On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory
Organic-rich "muck" deposits, which blanket auriferous gravels in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory, comprise two principal stratigraphic units: (i) a silty Late Pleistocene deposit, and (ii) Holocene organics lying unconformably on the silt. The deposits are found predominantly in valley...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences |
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1997
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/e17-106 2024-09-15T18:41:04+00:00 On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory Fraser, T. A. Burn, C. R. 1997 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e17-106 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e17-106 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences volume 34, issue 10, page 1333-1344 ISSN 0008-4077 1480-3313 journal-article 1997 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/e17-106 2024-07-11T04:11:59Z Organic-rich "muck" deposits, which blanket auriferous gravels in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory, comprise two principal stratigraphic units: (i) a silty Late Pleistocene deposit, and (ii) Holocene organics lying unconformably on the silt. The deposits are found predominantly in valley bottoms and, if undisturbed, are normally perennially frozen. Field and laboratory investigations of particle size, mineralogy, and morphology, as well as organic matter and sedimentary structures, indicate that the silt is both primary (massive) and redeposited (bedded) loess (by weight 87% medium and coarse silt and fine sand). Radiocarbon dates indicate that the loess was deposited during Late Wisconsinan McConnell glaciation, beginning after 27 000 14 C years BP. The loess was likely derived from the floodplain of the Yukon River during periods of low flow. Turf in growth position and organic matter in the silt similar to that of loessal grasslands near Kluane Lake suggest a grassland environment for the area during McConnell glaciation. A mummified carcass in the silts indicates that some of these sediments have been frozen since shortly after deposition. Ice wedges are commonly found in the upper portion of the silt, but these wedges rarely extend into the overlying organic material. Separate, smaller ice wedges are found in the Holocene unit. Radiocarbon dates indicate that peat growth began at the start of the Holocene, as in other unglaciated portions of Yukon, when the climate became abruptly wetter. Article in Journal/Newspaper Yukon river Yukon Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 34 10 1333 1344 |
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Open Polar |
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Canadian Science Publishing |
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crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Organic-rich "muck" deposits, which blanket auriferous gravels in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory, comprise two principal stratigraphic units: (i) a silty Late Pleistocene deposit, and (ii) Holocene organics lying unconformably on the silt. The deposits are found predominantly in valley bottoms and, if undisturbed, are normally perennially frozen. Field and laboratory investigations of particle size, mineralogy, and morphology, as well as organic matter and sedimentary structures, indicate that the silt is both primary (massive) and redeposited (bedded) loess (by weight 87% medium and coarse silt and fine sand). Radiocarbon dates indicate that the loess was deposited during Late Wisconsinan McConnell glaciation, beginning after 27 000 14 C years BP. The loess was likely derived from the floodplain of the Yukon River during periods of low flow. Turf in growth position and organic matter in the silt similar to that of loessal grasslands near Kluane Lake suggest a grassland environment for the area during McConnell glaciation. A mummified carcass in the silts indicates that some of these sediments have been frozen since shortly after deposition. Ice wedges are commonly found in the upper portion of the silt, but these wedges rarely extend into the overlying organic material. Separate, smaller ice wedges are found in the Holocene unit. Radiocarbon dates indicate that peat growth began at the start of the Holocene, as in other unglaciated portions of Yukon, when the climate became abruptly wetter. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Fraser, T. A. Burn, C. R. |
spellingShingle |
Fraser, T. A. Burn, C. R. On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory |
author_facet |
Fraser, T. A. Burn, C. R. |
author_sort |
Fraser, T. A. |
title |
On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory |
title_short |
On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory |
title_full |
On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory |
title_fullStr |
On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory |
title_full_unstemmed |
On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory |
title_sort |
on the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the klondike area, yukon territory |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1997 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e17-106 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e17-106 |
genre |
Yukon river Yukon |
genre_facet |
Yukon river Yukon |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences volume 34, issue 10, page 1333-1344 ISSN 0008-4077 1480-3313 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/e17-106 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences |
container_volume |
34 |
container_issue |
10 |
container_start_page |
1333 |
op_container_end_page |
1344 |
_version_ |
1810485459412844544 |