Quaternary glaciomarine deposits and foraminifera from Edgeøya, Svalbard

Late Quaternary marine deposits from Edgeoya (eastern part of the Svalbard archipelago) were analysed lithologically and micropalaeontologically. The studied sections show coarsening upward developments which reflect shallowing of the depositional area connected to Holocene land uplift. Four foraminiferal assemblages are recognized and are referred to successively decreasing water depths. The oldest assemblage is dominated by Elphidum excavatum and was formed under high glacial influence at a depth of c. 75 m in late Younger Dryas time. The youngest assemblage is dominated by Elphidium frigidum and reflects Holocene shallow water to beach conditions. Transverse ridges (mostly of cross bedded gravel) occurring in the outer parts of the valleys are interpreted as submarine ice front deltas accumulated during a period with permanent position of the glacier fronts. This stop in glacial retreat, called the Visdalen event, is referred to early Preboreal time.