Open AccessMiddle Pleistocene glacial and glaciomarine sedimentation in the west central North Sea
Author(s) -
STOKER MARTYN S.,
BENT ALISTAIR
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
boreas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1502-3885
pISSN - 0300-9483
DOI - 10.1111/j.1502-3885.1985.tb00920.x
Subject(s) - geology , slumping , ice sheet , glacial period , pleistocene , paleontology , geomorphology , glacier , facies , ice stream , wisconsin glaciation , oceanography , deglaciation , sea ice , cryosphere , structural basin
A sequence of Middle Pleistocene (approximately early ‘Cromerian Complex’) sediments has been subdivided into subglacial, proximal glaciomarine, distal glaciomarine and marine facies. The subglacial facies represents lodgement till deposited during the final stages of ice‐sheet advance. At the onset of ice‐sheet retreat, streams deposited their load into a shallow‐water; glaciomarine environment; gravelly sediments immediately in front of the ice‐grounding line and finer material, in suspension, to more distal areas. Ice‐rafting, slumping and traction currents were also active within the glaciomarine environment. The lithofacies characteristics of this sequence are consistent with deposition from a grounded tidewater ice‐sheet. The glacigenic succession is restricted to the Forth Approaches area, which implies that the ice‐sheet had a limited offshore extent.