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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Language: | English |
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1997
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Online Access: | https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/1397 https://doi.org/10.1139/e17-106 |
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ftcarletonunivir:oai:carleton.ca:1397 2023-05-15T18:45:58+02:00 On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory Fraser, T.A. (T. A.) Burn, C. (Christopher R.) 1997-01-01 https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/1397 https://doi.org/10.1139/e17-106 en eng https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/1397 doi:10.1139/e17-106 Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences vol. 34 no. 10, pp. 1333-1344 info:eu-repo/semantics/article 1997 ftcarletonunivir https://doi.org/10.1139/e17-106 2022-02-06T21:51:57Z 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 27000 14C 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 Carleton University's Institutional Repository Yukon Kluane Lake ENVELOPE(-138.773,-138.773,61.261,61.261) Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 34 10 1333 1344 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Carleton University's Institutional Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftcarletonunivir |
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 27000 14C 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. (T. A.) Burn, C. (Christopher R.) |
spellingShingle |
Fraser, T.A. (T. A.) Burn, C. (Christopher R.) On the nature and origin of "muck" deposits in the Klondike area, Yukon Territory |
author_facet |
Fraser, T.A. (T. A.) Burn, C. (Christopher R.) |
author_sort |
Fraser, T.A. (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 |
publishDate |
1997 |
url |
https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/1397 https://doi.org/10.1139/e17-106 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-138.773,-138.773,61.261,61.261) |
geographic |
Yukon Kluane Lake |
geographic_facet |
Yukon Kluane Lake |
genre |
Yukon river Yukon |
genre_facet |
Yukon river Yukon |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences vol. 34 no. 10, pp. 1333-1344 |
op_relation |
https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/1397 doi:10.1139/e17-106 |
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_ |
1766237205519400960 |