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New constraints on the age of the last ice sheet glaciation in NW England using optically stimulated luminescence dating
Author(s) -
Telfer Matt W.,
Wilson Peter,
Lord Tom C.,
Vincent Peter J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of quaternary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.142
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-1417
pISSN - 0267-8179
DOI - 10.1002/jqs.1256
Subject(s) - geology , speleothem , deglaciation , carboniferous , ice sheet , glacial period , surface exposure dating , optically stimulated luminescence , thermoluminescence dating , karst , paleontology , loess , quaternary , geomorphology , physical geography , archaeology , moraine , quartz , geography , cave , structural basin
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) has been used to date silts, interpreted as either primary or colluviated loess, deposited in karstic depressions at three sites on the Carboniferous limestone of NW England. Two of the ages presented here constrain the onset of the last (Late Devensian) ice in this region to later than ca. 27 ± 2 ka, and the other two date initial deglaciation prior to ca. 19 ± 2 ka in the Morecambe Bay area and ca. 17 ± 2 ka in the karst of the Yorkshire Dales. While these ages are broadly consistent with existing estimates from lacustrine and speleothem evidence, they offer the tightest constraints yet published on the presence of the last ice sheet from northern England. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.