Dynamic Devensian ice flow in NE England: a sedimentological reconstruction

This study reconstructs the depositional environments that accompanied both ice advance and ice retreat of the last B ritish– I rish I ce S heet in NE E ngland during the L ast G lacial M aximum, and proposes three regional ice‐flow phases. The L ate D evensian (29–22 cal. ka BP ) T yne G ap I ce S...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Boreas
Main Authors: Davies, Bethan J., Roberts, David H., Bridgland, David R., Cofaigh, Colm Ó
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011
Subjects:
Ice Sheet
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3885.2011.00237.x
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1502-3885.2011.00237.x
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1502-3885.2011.00237.x
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Summary:This study reconstructs the depositional environments that accompanied both ice advance and ice retreat of the last B ritish– I rish I ce S heet in NE E ngland during the L ast G lacial M aximum, and proposes three regional ice‐flow phases. The L ate D evensian (29–22 cal. ka BP ) T yne G ap I ce S tream initially deposited the B lackhall T ill F ormation during shelf‐edge glaciation ( P hase I ). This subglacial traction till comprises several related facies, including stratified and laminated diamictons, tectonites, and sand and gravel beds deposited both in subglacial canals and in proglacial streams. Eventually, stagnation of the T yne G ap I ce S tream led to ice‐marginal sedimentation in C ounty D urham ( P hase II ). During the D imlington S tadial (21 cal. ka BP ), the N orth S ea L obe advanced towards the coastline of N N orfolk. This resulted initially in sandur deposition (widespread, tabular sand and gravel; the P eterlee S and and G ravel F ormation; P hase II ) and ultimately in deposition of the H orden T ill F ormation ( P hase III ), a massive subglacial till. As the N orth S ea L obe overrode previous formations, it thrusted and stacked sediments in C ounty D urham, and dammed proglacial lakes between the east‐coast ice, the P ennine uplands and the remaining P ennine ice. The N orth S ea L obe retreated after H einrich E vent 1 (16 ka). This study highlights the complexity of ice flow during the L ate D evensian glaciation of NE E ngland, with changing environmental and oceanic conditions forcing a mobile and sensitive ice sheet.

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