ABSTRACT: Quaternary geology of Cumberland Peninsula, Baffin Island, District of Franklin

CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Abstract

Cumberland Peninsula was formed as a horst during Middle Eocene time, following separation of Canada from Greenland. Earlier two erosional planation surfaces had developed. The younger surface penetrates the older along valleys, most of which are oriented along lines of structural weakness. The peninsula is heavily glacierized and is dominated by large features of glacial erosion. ... Most, if not all, of the peninsula was covered by ice some time before the Foxe (last) glaciation. Sediments deposited during and before the last interglaciation outcrop in cliff sections along the northeast coast. The Foxe glacial limit is marked by the outermost distinct lateral moraines and meltwater channels. During the early Foxe stadial maximum, ice covered most of the peninsula, but upland plateaus between the outer reaches of fiords and many alpine peaks remained as nunataks. Laurenatide ice, presumably flowing eastward from Foxe Basin, filled the innerthird of Cumberland Sound and overwhelmed the Penny Ice Cap. The fretted mountains east of Pangnirtung Pass, however, were dominated by the alpine glaciers. ... Recession from the late Foxe moraines began about 8700 years ago. Local glaciers retreated rapidly to or behind their present margins by 7000 years ago, while Laurentide ice retreated much more slowly, finally leaving the heads of fiords in inner Cumberland Sound about 5700 years ago and Home Bay about 4500 years ago. Separation of western Penny and Laurentide ice occurred after 5000 years ago and was followed by a readvance of the former. Lichenometrically dated moraines and radiocarbon-dated peat and eolian sand sections reveal a late Holocene climate varying from cold/dry at 2100, 900, and 400 to 250 years ago to warm/wet at 1700 to 1100, 600, and 50 to 0 years B.P. During the Holocene, the western part of the peninsula emerged while the eastern part submerged

Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology