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

• Published in: ARCTIC
• Main Author: Ingólfsson, Ólafur
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Arctic Institute of North America 1985
• Subjects: Coast changes; Deglaciation; Glacial deposits; Glacial geology; Glacier variations; Glaciers; Mollusks; Pleistocene epoch; Radiocarbon dating; Sea level; Sediments (Geology); Shorelines; Stratigraphy; Iceland; Melabakkar; Arctic; glacier
• Online Access: https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/arctic/article/view/65187

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