Glacial Lake in the Richardson and Rae River Basins, Northwest Territories

Systematic mapping of the surficial deposits in the Richardson River basin, south and west of Coppermine, District of Mackenzie, N.W.T. has yielded strong evidence for the former existence of a glacial lake. A sequence of glacial lakes occupied an extensive portion of the basins drained by the Richa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Géographie physique et Quaternaire
Main Author: Mercier, Alain L.
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal 1984
Subjects:
geo
envir
Coronation Gulf
Glacial Lake
Northwest Territories
Rae River
Richardson River
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.7202/032538ar
http://id.erudit.org/iderudit/032538ar
Description
Summary:Systematic mapping of the surficial deposits in the Richardson River basin, south and west of Coppermine, District of Mackenzie, N.W.T. has yielded strong evidence for the former existence of a glacial lake. A sequence of glacial lakes occupied an extensive portion of the basins drained by the Richardson and Rae rivers. Water bodies were trapped in this large depression to the west of Coronation Gulf by easterly retreating glacier ice. Four lake phases are recognized, each controlled by progressively lower outlets at 330 m, 260 m, 235 m and 165 m a.s.l. It is proposed that the lake which finally drained in a postglacial sea be called Glacial Lake Richardson. The former presence of the glacial lake and the associated deltas and outlets are essential elements in reconstructing the déglaciation history of the area. La cartographie systématique des dépôts meubles du bassin de la rivière Richardson a permis de reconnaître l'existence d'au moins un lac glaciaire d'importance dans la région. Au cours de différentes phases, le lac glaciaire a occupé une partie ou une autre de la dépression topographique formée par les bassins des rivières Rae et Richardson, à l'ouest du golfe du Couronnement. Quatre phases distinctes ont été reconnues, chacune ayant été contrôlée par des exutoires à 330 m, 260 m, 235 m et 165 m a.n.m. On propose de nommer ce lac, qui s'est drainé dans la mer post-glaciaire, « Lac glaciaire Richardson ». L'identification des différentes phases du lac glaciaire a grandement facilité la détermination des modalités de la déglaciation dans la région du bassin de la rivière Richardson.

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