ABSTRACT: Neoglacial chronology, northeastern St. Elias Mountains, Canada

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Abstract

In the northeastern St. Ellas Mountains, Yukon, Canada, drift morphology and stratigraphy, combined with thirteen C14 dates, suggest the following Neoglacial and pre-Neoglacial chronology for the Donjek and Kaskawulsh Glaciers: (1) About 12,500 BP (Y-1386) ice of the Kluane glaciatlon (-classical Wisconsin by C14 dating) receded from near Kluane Lake and about 9780 BP (Y-1483) withdrew behind the position presently occupied by Kaskawulsh Neoglacial moraines. (2) During the Slims nonglacial interval (basically Hypsithermal), glaciers maintained retracted positions; the Kaskawulsh terminus was located at least 13.7 miles up-glacier from its present position. (3) The initial Neoglacial advance, represented by onset of loess deposition, began shortly before 2640 BP (Y-1435). (4) Continuous loess deposition suggests that throughout the Neoglaciation glaciers maintained positions more extensive than those occupied during the Slims interval. (5) The youngest major Neoglacial advance, the most extensive of the last 9780 years (Y-1483), occurred through the last few centuries and is bracketed by seven C14 dates. Glacier retreat from this maximum began before A.D. 1874 (Donjek Glacier) and A.D. 1865 (Kaskawulsh Glacier). Comparison of northeastern St. Elias events with those elsewhere supports the concepts that (1) the initial widespread Neoglacial advance shortly antedated 2600 to 2800 BP and (2) at least some major Neoglacial events were essentially synchronous throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology