Late Weichselian Glacial Geology of the Lower Borgarfjördur Region, Western Iceland: a Preliminary Report

Morphological and lithostratigraphical investigations have revealed two successive glacial advances of Late Weichselian age in the lower Borgarfjördur region, Western Iceland. Studies of the Melabakkar-Ásbakkar coastal cliffs have disclosed a complex of glaciomarine sediments and tills, accompanied...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:ARCTIC
Main Author: Ingólfsson, Ólafur
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1985
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65187
Description
Summary:Morphological and lithostratigraphical investigations have revealed two successive glacial advances of Late Weichselian age in the lower Borgarfjördur region, Western Iceland. Studies of the Melabakkar-Ásbakkar coastal cliffs have disclosed a complex of glaciomarine sediments and tills, accompanied by glaciofluvial deposits from ice marginal sources. A brief description is given for each of the major lithostratigraphical units, and a depositional model for the sequence is outlined. The first glacial advance occurred some time shortly after 12 000 radiocarbon years before present (BP), and the second one around 11 000 BP. By 10 000 BP the glaciers had retreated from the lowlands and the sea transgressed to 60 m above present sea level, where extensive marine terraces were formed.Key words: Borgarfjördur, western Iceland, Melabakkar-ásbakkar, glacial geology, glacia chronology, Late Weichselian Mots clés: Borgarfjördur, ouest de l'Icelande, Melabakkar-ásbakkar, géologie glaciale, chronologie glaciaire, Weichsel supérieur