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The Late Pleistocene Laurentide Glacier: Th/U Dating of its Major Fluctuations and δ18O Range of the Ice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Claude Hillaire-Marcel  and
Christiane Causse
Claude Hillaire-Marcel
Affiliation:
GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal, B.P. 8888, succ. A, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada Département des Sciences de la Terre, Université du Québec à Montréal, B.P. 8888, succ. A, Montréal H3C 3P8, Canada
Christiane Causse
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Géologie du Quaternaire, CNRS, Case 907, Campus de Luminy, 13288, Marseille Cédex 9, France
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Abstract

Direct information on the isotopic composition and timing of the now-vanished Laurentide glacier can be found in subglacial calcite or in early diagenetic concretions from glaciolacustrine deposits. Th/U isotopic measurements on early diagenetic concretions frome Lake Deschaillons varves (St. Lawrence Lowland, Québec) date the early Wisconsinan major ice advance at ca. 80,000 yr (isotopic stage 5a/4 transition). Significant retreat occurred at ca. 46,000 yr (isotopic stage 3) as indicated by Th/U isochrones on early diagenetic concretions from Lake Gayhurst varves in the Appalachian foothills of Québec. During the maximum extension of the ice, which is dated at ca. 22,000 yr by Th/U measurements on subglacial calcite at Cantley (northern margin of the St. Lawrence Lowland), δ18O values (vs PDB) ranging from −16/−19‰ (surficial ice) to ca. −30‰ (basal ice) are inferred for the Laurentide ice isotopic composition. Superimposition of two phases of carbonate precipitation does not prevent the establishment of their respective age and isotopic composition through correlation of independent parameters and calculation of mixing lines.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , September 1989 , pp. 125 - 138
Copyright
University of Washington

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