In Northeastern Illinois, USA, from 24 000 to 17 600 B
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Document generated on 09/23/2021 2:23 p.m. Géographie physique et Quaternaire Evidence for Stagnation of the Harvard Sublobe (Lake Michigan Lobe) in Northeastern Illinois, U.S.A., from 24 000 to 17 600 BP and Subsequent Tundra-Like Ice-Marginal Paleoenvironments from 17 600 to 15 700 BP Indices de la stagnation du sous-lobe glaciaire de Harvard (lobe du lac Michigan) dans le Nord-Est de l’Illinois, États-Unis, de 24 000 à 17 600 BP et paléoenvironnements des toundras marginales entre 17 600 et 15 700 BP Brandon B. Curry and Catherine H. Yansa Glacial History, Paleogeography and Paleoenvironments in Glaciated Article abstract North America Glacial deposits of the last glaciation associated with the Harvard sublobe Volume 58, Number 2-3, 2004 (Lake Michigan lobe) in northeastern Illinois, U.S.A., occur between sediment with dateable organics. The lower organics include fragments of Picea sp. as URI: https://id.erudit.org/iderudit/013145ar young as 24 000 ± 270 BP. The supraglacial organics occur sparsely in DOI: https://doi.org/10.7202/013145ar laminated silt and fine sand in landforms that are positioned relatively high on the landscape, such as deposits from ice-walled lakes. These terrestrial organics yield ages that are 2500 to 1300 14C years older than organics at the See table of contents base of sediment successions in nearby kettle basins. Basal 14C ages from four upland sites range from 17 610 ± 270 to 16 120 ± 80 BP. Our revised time-distance diagram of the Harvard sublobe now reflects a period of Publisher(s) stagnation from 24 000 to about 17 600 BP. The supraglacial lacustrine silt yielded plant macrofossil assemblages of primarily tundra plants, including Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal Salix herbacea and Dryas integrifolia. These plants likely grew in supraglacial and ice-marginal environments. The ostracode fauna include Cytherissa ISSN lacustris and Limnocythere friabilis. Geomorphic relations and ostracode 0705-7199 (print) ecology indicate that more than 17 m of ice buttressed some of the supraglacial 1492-143X (digital) lakes. Explore this journal Cite this article Curry, B. B. & Yansa, C. H. (2004). Evidence for Stagnation of the Harvard Sublobe (Lake Michigan Lobe) in Northeastern Illinois, U.S.A., from 24 000 to 17 600 BP and Subsequent Tundra-Like Ice-Marginal Paleoenvironments from 17 600 to 15 700 BP. Géographie physique et Quaternaire, 58(2-3), 305–321. https://doi.org/10.7202/013145ar Tous droits réservés © Les Presses de l'Université de Montréal, 2006 This document is protected by copyright law. Use of the services of Érudit (including reproduction) is subject to its terms and conditions, which can be viewed online. https://apropos.erudit.org/en/users/policy-on-use/ This article is disseminated and preserved by Érudit. Érudit is a non-profit inter-university consortium of the Université de Montréal, Université Laval, and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Its mission is to promote and disseminate research. https://www.erudit.org/en/ GPQ_58-2-3.qxd 20/06/06 09:56 Page 305 Géographie physique et Quaternaire, 2004, vol. 58, nos 2-3, p. 305-321, 9 fig., 2 tabl. EVIDENCE FOR STAGNATION OF THE HARVARD SUBLOBE (LAKE MICHIGAN LOBE) IN NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS, U.S.A., FROM 24 000 TO 17 600 BP AND SUBSEQUENT TUNDRA-LIKE ICE-MARGINAL PALEOENVIRONMENTS FROM 17 600 TO 15 700 BP Brandon B. CURRY* and Catherine H. YANSA; respectively: Illinois State Geological Survey, 615 East Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL, 61820-6964, United States; Department of Geography, Michigan State University, 125 Natural Sciences Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115, United States ABSTRACT Glacial deposits of the last glaciation associated with RÉSUMÉ Indices de la stagnation du sous-lobe glaciaire de Harvard the Harvard sublobe (Lake Michigan lobe) in northeastern Illinois, (lobe du lac Michigan) dans le Nord-Est de l’Illinois, États-Unis, de U.S.A., occur between sediment with dateable organics. The lower 24 000 à 17 600 BP et paléoenvironnements des toundras margi- organics include fragments of Picea sp. as young as 24 000 ± 270 BP. nales entre 17 600 et 15 700 BP. Les sédiments glaciaires associés The supraglacial organics occur sparsely in laminated silt and fine au sous-lobe de Harvard, dans le Nord-Est de l’Illinois, sont interca- sand in landforms that are positioned relatively high on the landscape, lés dans des sédiments dont la matière organique peut être datée. such as deposits from ice-walled lakes. These terrestrial organics Des fragments de Picea sp. sont présents dans les couches sous- yield ages that are 2500 to 1300 14C years older than organics at the jacentes et remontent au plus à 24 000 ± 270 BP. La matière orga- base of sediment successions in nearby kettle basins. Basal 14C ages nique sus-jacente est disséminée dans les limons laminés et les