CENTRE FOR NEWFOUNDLAND STUDIES TOTAL OF 10 PAGES ONLY MAY BE XEROXED (Without Author' s Permission) INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough. substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & HowelliDformation Company 300 North Zceb Road, Aml.Axbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521~ THE LATE QUATERNARY HISTORY OF TERRA NOVA NATIONAL PARK AND VICINITY, NORTHEAST NEWFOUNDLAND BY ANNE A. SOMMERVU..LE A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfllment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Dep~entofGeogmphy Memorial University of Newfoundland 1997 St. John's Newfoundland National Ubrary Bibliotheque nationale 1+1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 canada Canada The author has granted a non­ L' auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distnbute or sell reproduire, preter, distnbuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/~ de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve Ia propriete du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othetwise de celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son penmsston. autorisation. 0-612-36180-2 Canada Abstract The Quaternary history of Terra Nova National Park and vicinity, northeast Newfoundland, is dominated by Late Wisconsinan glaciation, glaciofluvial activity. post-glacial sea level fluctuations, and Holocene climate change. The eastern pan of the study region is dominated by glacial erosional landfonns, comprising thin veneers of tme-textured diamicton. To the west, eskers and glaciofluvial terraces are prominent, and the area is mantled by till and glaciofluvial deposits. Late Wisconsinan glaciation was marked by flow towards the northeast and glaciogenic sediments contain high proportions of Terra Nova Granite and other locally-derived erratics. Primary and reworked glacial diamictons are present. The primary deposits reflect local ice flow movements rather than the regional ice flow movement towards the northeast. Glaciofluvial deposits include eskers. proximal and distal braided stream sequences, as well as associated pond sediments. Glacial retreat from Terra Nova National Park occurred after 12,000 years BP. The marine limit is approximately 39 m asl. as indicated by raised deltas at Traytown and Sandy Cove. Marine incursion occurred at St. Chad's about 12,400 years BP. After 12,000 years BP, isostatic recovery resulted in the marine regression to modem sea level about 10,000 years BP, and to a minimum of-17m by about 8,600 years BP. Ice-wedge casts preserved at 16 m asl at Port Blandford indicate the ii existence of a cold climate interval between 11,000 and 10,000 years BP. This is coincident with the Younger Dryas cool event. Sea level rose throughout the mid- and late-Holocene, reaching its present position about 2.000 years BP. Climate fluctuations during the late Holocene resulted in the expansion of wetlands throughout Terra Nova National Park. m Acknowledgments Throughout my two and a half years in St. John's, Dr. Norm Catto of the Department of Geography, Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), and Dr. David Liverman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Mines and Energy have supervised the fieldwork and writing of this thesis, and I am indebted to both for their help and advice. Financial support throughout my Masters programme has come from the School of Graduate Studies and the Department of Geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Further funding came from an NSERC grant awarded to Dr. Norm Catto. I would like to thank Cody Garlie for his able field assistance throughout July 1995, and for his helpful suggestions and discussions throughout the past year and a half. I am not sure if being able to drive cars through flooded rivers, and know the words to every song on the radio was in the job description, but he did a grand job! I would also like to thank Kim Taylor for her field assistance and knowledge during August 1995. Having very little geological background I have depended on the skills of Dan Bragg of the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Mines and Energy, and Steve Israel (MUN) for identifying many of my clast lithologies. I thank you both for your time and I hope a little of your knowledge has ingrained itself into my memory. iv Throughout the writing of this thesis I have discussed ideas with many different people, notably Martin Batterson of the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Mines and Energy, Kevin Robinson, Park Ecologist at Terra Nova National Park, Dr. Joyce Macpherson and Dr. Trevor Bell of the Deparnnent of Geography, MUN. I thank you all for your time, suggestions and comments. I would also like to thank Michele Culhane, Naomi Shon and Don Pittman (MUN) for letting me bounce ideas off them, and providing other suggestions. I have met many people during my time in Newfoundland, and although they may not have bad a direct influence on the writing of this thesis they have helped to keep my spirits up and keep me sane! The Geography graduate students have possible borne the brunt of many frustrating hours, and I thank you for humouring me throughout these times. I would like to give a special thanks to Paul King, Michele Culhane and Naomi Shon who have coped with the emotional ups and downs of writing a thesis. Finally, I would like to thank my family back in Scotland who have believed in me, and given me support and confidence from the moment I decided to come to Newfoundland. v Table of Contents Abstract . ii Acknowledgments ......................... ..... ...... iv Table of Contents . vi List of Figures . ix List of Plates . xi List of Tables . xiii Chapter 1 - Introduction . 1 1.0 - Introduction . 1 1 .1 - Objectives . 2 1.2 - Location and Access . 2 1.3 - Bedrock Geology . 5 1.4- Physiography .. ..... ................. ....... 10 1.5 - Climate ................. ............... .. ... 14 1.6- Soils and Vegetation ............... .. .... .. ....... 16 Chapter 2 - Previous Work . 21 2. 0 - Initial Research . 21 2.1 - Sources of Glacial Ice and Ice Flow Directions . 23 2.2- Extent of Glacial Ice in Newfoundland .................. 25 2.3- Extent of Glacial Ice in Eastern Newfoundland ......... .... 28 2.4- Post Glacial Events ........................ .... ... 31 2.4.1. -The Younger Dryas Cooling Event . ........ .. .. 31 2.4.2. - Relative Sea Level . 33 Chapter 3 - Methodology . 41 3.0- Field Methods ...... ........................... 41 3.1 - Laboratory Methods . 42 3.1.1 -Grain Size Analysis . .. ...... .. ... .. ....... 42 3 .1. 2 - Clast Analysis . 45 3.2 - Clast Fabric Analysis . 45 3. 3 - Aerial Photograph Interpretation . 4 7 vi Chapter 4 - Geomorphology . 48 4. 0 - Introduction . 48 4.1 - Flyggbergs . 48 4.2 - Roches Moutonnees . SO 4.3 - Crag and Tails . 53 4.4- Drumlins/Till Ridges .............. .. .. .... .... 55 4.5 - Eskers . .. 56 4.6- Glaciofluvial Terraces . ..... ...... .. .. .. ..... 58 4.7- Raised Marine Deltas and Beaches . ..... .. .. .. ... ... 60 4.8- Raised Lake Shorelines ... ... .. ... ... .... .. 61 4.9- Fluvial Terraces .... .... .... ...... ..... .. .. 62 4.10 - Ox-Bow Lakes .... .. ............. ... .. .. 65 4.11 - Organic Deposits . 65 4.12 - Modem Rivers . ... .... .. .... 67 4.13 - The Modem Coastline . 68 Chapter 5 - Glacial Landforms and Sediments . .. ... .. .. 69 5.0- Glacial Landforms ... .... .... .. .. .. .. .... 69 S .1 - Glacial Erosional Landforms . 69 5.2- Glacial Depositional Landforms .... .. ... .. .... ... .. 72 5.3 -Glacial Sediments . ........ .. .. .. .. .. .... 73 5.3.1 -Terra Nova Village Road (Route 301) - Alla .. .. .. 74 5.3.2- Terra Nova Village Road (Route 301)- A21 .... .... 88 5.3.3 - Glovertown- A9 .... ... .. ...... .. 91 5.3.4- Culls Harbour- A14 . .. ...