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The origin and age of coversand in north Lincolnshire, UK
Author(s) -
Bateman Mark D.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
permafrost and periglacial processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-1530
pISSN - 1045-6740
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1530(199810/12)9:4<313::aid-ppp297>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - geology , provenance , radiocarbon dating , sedimentary rock , archaeology , paleontology , physical geography , geography
Coversand deposits are prevalent across much of central and eastern continental Europe as distinct sedimentary units, but in comparison UK coversands are fragmented and relatively thin. Arguably the best exposures of UK coversands are to be found in northern Lincolnshire, west of the Lincolnshire Wolds, where there are extensive coversand deposits up to 7 m thick. Stratigraphic, sedimentological, geomorphological and biological evidence show that the Lincolnshire coversand is composed predominantly of a cold climate aeolian sandsheet. The same evidence also indicates provenance and westerly palaeowinds associated with coversand deposition. For the first time, through the application of both thermoluminescence and radiocarbon dating, a good chronological framework for coversand deposition in Lincolnshire has been established. This shows the main phase of coversand deposition took place between c . 12,500 to 11,400 calendar years ago during the Younger Dryas climatic oscillation. The north Lincolnshire coversands are therefore contemporary with the Younger Coversands found in The Netherlands and Denmark. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.