View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by RERO DOC Digital Library Sedimentology (2009) doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3091.2009.01085.x New stratigraphic markers in the late Pleistocene Palouse loess: novel fossil gastropods, absolute age constraints and non-aeolian facies PATRICK K. SPENCER and ANGELA N. KNAPP1 SHORT Department of Geology, Whitman College, 345 Boyer Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362, USA (E-mail: [email protected]) CONTRIBUTION Associate Editor – Nick Eyles ABSTRACT Four stratigraphic sections in the southern part of the Columbia Basin preserve a sequence of aeolian and non-aeolian sediments ranging in age from 9Æ43 to >47Æ0 14C ka based on accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating of fossil molluscs, geochemistry of Cascade Mountain-sourced tephra and association with formally recognized pedostratigraphic units (the Washtucna and Old Maid Coulee soils). Study sections are interpreted as representing concurrent deposition of loess and distal Missoula Flood rhythmites in valleys tributary to main drainages backflooded during the Missoula Floods, and formation of carbonate and iron-rich soils. Sediments belong to the formally recognized L-1 and L-2 loess units established for the Palouse loess, which were deposited in the Columbia Basin subsequent to events of glacial outburst flooding. Sediments associated with the Mount Saint Helens set S and set C tephras in the study sections preserve a fauna of five species of gastropod mollusc which have not been reported previously from sediments of late Pleistocene age in the Palouse region. The fossils comprise two distinct faunules stratigraphically separated by the Mount Saint Helens So tephra. Accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating of the fossils collected above the tephra in two of the sections yielded ages of 12Æ48 ± 0Æ06 and 9Æ43 ± 0Æ05 14C kyr. These ages suggest that independent determinations of the 13Æ35 14C kyr age of the So tephra in other areas where Missoula Flood sediments are preserved are probably accurate, and help to refine the age of the latest events in the most recent sequence of catastrophic glacial outburst flooding. Keywords Loess, Missoula Floods, mollusc, Mount Saint Helens, Pleistocene, soils. INTRODUCTION the relative chronology and absolute age of the sequences. While typical stratigraphic indicators Regions sculpted by Quaternary glaciations, such as fossil vertebrates are abundant in the including North America, commonly have cov- Pleistocene Palouse loess of Washington State, ers of thick, undifferentiated loess deposits left they are uncommon in other Quaternary units of behind as signatures of these events. These the north-western USA, such as the Missoula massive loess deposits can be a few to over Flood deposits (Rensberger et al., 1984; Spencer, 100 m thick, making it difficult to discern both 1989). Field work conducted for the present 1Present address: Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA. Ó 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation Ó 2009 International Association of Sedimentologists 1 2 P. K. Spencer and A. N. Knapp report indicates that previously undocumented The sections studied are located approximately fossil terrestrial gastropods are common in cer- 25 km north of Walla Walla, Washington, and are tain facies of the Palouse loess, providing exposed in shallow, ephemeral stream valleys another tool with which to identify and correlate tributary to the Touchet River, and on the drain- geographically discrete loess outcrops. This age divide between the Touchet River and Eureka report provides age, stratigraphic and sedi- Flat to the north. Location of study sections and mentological data and interpretations for four physiographic features mentioned in the text are study sections in southern exposures of the shown in Fig. 1. Palouse loess and documents the stratigraphic and sedimentological context for five species of gastropod mollusc. In addition, absolute age REGIONAL GEOLOGICAL SETTING constraints are established for the gastropod- bearing intervals in the McFeely Road and Piper The bedrock of the Palouse Hills of south-eastern Canyon sections (Fig. 1) based on accelerator Washington comprises a thick sequence of basalt mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating of flows assigned to the Miocene Columbia River shell material. Finally, the relationship between Basalt Group (CRBG), which is overlain by, and the study sections and the late Pleistocene interbedded with, several lithostratigraphic units. slackwater deposits generated by the Missoula The Ellensburg Formation (Miocene), exposed in Floods (the Touchet Beds) are interpreted. the western portion of the Columbia Plateau, Fig. 1. Index map of