Late Pleistocene Ice-Marginal Dune Fields on the Atlantic Coastal Plain, New Jersey Pine Barrens, USA Mark Demitroff1, Stephen A. Wolfe2, Barbara Woronko3, Dorota Chmielowska4, Michael Cicali5

1Stockton University, Department of Geology, Galloway, NJ, USA 2Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, ON, CAN 3Warsaw University, Faculty of Geology, Warsaw, POL 4Pedagogical University of Cracow, Institute of Geography, Cracow, POL 5Stockton University, Environmental Studies, Galloway, NJ, USA

I. ABSTRACT II, a. METHODOLOGY – LiDAR IMAGERY, MANUMUSKIN II, a. METHODOLOGY – LiDAR IMAGERY, WEYMOUTH Source-bordering dunes evolved on the flat sandy terrain of the New Jersey Pine A) Manumuskin Dune Field B) Weymouth Dune Field Barrens* during glacial episodes. Today the area is densely forested, obscuring C) West Mills Dune Field Maurice River Watershed Great Egg Harbor River Watershed dune field * Pine Barrens outlined in white Manumuskin River Preserve / Long Ponds Indian Branch (to west) & Lochs-of-the-Swamp (to east) the extent of dunes within a humid temperate region, its main poron residing pit MN-01 West Dune relict 50–150 km south of the maximum glacial ice margin. Terrestrial relicts including relict MN-01 dune field IB-01 Dune maximum limit of Pleistocene ice sheets Sampled at an ~3 m high Hudson R plateau Maurice River plateau Sampled at an ~3 m high thermal-contracon cracks, deflaon basins, and venfact lags aest to dune field pit pit crest of a transverse-to- Indian Branch Scull Run dune field crest of a hairpin NJ parabolic dune migrang pit Delaware R Quaternary parabolic dune migrang periglacial condions in the area. However, the organizaon of windblown sand from WNW to ESE IB-01 braid plain 2 Horse Bridge Br IB-01 Manantico Creek Johns Branch from WNW to ESE PA Quaternary Quaternary into dunes in the Pine Barrens has received scant aenon. polygons Holocene braid plain 1 braid plain 2 Indian Branch channel Indian Branch

Toms R Buckshutem Makepeace N Rancocas MN-01 PHILADELPHIA S MN-02 Remote sensing was conducted using high resoluon LiDAR to reveal the bare- Rancocas Ck Ck Creek \ Lake Head earth ground surface. Six sample sites were examined from three watersheds relict Hubbard Branch Branch plateau Great Egg Harbor River BeaverBranch Dam Babcock pit Creek W dune field deflation basin relict End Pleistocene or “loch” (spung) (areas A, B, C to right) to assess the dune field dynamics. Soil observaon pits Delaware R MN-02 East Dune C Mullica R plateau LS-01 Dune Quaternary Quaternary braid plain 1 braid plain 2 channel were excavated, profiles stragraphically documented, and sand samples Maurice R B Great Egg Sampled at an ~2 m high Sampled at an ~6 m high Harbor R Little Mill Run dune field LS-01 height pit 10 m crest of a transverse-to- height crest of a parabolic dune collected for opcal dang. The sand samples were examined for grain analysis by 28 m pit parabolic dune migrang LS-01 migrang from WNW to A Quaternary MN-02 scanning electron microscope, granulometry, and for an improved Cailleux from WNW to ESE Quaternary Quaternary ESE braid plain 2 Holocene braid plain 1 braid plain 2 End Pleistocene Great Egg Harbor River 05 m channel Chandlers Run Method of surface-texture interpretaon. DE 20 mi 18 m Quaternary braid plain 2 channel WEYMOUTH 40 km CAPE MAY Deep Run Dune fields reside on higher-lying river terraces and alluvial fans, and appear to 0.3 m PORT ELIZABETH Manumuskin River Muskee Creek 09 m be a climate-driven expression of changes from fluvial to fluvial-eolian to eolian modified from Boyds Maps, 2019 Manumuskin Dune Field Weymouth Dune Field units. South Jersey was probably a very windy and dusty place during episodes of the Wisconsinan glaciaon. Grain- The dunes reside on an older fluvial braid-plain terrace that is eroded The dunes reside on older braid-plain terraces that are eroded by Two parabolic dune sites; one proximal and one distal to river towards the west by a younger fluvial braid-plain terrace. The Two parabolic dune sites younger braid-plain terraces (above, one with polygons). The surface morphoscopy is further shown to be a useful tool in discerning dune-sand transport acvity and the aendant —Quick Terrain (QT) Modeler— interdunal eolian sand sheet (coversand) is ~1 m thick, bounding over —Quick Terrain (QT) Modeler— interdunal eolian sand sheets (coversands) are ~1 m thick, bounding post-deposional environment. a sparse venfact lag. over a venfact lag.

