Late Quaternary Glacial and Periglacial Environments, Snake Range, Nevada
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2003 Late Quaternary glacial and periglacial environments, Snake Range, Nevada John G Van Hoesen University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Van Hoesen, John G, "Late Quaternary glacial and periglacial environments, Snake Range, Nevada" (2003). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2558. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/miuo-0qf5 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. 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LATE QUATERNARY GLACIAL AND PERIGLACIAL ENVIRONMENTS, SNAKE RANGE, NEVADA by John G. Van Hoesen Bachelor of Science, Geology University of Albany 1998 Master of Science, Geoscience University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2000 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Geoscience Department of Geoscience College of Sciences Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2003 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3 1 1 5 8 9 8 Copyright 2004 by Van Hoesen, John G. All rights reserved. UMI UMI Microform 3115898 Copyright 2004 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. 60x1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. © 2004 John Van Hoesen All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Dissertation Approval The Graduate College uNiyUNIVilHSIÎVüF NtVADA LAS.VltOAS University of Nevada, Las Vegas October 2 ^20 03 The Dissertation prepared by John G. Van Hoesen Entitled Late Quaternary Glacial and Perielacial Environments. Snake Range, Nevada. is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geoscience Examination Committee Chair Dean of the Graduate College Examination Committee Member Examination Committee Member \ ^ . NC l Graduate College Faculty Representative PR/1017-52/1-00 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Late Quaternary Glacial and Periglacial Environments, Snake Range, Nevada by John G. Van Hoesen Dr. Richard L. Orndorff, Examining Committee Chair Assistant Professor of Geology Eastern Washington University Limited research has been conducted on the paleoclimatic significance of glacial and periglacial features in the Great Basin. Glacial features in the range were first recognized and described by early explorers (Gilbert, 1875; Simpson; 1876 and Russell, 1884) and subsequent authors have continued to substantiate and elaborate on earlier reports (Heald, 1956; Kramer, 1962; Currey, 1969; Peigat, 1980; Osborn and Bevis, 2001). Since this early reconnaissance work, few studies have focused on the Late Quaternary evolution and paleoclimatic implications of glacial and periglacial landforms in the Great Basin (Wayne, 1983; Osborn, 1989; Bevis, 1995; and Osborn and Bevis, 2001). Wayne (1984) describes relict rock glaciers, sorted circles, debris islands, solifluction lobes and sorted stripes in the Ruby, Schell Creek, and Snake ranges. While Cuixey (1969) and Osborn and Bevis, (2001) discuss the distribution of rock glaciers in numerous ranges throughout the Great Basin, including the Snake Range, and the surrounding regions. Ill Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. This study presents new data on the glacial and periglacial Late Quaternary conditions in the interior Great Basin based on studies carried out in the Snake Range, located in east-central Nevada. I propose the Lehman rock glacier is an ice-cemented landform that evolved via a recessional genesis, contrary to present glacial or periglacial models that primarily propose constructional geneses for rock glaciers. Preliminary GPR evidence suggests the Lehman rock glacier may retain interstitial lenses of ice; remnant ice that has stagnated under modem climate conditions. The spatial distribution of both glacial and periglacial landforms provides paleoclimatic information derived using field evidence and computer modeling. Neoglacial temperature depression estimates calculated using modem freezing and thawing indices for relict rock glaciers, range from -0.25 °C to -1.00 °C while temperature estimates calculated using the methodology described by Frauenfelder and Kaab, (2000) and Frauenfelder et al., (2001) are 0.35 to 0.97 degrees lower than those calculated using freezing and thawing indices. Full Glacial MAAT depression estimates range from approximately -5.16°C to -6.61°C calculated using periglacial landforms, to approximately -4.55°C to -5.77 °C, calculated from reconstmcted Angel Lake equilibrium line altitudes (ELAs). Finally, using scanning electron microscopy, it is possible to differentiate between a glacial and non-glacial origin for pebbles and cobbles entrained in enigmatic sedimentary deposits is a useful tool. Each depositional environment creates distinct micro-features that can be identified and used to establish a glacial or non-glacial history. IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................Hi LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................vii LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................... x ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1 SIGNIFICANCE OF LATE QUATERNARY LANDFORMS IN THE INTERIOR GREAT BASIN OF THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES................................................................................................................1 References ...........................................................................................................................12 CHAPTER 2 THE PALEOCLIMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF RELICT GLACIAL AND PERIGLACIAL LANDFORMS, SNAKE RANGE, NEVADA.. 19 Introduction ........................................................................................................................20 Study A rea.........................................................................................................................22 Methods ...............................................................................................................................25 Results.................................................................................................................................29 Discussion .........................................................................................................................