakes, glaciofluvial deposits, and till comprise the Glacier Bay Formation in Adams Inlet. Retreat from Neoglacial position is well documented by historical observations. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.