Sedimentary structures of cold-climate coastal dunes, Eastern Hudson Bay, Canada

• Published in: Sedimentology
• Main Authors: Ruz, Marie‐hélène, Allard, Michel
• Other Authors: Centre d'Etudes Nordiques (CEN), Université Laval Québec (ULaval)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 1995
• Subjects: [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Canada; Hudson; Hudson Bay
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-04314309; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3091.1995.tb00405.x

ABSTRACT A study of sedimentary structures of cold‐climate coastal dunes along Eastern Hudson Bay, Canada, showed that in areas of very sparsely vegetated surfaces, tractional sedimentary processes are dominant while in partly and well vegetated areas, grainfall deposition is the dominant sedimentary process. Alternating fine and coarse sand strata are characteristic of the vegetated foredune ridge. Coarse strata are interpreted to be mainly related to niveo‐aeolian deposition. In poorly vegetated areas deformed strata associated with the melting of snow were preserved. A vaguely stratified strata interpreted as a dimpled surface as well as coarse lenses with irregular basal contact were found. Such distinctive sedimentary structures may represent good indicators of cold‐climate conditions and could serve as criteria to identify aeolianites that may have been deposited in similar cold‐climate environments in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.