Development of Quaternary stratigraphy in northeastern United States and adjacent Canada

Quaternary stratigraphy in the northeastern region has developed slowly because researchers have been few and because quartzose bedrock and extensive forest have inhibited field study. The earliest stratigraphic studies antedated 1850, but in most parts of the region the stratigraphic units still recognized today were identified in the present century. Ancient and modern sequences are generalized and are shown in charts.     

The present flora and vegetation of the moraines of the Klutlan Glacier,Yukon Territory,Canada: A study in plant succession

The flora and vegetation of six ice-cored moraines of the Klutlan Glacier were analyzed in 65 plots by European plant-sociological techniques. The age of each plot was estimated from annual growth rings of shrubs or trees in the plots. Nine major vegetation types are distinguished: Crepis nana, Dryas drummondii, Hedysarum mackenzii, Hedysarum-Salix, Salix-Shepherdia canadensis, Picea-Salix, Picea-Arctostaphylos, Picea-Ledum, and Picea-Rhytidium. These contain plants aged 2–6, 9–23, 10–20, 24–30, 32–58, 58–80, 96–178, 177–240, and >163- >339 yr, respectively. Six other vegetation types are described from windthrow areas, drainage channels, volcanic tephra slopes, lake margins, fens, and drained lakes. The major vegetation types reflect a vegetational succession related to moraine age and stability, with the Crepis nana type as the pioneer vegetation developing through the other vegetation types to the Picea-Rhytidium type on the oldest moraines. Changes in species diversity and soil development, particularly humus accumulation, parallel the vegetational succession. This succession differs from patterns of revegetation of deglaciated landscapes in Alaska and British Columbia today and in Minnesota in late-Wisconsin times because of differences in climate, plant migration, and local ecology.     

Late Quaternary stratigraphy and paleo-oceanography of the Grand Banks continental margin, eastern Canada

Quaternary sediments cored on the continental slope off the Grand Banks and on nearby seamounts and abyssal hills have been correlated back to at least isotopic stage 6. using lithologic and hioslratigraphic markers and warm-cold cyclicity in microfossil assemblages. The sequence is dated using limited oxygen isotope and ^l4C data. The oldest continental slope cores penetrate to a glacial stade with an extrapolated age of 50. 0(H) B. P. The oldest scamount cores probably penetrate to isotopic stage 13. Watcrmass distribution over the area results from interaction of the Labrador Current with locally generated shelf water, and to a lesser extent, the Gulf Stream. Planktic foraminiferal assemblages and sedimentological evidence suggest that arctic Labrador Current core water extends onto the eastern Grand Banks only during full interglacials. During intcrstadials, this arctic core water is absent, probably because its source-was blocked by ice. Cold water during stadials probably results mostly from local cooling on the continental shelf.     

Quaternary stratigraphy of the buried valleys of the lower Red Deer River,Alberta, Canada

The Quaternary fills of the buried valleys of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan have provided a wealth of information for the reconstruction of the glacial-interglacial record of the western plains of Canada, and this paper reports on the previously unstudied stratigraphy of the buried Calgary Valley and its former tributaries in the lower Red Deer River area. We attempt to differentiate Empress Group sediments, which potentially relate to pre-glacial, interglacial/ interstadial and post-glacial lake and river deposition, using sedimentology, stratigraphy and palaeoecology. Twenty-nine stratigraphical logs indicate that Empress Group sediments have infilled a considerably large area of badlands and tributary coulees that once drained into the Calgary Valley, located 15 km to the north of Dinosaur Provincial Park. Radiocarbon dates of 52.4 ka, 27.4 ka and > 42.4 ka and glacially modified quartz grains suggest that at least some of the valley fills date to interglacial or interstadial periods and may be mid-Wisconsinan in age. However, outcrops of an older till overlying other valley fills suggest that the buried valleys were only partially excavated during interglacials/interstadials and that older (even pre-glacial) sediments could have survived. Subglacial channels, recognisable on air photographs, largely coincide with buried valley positions due to the preferential excavation of the Quaternary sediment by meltwater and are filled with post-glacial lake sediment from which a radiocarbon date of 16 ka BP was obtained. Pre-glacial and glacial/post-glacial Empress Group sediments are lithologically indistinct but cover a large time span in southern Alberta.     