II, a. METHODOLOGY – LiDAR IMAGERY, WEST MILLS II, b. METHODOLOGY – SEDIMENT ANALYSIS Soil Pit Sections IV. CONCLUSIONS Six soil excavaon pits were dug, five at the crest of 1) Quartz-Grain Morphoscopy Mullica River Watershed parabolic dunes (130 cm deep), one at a lunee (100 cm Gum Spung (to north) / West Mills (central) / Great Swamp (to south) • Quartz-Grain Morphoscopy: 18 samples were separated into 0.5–0.8 mm and 0.8–1.0 mm quartz-grain deep). Soil weathering was most advanced at LOS-01, deflation basins • For all sites, we observe similarly developed sediments regardless of sampling depth. They are characterized by or “spungs” fracons, then analyzed according to methodology as proposed by Cailleux (1942) and modified by but was otherwise similar to the other study sites. Albertson Brook dune field WM-01 Lunette Mycielska-Dowgiałło & Woronko (1998). Dune sand grains were then classified according to 9 degrees of the dominance of grains that are the result of processing in the aeolian environment, grains with an Myriey Run Branch Sampled at an ~1 m high roundness along with the character of their surface, thus indicang the sediment’s environmental A intermediate degree of roundness and visible eolian treatment only on the edges and corners (type EM/RM). WM-01 dune-like structure residency and the nature of that environment. dune field WM-02 Quaternary rimming the closed E • Generally the supply of material to the eolian system was limited—these are “skinny” sand-starved dune systems, braid plain 2 basin’s S & E outer edge. • Granulometry: 18 samples were analyzed for grain size and shape characterizaon as determined by a glossic although the West Mills dunes are beer sand fed, apparently through the fluvial excavaon of the underlying WM-01 Holocene Malvern® Instruments Morphologi® G3SE Parcle Characterizaon System. Our morphoscopic image tongues local Cohansey Formaon (Tch) composed of Miocene-aged marginal-marine sands. channel analysis is based on the automac scanning of the surface of a three-dimensional (3D) parcle and its 1.5 Great Swamp Branch Quaternary m braid plain 2 conversion into a corresponding two-dimensional (2D) image. Quartz-grain shapes were determined by Bs • The presence of breakage blocks microtextures at LS-01 (le Fig.) may indicate that the E horizon—near the Albertson Brook End Pleistocene pit the following parameters: HS (High Sensivity) Circularity and Convexity. glossic tongues—was subject to very intense in situ frost weathering under periglacial condions. Branch Quaternary channel braid plain 1 WM-02 Dune • The fact that the 0.5–0.8 mm fracon grains are definitely less wind-processed (48–66% EM/RM) in relaon to the Sampled at a crest of an WM-02 • Grain Microtexture by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM): whole-grain surfaces were scanned C Drivers height 20 m ~2.5 m high hairpin (JSM-6380 LA Joel, Japan), then analyzed for roundness and microtextures to help determine their 0.8–1.0 mm fracon grains (84–96% EM/RM) indicates that the wind speed may have been very high. This is Nescochague Creek Quaternary braid plain 1 parabolic dune migrang sedimentary environment. confirmed by the results of the parcle size analysis. from WNW to ESE. LS-01, Weymouth Dune Field at “Lochs-of-the-Swamp” 15 m spung 2) Granulometry relict dune field • Opcally Smulated Luminescence (OSL) Dang: Six tube samples of dune sediments were collected for A — dark gray-brown color, with organic matter & charcoal plateau OSL dang, five at 1.3 m depth, and one at 1.0 m depth—providing a date for each study site. They are E — light-colored, albic horizon; the E/B boundary is wavy • High wind speed is also confirmed by parcle-size analysis. A very high content of grains in fracon >0.5 mm and 10 m currently under process at the University of the Fraser Valley Luminescence Dang Lab. A date of 28.16 ± West Mills Dune Field irregular with icicle-like glossic tongues; podzolization HAMMONTON 2.80 ka is noted from an earlier sample (USU-267), which was taken from Indian Branch paleochannel infill grain size <0.125 mm parcipated in suspension transport. The grain distribuon has two disnct modes with The dunes reside on an older fluvial braid-plain terrace that is eroded Bs — yellowish brown colored, spodic horizon near IB-01. A sand sheet had dammed that stream below the thermal-contracon polygons seen in the virtually no deposits per fracon between modes. This suggests that the sediments were transported as a result Closed basin (“spung”) lunette & parabolic dune sites by younger fluvial braid-plain terrace—all part of an alluvial fan C — unweathered yellow-brown eolian parent material, being 2 IB-01 inset figure (upper right). —Quick Terrain (QT) Modeler— system roughly 170 km in area. The interdunal eolian sand sheet Miocene-aged marginal marine and fluvial sands of the of saltaon and suspension, and that the NJ Pine Barrens may have been a parcularly windy dusty place. (coversand) is ~1 m thick, bounding over a venfact lag. Cohansey (Tch) & Bridgeton (Tbr) Formations. 3) Grain Microtexture by SEM • SEM interpretaon supports Improved Cailleux Method findings; e.g., RM or EM/RM type grains, breakage blocks.

