Minimum age of corrie moraine ridges in the Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland |
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| Authors: | SHEILA C RAPSON |
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| Institution: | Department of Geography, University of Aberdeen, St. Mary's, High Street, Old Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB9 2UF, United Kingdom |
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| Abstract: | Examination of organic sediments lying on top of and within moraine limits in three Cairngorm corrics gives a minimum moraine age. According to previous suggestions the moraines originate either from the 'Little Ice Age' of the 16th–19th centuries or the Loch Lomond Stadial of 10,800–10,300 B.P. Radiocarbon dates and biostratigraphy show that the sediments have been accumulating undisturbed in the corries for 6,000–9,000 radiocarbon years, thus invalidating the 'Little Ice Age' hypothesis. The last known glaciation is therefore the Loch Lomond Advance and hence the moraine ridges are likely to date from that time. |
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