3D geologic framework models for regional hydrogeology and land-use management: a case study from a Quaternary basin of southwestern Quebec, Canada

During a regional hydrogeologic survey in the St. Lawrence Lowlands, Canada, a computer-based 3D Geologic Framework Model (GFM) was constructed to obtain a consistent representation of this typical Quaternary glaciated basin over a 1,400 km² area. Such a detailed stratigraphic reconstruction was needed because the Quaternary sediments control the recharge to the underlying regional fractured rock aquifer and also because buried granular aquifers are partly connected to the regional system. The objectives of this geomodeling effort are 1) to improve understanding of subsurface conditions above the regional aquifer and; 2) to provide a common stratigraphic framework for hydrogeologic applications. The method draws on knowledge-driven discrete modeling using gOcad, as well as standardization and quality control procedures to maximize the use of a multisource database. The resulting model represents the bedrock topography and the complex stratigraphic architecture of overlying sediments. The regional till aquitard, the marine clay aquiclude and the buried granular aquifers have been modeled with unprecedented details thus providing a well-constrained 3D hydrostratigraphic framework. The recharge zones of the rock aquifer represent about 35% of the study area. Buried granular aquifers are directly connected to the regional aquifer system over about 10% of the area. The model allows several applications such as assessing aquifer vulnerability and areal groundwater recharge rates; improving the GFM inter-operability with groundwater modeling systems would be the next logical step.

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Resumen Se construyó un Modelo del Marco Geológico (GFM) 3D basado en computadora durante un levantamiento hidrogeológico regional en las Tierras Bajas de St. Lawrence, Canada para obtener una representación consistente de esta cuenca glaciar Cuaternaria típica en un área de 1,400 km². Se necesitó tal grado de reconstrucción estratigráfica debido a que los sedimentos Cuaternarios controlan la recarga del acuífero rocoso fracturado regional subyacente y también porque los acuíferos granulares enterrados están parcialmente conectados con el sistema regional. Los objetivos de este esfuerzo de modelizado geológico son: 1) mejorar el entendimiento de las condiciones subsuperficiales por encima del acuífero regional y; 2) aportar un marco estratigráfico común para aplicaciones hidrogeológicas. El método se basa en el conocimiento de modelizado discreto utilizando gOcad, así como también en estandarización y procedimientos de control de calidad para maximizar el uso de bancos de datos de fuentes múltiples. El modelo obtenido representa la topografía del macizo rocoso y la arquitectura de la compleja estratigrafía de los sedimentos sobreyacentes. El acuitardo regional de tillita, el acuicludo arcilloso marino y los acuíferos granulares enterrados se han modelizado con detalles sin precedentes aportando de este modo un marco hidroestratigráfico 3D bien definido. Las zonas de recarga del acuífero rocoso representan casi el 35% del área de estudio. Los acuíferos granulares enterrados están conectados directamente al sistema acuífero regional sobre aproximadamente el 10% del área. El modelo permite varias aplicaciones tal como evaluar la vulnerabilidad de acuíferos y ritmos de recarga areales de agua subterránea; el paso lógico siguiente sería mejorar la inter-operabilidad del GFM con los sistemas de modelizado de agua subterránea.

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Résumé Dans le cadre dune étude dhydrogéologie régionale dans les basses terres du Saint-Laurent (Canada), un Modèle surfacique géologique en 3D (MSG) a été développé pour obtenir une représentation cohérente par ordinateur de ce bassin quaternaire sur une superficie de plus de 1,400 km². Une telle reconstitution stratigraphique était nécessaire en raison du contrôle quexercent les sédiments quaternaires sur la recharge de laquifère régional fracturé sous-jacent et aussi parce que les aquifères granulaires enfouis sont partiellement connectés au système régional. Les objectifs de cet effort de géomodélisation sont: 1) daméliorer la compréhension des conditions de sous-surface au-dessus de laquifère régional et; 2) de fournir un cadre stratigraphique commun à des fins de caractérisation hydrogéologique. La méthode repose sur lintégration de linterprétation géologique dans la modélisation discrète effectuée à laide du logiciel gOcad, ainsi que sur des procédures duniformisation et de contrôle de la qualité des données afin doptimiser lutilisation dune base de données multisources. Le MSG représente la topographie du roc et larchitecture stratigraphique des sédiments sus-jacents. Laquitard régional (till), laquiclude dargile marine et les aquifères granulaires ont été modélisés à un niveau de détail sans précédent, fournissant ainsi un cadre hydrostratigraphique solidement établi. Les zones de recharge de laquifère rocheux représentent environ 35% de la zone détude. Les aquifères granulaires enfouis sont connectés directement au système aquifère régional sur au moins 10% du territoire. Le MSG permet de multiples usages tels lévaluation de la vulnérabilité des aquifères et lestimation de la distribution de la recharge; la prochaine étape logique serait lamélioration de linteropérabilité avec les systèmes de modélisation numérique de lécoulement.

