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Geology, Palynology, and Climatic Significance of Two Pre-Pinedale Lake Sediment Sequences in and Near Yellowstone National Park

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Richard G. Baker  and
Gerald M. Richmond
Richard G. Baker
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 USA
Gerald M. Richmond
Affiliation:
U. S. Geological Survey, Box 25046 Federal Center (MS 913), Denver, Colorado 80225 USA
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Abstract

Pollen analysis of a section of lake sediments at Grassy Lake Reservoir indicates a vegetational sequence changing from tundra, to spruce-fir-pine forest, to pine forest, to tundra at the top. Pollen analysis of a section of lake sediments on Beaverdam Creek indicates a tundra vegetation at the base, followed by a brief episode of spruce-fir forest and a return to a tundra vegetation at the top. The analyses of both sections suggest a cold to cool to cold climatic sequence, interpreted as interstadial in character. However, differences suggest that they represent separate interstadials. Pinedale Till disconformably overlies the lake deposits at Grassy Lake Reservoir. The upper sediments contain wood 14C dated at >42,000 yr; the lowermost interfinger with till shown to be more than about 70,000 yr old. The deposits at Beaverdam Creek grade upward into proglacial Pinedale deposits, contain an ash that is probably about 70,000 yr old near their base, and rest comformably on gravel that grades down into lake sediments containing wood debris suggestive of an older climatic amelioration. We conclude that the warmest part of the interstadial at Grassy Lake Reservoir is probably more than 70,000 yr old, and that the warmest part of the interstadial analyzed at Beaverdam Creek is slightly younger than 70,000 yr old.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , September 1978 , pp. 226 - 240
Copyright
University of Washington

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