III, a. RESULTS – QUARTZ-GRAIN MORPHOSCOPY III, b. RESULTS – GRANULOMETRY III, c. RESULTS – GRAIN MICROTEXTURE BY SEM 4) Synthesis • Relict stabilized dune fields are abundant within the NJ Pine Barrens on the Atlanc Coastal Plain. They aest to Modified Cailleux Analysis for 0.8 to 1.0 mm grains at 30 cm depth (after Mycielska-Dowgiałło & Woronko, 1998) GRAIN KRUMBEIN Frequency Curve EM/RM Type Grains intensive ice-marginal, cold-climate eolian condions during the Late Pleistocene. Spaal associaons between CHARACTERISTICS ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION lunette TYPE ROUNDNESS Grain size distribuon shows that each of the SEM of LS-01 30 cm: now coated (weathered), yet dune fields and Quaternary alluvial deposits—braid-plain and meander channel terraces—indicate a climate- RM 0.7–0.9 Well-rounded with matt Long-term high energy collisions in an eolian environment tested samples has a bimodal distribuon of its earlier eolian microtexture is not eliminated. surface grains. The first mode falls on 0.5 mm or 0.354 change driven fluvial-to-eolian relaonship of predominantly locally sourced sediments. Grain morphoscopy mm fracon grains, the second, finer on 0.0046 EM/RM 0.3–0.6 Matt surface on convexed High-energy collisions in an eolian environment, shorter saltation reveals an abundance of well-rounded grains and maed surfaces. Their extant, in associaon with venfact lags grains duration than RM mm, i.e., on the border of dust and silt. Preliminarily, this suggests a high wind regime. and elongate (hairpin) parabolic dunes, supports the invocaon of intensive eolian transport condions. Soil EM/EL 0.3–0.6 Moderately rounded, smooth- Transport in fluvial or beach environment shiny surface structures and grain microtextures provide further evidence that intensive in-situ frost weathering had occurred suspension Sorting & Skewness All Others — crushed, angular, or very additional grain types not necessarily associated with eolian The mean grain size of dune samples is a Breakage Blocks under periglacial condions. (C, NU, O) intensively weatherd activity lunette RM Type Grain medium grained sand, with the lunee sample SEM of MN-01 130 cm: well rounded and ma SEM of LS-01 30 cm: frost weathering on most residing within fine sand. The slight posive surfaced; vey long duraon of eolian abrasion. convex porons of this eolian grain. skewness of all samples is indicave of V. BIBLIOGRAPHY Manumuskin Weymouth West Mills weighng towards finer sediments, which is lunette III, d. RESULTS – GRAIN MORPHOLOGY BY G3SE Dunes are first fed by local fluvially sourced Lochs-of-the-Swamp dune is distal to the river, Eolian bedforms here are more abundantly primarily medium to fine-grained silt. Silt French HM, Demitroff M, Forman SL. 2003. Evidence for Late-Pleistocene permafrost in the New Jersey Pine sand, then are increasingly enriched by sand and is fed sand from the sand sheet in contrast enriched by the excavaon of locally sourced comprises between 2 and 15% of the dune entrainment from the interdunal sand sheet. to the river proximal Indian Branch dune. deposits of ancient marginal marine sand (Tch). sediment samples, whereas the lunee Barrens (latude 39ºN), eastern USA. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes. 14: 259–274. contains approximately 25% silt. Samples tend HS Circularity MN-01 MN-02 LS-01 IB-01 West Mills West Mills suspension to be moderately sorted, with the lunee Mycielska-Dowgiałło E, Woronko B. 1998. Analiza obtoczenia i zmatowienia powierzchni ziarn kwarcowych frakcji West Dune East Dune Dune Dune Lunee Dune sample less sorted, owing again to the higher (Le) WM-01 Morphologi G3SE lunette abundance of fine sediment. piaszczystej i jej wartość interpretacyjna (Rounding and frosng analysis of the sand quartz grains surface and lunette photos of lunee grains at 100 saltation cm depth; lowest circularity, its interpretave value). Przegląd Geologiczny. 46: 1275–1281. Cumulative Curves lile travelled. Two segments are marked on the cumulave Woronko B, Zieliński P, Sokołowski RJ. Climate evoluon during the Pleniglacial and Late Glacial as recorded in curves, one responsible for transporng (Right) MN-02 130 cm: G3SE EM/EL EM/EL EM/EL EM/EL through saltaon (steeply inclined), the other Morphologi photo of dune quartz grain morphoscopy of fluvial to aeolian successions of the European Sand Belt. Geologos. 21: 89–103. EM/EL EM/EL in suspension (with a small inclinaon angle). RM RM RM RM RM RM grains at 130 cm depth; well- EM/RM EM/RM EM/RM EM/RM EM/RM EM/RM The steeper the slope secon is, the beer the rounded but not far travelled. Newell WL, Newell WL, Powars DS, Owens JP, Stanford SD, Stone BD. 2000. Surficial geologic map of central and OTHER OTHER OTHER OTHER sediments are sorng. OTHER OTHER southern New Jersey. United States Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Invesgaons Series, Map 1–2540–D, Washington, DC. 21st Annual Day of Scholarship, Thursday, April 08, 2021, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ Adapted from Paper No. 188-4, T4. Eolian Processes and Landscape Evolution, GSA 2019, Phoenix, AZ.