     

北京平原地区第四纪地质研究新进展

北京平原地处山前冲洪积扇分布区,区内湖泊密布,河流纵横,沉积环境多样。由于第四系三维结构的复杂性,对第四系进行地层划分有一定的难度。前人根据不同的资料对北京平原第四系进行过地层划分,建立了泥河湾组、周口店组、马兰组等多个岩石地层单位。这些地层单位主要是依据沉积凹陷钻孔岩心中的孢粉、有孔虫、介形虫等化石和少量的古地磁数据划分的,实际上仍是年代地层单位。由于这些地层单位划分依据不统一,识别标志不清晰,因此难以得到广泛的共识。近十余年来,随着资料的积累和对第四系三维结构的认识提高,特别是古地磁测年技术的普及,为北京平原第四纪地层的划分奠定了基础。本文依据40余个钻孔的古地磁测试数据,初步厘定了下更新统底界、中更新统底界、上更新统底界3个等时面。依据工程地质勘察、水文地质钻孔、考古发掘和泥炭调查等资料编绘了平原区全新统等厚度图。     

上海市第四纪地质研究的进展

上海系统的第四纪地质调查研究是在新中国建立以后,随区域性水文、工程地质普查的开展而进行,并由早期对地层的基础性调查研究发展为近期对地层与沉积环境的深化研究。     

Primary alkaline magmas associated with the Quaternary Alligator Lake volcanic complex,Yukon Territory,Canada

The Alligator Lake complex is a Quaternary alkaline volcanic center located in the southern Yukon Territory of Canada. It comprises two cinder cones which cap a shield consisting of five distinct lava units of basaltic composition. Units 2 and 3 of this shield are primitive olivine-phyric lavas (13.5–19.5 cation % Mg) which host abundant spinel lherzolite xenoliths, megacrysts, and granitoid fragments. Although the two lava types have erupted coevally from adjacent vents and are petrographically similar, they are chemically distinct. Unit 2 lavas have considerably higher abundances of LREE, LILE, and Fe, but lower HREE, Y, Ca, Si, and Al relative to unit 3 lavas. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd isotopic ratios of these two units are, however, indistinguishable. The differences between these two lava types cannot be explained in terms of low pressure olivine fractionation, and the low concentrations of Sr, Nb, P, and Ti in the granitoid xenoliths relative to the primitive lavas discounts differential crustal contamination. The abundance of spinel lherzolite xenoliths and the high Mg contents in the lavas of both units indicates that their compositional differences originated in the upper mantle. The Al and Si systematics of these lavas suggests that, compared to unit 3 magmas, the unit 2 magmas may have segregated at greater depths from a garnet lherzolite mantle. The identical isotopic composition and similar ratios of highly incompatible elements in these two lava units argues against their differences being a consequence of random metasomatism or mantle heterogeneity. The lower Y and HREE contents but higher concentrations of incompatible elements in the unit 2 lavas relative to unit 3 can be most simply explained by differential partial melting of similar garnet-bearing sources. The unit 2 magmas thus appear to have been generated by smaller degrees of melting at a greater depth than the unit 3 magmas. The contemporaneous eruption of two distinct but volumetrically restricted primary magmas from adjacent vents at the Alligator Lake volcanic complex suggests that volcanism in this region of the Canadian Cordillera is controlled by localized, small batch processes.     

Quaternary stratigraphy and geochemistry at the Owl Creek Gold Mine, Timmins, Ontario, Canada

