The origin of massive diamicton facies by iceberg rafting and scouring, Scoresby Sund, East Greenland |
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| Authors: | JULIAN A DOWDESWELL ROBERT J WHITTINGTON† PETER MARIENFELD‡ |
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| Institution: | Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1ER, UK;Institute of Earth Studies, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Dyfed SY23 3DB, Wales, UK;Alfred- Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Columbusstrasse, D-2850 Bremerhaven, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Almost 90% of 39 m of core material recovered from Scoresby Sund and the adjacent East Greenland shelf is massive diamicton, interpreted to be formed predominantly by the release of iceberg rafted debris and reworking by iceberg scouring. There is also likely to be a contribution from suspension settling of fines derived from glaciofluvial sources. Model calculations suggest that the 14C derived Holocene sedimentation rate of 0.1-0.3 m 1000 yr?1 in Scoresby Sund can be accounted for mainly by iceberg rafting of debris. A further 4% of core material is of gravel or coarse sand lenses, interpreted to reflect iceberg dumping of debris. Intensive iceberg scouring, which reworks sea floor sediments, is observed on acoustic records from over 30 000 km2 of the Scoresby Sund fiord system and the adjacent East Greenland shelf (69-72°N and 75°N). The rate of iceberg production from Greenland Ice Sheet outlet glaciers, and iceberg drift tracks on the shelf, suggests that iceberg rafting and scouring may be important over a significant proportion of the 500 000 km2 area above the shelf break. The relatively extensive modern occurrence of massive diamicton, formed by iceberg rafting and scouring, together with suspension settling of fines, suggests that it may also be a significant facies in the glacier-influenced geological record. The recognition in the geological record of the massive diamicton facies described above may also indicate the former presence of fast flowing ice sheet outlet glaciers. |
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