Washington state and study area showing the locations of the study sections in central Walla Walla County and physiographic features mentioned in the text. MSH, Mount St Helens; GP, Glacier Peak. Ó 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation Ó 2009 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology New stratigraphic markers in the Palouse loess 3 comprises a sequence of tuffaceous fluvial and on the occurrence of small mammal fossils in a lacustrine sediments derived from the rising section spanning at least the last 40 kyr and Cascade Mountains, which was distributed east- perhaps as much as the last 100 kyr. Busacca ward across the developing Yakima fold belt et al. (1992) and McDonald & Busacca (1992) (Smith, 1988). The Miocene to Pliocene Ringold developed a correlation scheme for outcrops of Formation overlies the CRBG in the Pasco Basin younger loess in the southern Channelled Scab- (Fig. 1) and is interpreted as representing depo- land (Fig. 1) based on stratigraphic and sedi- sition by rivers draining the Rocky Mountains mentological features, including stratigraphic (Lindsey, 1990). sequence, soil development and tephra chrono- The CRBG, the Ellensburg Formation and the logy. Busacca & McDonald (1994) recognized Ringold Formation are overlain by an extensive and named two loess units: the L-1 [strati- aeolian silt and sand deposit informally known graphically above the Mount St Helens (MSH) as the Palouse loess. The age of the Palouse set S tephra] and L-2 (stratigraphically below loess varies widely within the Pleistocene and the MSH set S, and including the MSH set C Holocene. Cascade-sourced tephras and palaeo- tephra near its base). The position of the loess magnetism provide absolute and relative age units was defined further with respect to markers in the unit; distinctive carbonate pal- distinctive carbonate palaeosols including the aeosols (for example, the Washtucna and Old Washtucna soil, which occurs beneath the MSH Maid Coulee soils of McDonald & Busacca, set S tephra, the Old Maid Coulee soil, which 1992; Busacca & McDonald, 1994) are useful contains the MSH set C tephra, and the Devil’s physical markers. Interbedded with the Palouse Canyon soil, which forms the lower boundary of loess are at least four, and perhaps as many as the L-2 loess unit. six, distinct sedimentary sequences representing periods of catastrophic glacial outburst flooding (McDonald & Busacca, 1988, 1992; Busacca & STRATIGRAPHIC AND McDonald, 1994; Bjornstadt et al., 2001; Spen- SEDIMENTOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF cer & Jaffee, 2002). The most recent flood STUDY SECTIONS sequence originated at glacial Lake Missoula in western Montana and is known as the Missoula Ayer Road section Floods; earlier flood sequences are of unknown origin. Flood sequences are distinguishable from The Ayer Road section (Figs 1 and 2) comprises each other by bounding unconformities (Spen- about 15 m of massive silt and fine sand with cer & Jaffee, 2002); sedimentary textures and multiple horizons of carbonate soil and three structures distinguish them from the associated recognizable tephras, exposed at an elevation of loess. about 385 m. Based on the identity of soils The Palouse loess comprises a thick and and associated tephras, the Ayer Road section monotonous sequence of fine-grained aeolian includes the L-1 and L-2 loess of Busacca & sediment derived from the Pasco Basin to the McDonald (1994), as well as the upper portion of west of the Palouse region (McDonald & Bus- an older, unnamed silt unit. acca, 1992; Busacca & McDonald, 1994). Sites One of the soils is identified as the Washtucna studied for this report show that, in central soil (of McDonald & Busacca, 1992) based on Walla Walla County, the loess is associated with distinctive morphological features, such as stage sediment deposited by non-aeolian processes; of soil development and close association of two stratification, graded bedding and variations in stacked soils, and its stratigraphic position above texture indicate aqueous deposition for these a tephra identified as an MSH set C and below a occurrences. tephra identified as an MSH set S (see Table 1 for tephra glass compositions). A second soil is identified as the Old Maid Coulee soil by its STRATIGRAPHIC AND association with the MSH set C tephra. A third PALAEONTOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK tephra consisting of a dark grey, fine-grained, FOR THE PALOUSE LOESS indistinct layer occurs beneath the MSH set C. The distinctive physical appearance and strati- Rensberger et al. (1984) established a biostrati- graphic position of this tephra beneath the set C graphic framework for the Palouse loess and tephra and the Old Maid Coulee soil make it a provided ecological and taxonomic data, based useful marker.