The Owl Creek Gold Mine is located in Hoyle Township, approximately 18 km northeast of Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The open-pit mine exposes a sequence of altered and mineralized mafic tholeiitic volcanics bounded to the north and south by greywacke and argillite. Gold occurs in the free state in quartz veins, often with graphite, and as fine gold on surfaces of, and within fractures in, pyrite.The study was designed to determine the distribution and distance of transport of Au in overburden down-ice from subcropping Au mineralization. This required an understanding of the glacial history of the area.The Quaternary stratigraphy at Owl Creek was studied and sampled by means of 17 sonic and 15 reverse-circulation overburden drill holes near the open pit, and several overburden exposures in the open-pit walls. Nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrates (specific gravity >3.3) were made from the <2000 μm (−10 mesh) fraction of all overburden samples from the drill hole and section sampling. The heavy-mineral concentrates were analyzed for Au by neutron activation. A till pebble lithology study was done on the >2000 μm (−10 mesh) fraction of the sonic drill core.Our stratigraphic studies indicate that there were three major Wisconsinan (Weichselian) ice advances and one minor, late readvance in the Timmins area. The transport and deposition of sediments comprising the “Oldest”, “Older”, Matheson and Cochrane stratigraphic “packages” (oldest to youngest) are related to three ice advances and one readvance which moved towards 240° ± 10°, 150° ± 5°, 170° ± 5° and 130° ± 5°, respectively.Geochemically anomalous levels of Au in the overburden define two dispersal trains down-ice of the Owl Creek Gold Mine. One, in the “Older” lodgement till, is 400–500 m long. The other in Matheson ablation and waterlain tills, is approximately 700 m long.The till pebble lithology study showed that pebble counting can be used to approximate bedrock contacts, but may not necessarily identify the source rock type of the matrix.     

Late Quaternary sediment, sediment mass flow processes and slope stability on the Scotian Slope, Canada

The study area, just to the west of the Verrill Canyon on the Scotian Slope, eastern Canada, exhibits both large and small scale sediment mass movement features. Study of high resolution seismic reflection and sidescan sonar data shows that a large portion (approximately 70%) of the near surface sediment (<20 m) in the area has undergone erosion, rotational slumping and internal deformation. Remoulded sediment observed in physical properties profiles of piston cores and sediment deformation structures are further evidence of slumping. Small scale mass flow events are recorded by abundant turbidites and debris flow deposits noted in piston cores. Sediment physical properties are highly dependent on sediment type (lithofacies). Frequent facies changes, both temporally and spatially, make correlation between cores difficult. Although the small scale mass movement events correlate with glacial recession on the continental shelf and lower relative sea levels, the triggering mechanisms for the large scale events are less obvious. Slope stability analyses indicate that, at present, the seabed is stable. The most plausible explanation for large scale slope failures in this region are ground accelerations related to earthquake shock. Our analyses demonstrate that it is unlikely that large magnitude, distant earthquakes, such as those previously proposed in the Laurentian Slope Seismic Zone (LSP) model, could initiate failure of sediment in the study region. Our data support the interpretation that more frequent, lower magnitude earthquakes, closer to the study region, as previously proposed in the Eastern Slope Experimental Source Zone (ESX) model, are the likely causes of large scale slope failures. Furthermore, excess pore pressures resulting from shallow gas and/or high sedimentation rates during deglaciation contribute to slope failure.     

Quaternary stratigraphy of the fladen area,central North Sea: A multidisciplinary study

Based on detailed stratigraphic investigations on a 200.6m long core (BGS borehole No. 81/26) from the Fladen Ground area (British sector), core material from the Sleipner field (Norwegian sector) and shallow seismic profiles between the core-sites, the following conclusions are drawn: (1) The North Sea was glaciated sometime during th elaterpart of Matuyama reversed period. A complete glacial-interglacial-glacial cycle is recorded in these sediments. (2) In a period of marine sedimentation in the Middle Pleistocene, a transgression-regression cycle under boreal-arctic regime is recorded. (3) The Fladen area has subsided between 0.9 and 0.6 m/ka through the later parts of the Quaternary (4) A major glacial event dated at between 130 and 200 ka is recorded as a thick till unit in 81/26. This till, which was deposited by ice moving from the southwest (Scotland), probably represents a period when the Scandinavian and British ice sheets coalesced in the North Sea. (5) Based on the seismic data and the stratigraphy of the Sleipner core, an ice-free, open embayment/dry land is favoured for the central North Sea during the Late Weichselian. (6) From the amino-acid data, it is shown that there has been an episodic style of sedimentation through the Quaternary. (7) of the investigated sediments (which span the last 1 mill. year) ca 98% have been deposited under arctic to boreal-arctic conditions.     