from four upland sites range from 17 610 ± 270 to 16 120 ± 80 BP.Our sables fins de dépôts de lacs de barrage glaciaire perchés. Cette revised time-distance diagram of the Harvard sublobe now reflects a matière organique livre des âges 14C qui sont de 2500 à 1300 ans period of stagnation from 24 000 to about 17 600 BP.The supraglacial plus vieux que la matière organique de la base des sédiments des lacustrine silt yielded plant macrofossil assemblages of primarily tun- marmites glaciaires (kettles). Les âges 14C de quatre sites perchés dra plants, including Salix herbacea and Dryas integrifolia. These vont de 17 610 ± 270 à 16 120 ± 80 BP.Notre révision du diagramme plants likely grew in supraglacial and ice-marginal environments. The distance-temps du sous-lobe de Harvard traduit l’existence d’une ostracode fauna include Cytherissa lacustris and Limnocythere fri- période de stagnation glaciaire entre 24 000 et 17 600 BP. Le limon abilis. Geomorphic relations and ostracode ecology indicate that more lacustre sus-jacent contient des assemblages macrofossiles de toun- than 17 m of ice buttressed some of the supraglacial lakes. dra, avec Salix herbacea et Dryas integrifolia. Ces plantes croissaient dans des milieux proches des glaces. Le contexte géomorphologique et l’écologie des ostracodes (Cytherissa lacustris et Limnocythere fria- bilis) indiquent que certains lacs supraglaciaires étaient étayés par plus de 17 m de glace. Manuscrit reçu le 11 juillet 2005 ; manuscrit révisé accepté le 13 janvier 2006 (publié le 2e trimestre 2006) * E-mail address: [email protected] GPQ_58-2-3.qxd 20/06/06 09:56 Page 306 306 B. B. CURRY and C. H.YANSA INTRODUCTION westerly flow of the Princeton sublobe (Fig. 1A), but the north- ern part assumed a north-south trend characteristic of the Joliet The advance and retreat of the southern margin of the sublobe. The difference in moraine orientation likely reflects Laurentide Ice Sheet has been attributed to either climatic the melting Huron-Erie lobe. The interaction of these lobes forcing factors associated with long-term ENSO cyclicity of ceased during the late Livingston Phase as suggested by the about 800 years (Wang et al., 2000, 2003) or to internal gla- north-to-south orientation of the Minooka Moraine. The Barlina cial mechanisms (Mickelson et al., 1983; Dyke and Prest, Moraine was formed by the Harvard sublobe (Fig. 2C) although 1987; Lowell et al., 1999). Testing hypotheses such as these its continuity with the aforementioned moraines associated with requires well-dated deposits associated with both glacier the Livingston Phase was obliterated by fluvial erosion during advance and retreat. Time-distance diagrams, used to illus- the subsequent Woodstock Phase. trate dynamic ice margins, are often hampered by a few unver- ified, and in some cases, unreliable radiocarbon ages, espe- During the Woodstock Phase, the Harvard and Joliet cially those obtained from bulk lake sediments (Grimm and sublobes formed the Woodstock Moraine and basal portion of Maher, 2002). Inaccuracies will eventually be resolved as key the West Chicago Moraine, respectively (Fig. 2D). The Wood- sites are dated by newer techniques such as accelerator mass stock Moraine is incised by a relatively steep-walled channel spectrometry (AMS). eroded by the Fox River, the primary drainage in the eastern half of the study area. Downstream of this breach are several large Terrestrial plant and faunal remains are present in deglacial point bars and an abandoned oxbow-like channel formed by sediments in northeastern Illinois. The aim of this investigation initial erosion of the Woodstock Moraine and subsequent aggra- is to describe the sedimentary successions in these settings, dation in the Fox River valley.These features were attributed to describe the flora and fauna, and discuss the significance of the the Fox River Torrent by Alden (1904) and Curry (2005) and inferred paleoenvironments. The reconstructions indicate that possibly formed at about the same time as the Kankakee Torrent the Harvard sublobe of the Lake Michigan lobe stagnated from described by Ekblaw and Athy (1925), Bretz (1940) and Willman about 24 000 to 17 600 BP.Probably the most significant feature and Payne (1942). Deposits that may be associated with the of this research is the discovery of terrestrial materials in mate- Kankakee/Fox River torrents have been radiocarbon dated at rial not previously known to yield reliable radiocarbon ages, and about 16 000 to 15 600 BP (Hajic and Johnson, 1989; Hansel the potential to more accurately date deglacial successions. and Johnson, 1996).The last glaciation (Michigan Subepisode) The sites described herein were discovered during map- in Illinois ended with the Crown Point Phase (not shown) and ping of surficial glacial deposits in the urban areas west of formation of the Valparaiso, Tinley, and Lake Border Moraines. Chicago, Illinois (Curry et al., 2001; Grimley and Curry, 2001; Ice finally retreated from Illinois by about 14 000 BP (Hansel Curry, 2005, in review).