Plant macroscopic remains from recent sediments of Banks Island,Northwest Territories,and Bathurst Island,Nunavut, Canada,and the interpretation of Quaternary cold stage plant macroscopic assemblages

Macroscopic plant remains were extracted from recent sediments of streams on Banks Island and Bathurst Island. Analyses of the samples are given and their general relation to the vegetation is described. Problems of interpretation of the contemporary and Quaternary cold stage macroscopic assemblages include the variation of the representation of taxa, the significance of taphonomy, especially under fluvial conditions, and the origin of the assemblages in a mosaic of vegetation. The contribution of analyses of macroscopic remains to interpretations of vegetation and environment based on pollen analysis is emphasised. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

第四纪地层学发展的大趋势——以蓝田第四纪地层的研究为例

<正> 1963—1964年,在陕西蓝田第四纪地层内发现了猿人化石,吴汝康(1964、1966)命名为蓝田猿人。化石采自两个不同的地点:头盖骨、上颌骨及3颗牙齿产于公王岭(34°11′06″N,109°29′22″E),下颌骨则采自陈家窝(34°14′05″,109°15′07″E)。     

Late Quaternary dynamics of forest vegetation on northern Vancouver Island,British Columbia,Canada

Pollen analysis of radiocarbon-dated lake sediment from northern Vancouver Island, southwest British Columbia reveals regional changes in forest vegetation over the last 12,200 ¹⁴C yr (14,900 cal yr). Between at least 12,200 and 11,700 ¹⁴C yr BP (14,900–13,930 cal yr BP), open woodlands were dominated by Pinus contorta, Alnus crispa, and various ferns. As P. contorta decreased in abundance, Alnus rubra and more shade-tolerant conifers (i.e., Picea and Tsuga mertensiana) increased. Increases in T. mertensiana, P. contorta, and A. crispa pollen accumulation rates (PARs) between 10,600 and 10,400 ¹⁴C yr BP (11,660–11,480 cal yr BP) reflect a cool and moist climate during the Younger Dryas chronozone. Orbitally induced warming around 10,000 ¹⁴C yr BP (11,090 cal yr BP) allowed the northward extension of Pseudotsuga menziesii, although Picea, Tsuga heterophylla, and A. rubra dominated early Holocene forests. By 7500 ¹⁴C yr BP (8215 cal yr BP), shade-tolerant T. heterophylla was the dominant forest tree. Cupressaceae (Thuja plicata and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) was present by 7500 ¹⁴C yr BP but reached its maximum after 3500 ¹⁴C yr BP (3600 cal yr BP), when a cooler and wetter regional climate facilitated the development of temperate rainforest. The highest rates of vegetation change are associated with Lateglacial climate change and species with rapid growth rates and short life spans.     

浙江宁波地区Z03孔第四纪磁性地层研究

浙江宁波地区第四纪以来沉积了较大厚度的海陆交替沉积物,对其进行划分和对比,对研究该区第四纪地层至关重要。宁波南部滨海平原Z03孔揭示该区伴随多次海侵—海退,形成数个沉积旋回,其岩性多变,沉积相复杂。文章通过对Z03孔进行磁性地层研究,结合钻孔岩性特征、光释光测年和¹⁴C测年数据,建立可靠的磁性地层框架。结果显示,Z03孔所有样品均位于布容正向时内,且包含了3个全球性极性漂移事件和1个地方性亚时,自下而上分别为布莱克事件、拉尚事件、哥德堡事件以及宁波亚时; 80.0～87.0 m样品记录了中更新世和晚更新世之交的布莱克事件,上更新统底界定于79.2 m处; 42.2～44.0 m样品记录了拉尚事件; 21.0～23.0 m样品记录了全新世和更新世之交的哥德堡事件,全新统底界定于23.6 m处。     

Lithofacies and origin of late Quaternary mass transport deposits in submarine canyons, central Scotian Slope, Canada

Mass transport deposits, up to 3·9 m thick, have been identified from piston cores collected from canyon floors and inter-canyon ridges on the central Scotian Slope. These deposits are characterized by four distinct mass-transport facies – folded mud, dipping stratified mud, various types of mud-clast conglomerate, and diamicton. Commonly, the folded and stratified mud facies are overlain by mud-clast conglomerate, followed by diamicton and then by turbidity current deposits of well-sorted sand. Stratified and folded mud facies were sourced from canyon walls. Overconsolidation in clasts in some mud-clast conglomerates indicates that the source sediment was buried 12–33 m, much deeper than the present cored depth, implying a source in canyon heads and canyon walls. The known stratigraphic framework for the region and new radiocarbon dating suggests that there were four or five episodes of sediment failure within the past 17 ka, most of which are found in more than one canyon system. The most likely mechanism for triggering occasional, synchronous failures in separate canyons is seismic ground shaking. The facies sequence is interpreted as resulting from local slides being overlain by mud-clast conglomerate deposits derived from failures farther upslope and finally by coarser-grained deposits resulting from retrogressive failure re-mobilizing upper slope sediments to form debrisflows and turbidity currents.