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EARTH SCIENCES CENTRE GÖTEBORG UNIVERSITY A181997 QUATERNARY POLLEN BIOSTRATIGRAPHY IN THE BRITISH SECTOR OF THE CENTRAL NORTH SEA Sten Ekman Department of Geology GÖTEBORG 1997 Sten Ekman QUATERNARY POLLEN BIOSTRATIGRAPHY IN THE BRITISH SECTOR OF THE CENTRAL NORTH SEA Akademisk avhandling som för avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen vid Geovetenskapliga sektionen, Göteborgs Universitet, kommer att offentligen försvaras fredagen den 2 juni 1997 kl 10.00 i Stora hörsalen, Geovetarcentrum, Göteborgs Universitet. Fakultetsopponent: Docent Ann-Marie Robertsson, Kvartärgeologiska Institutionen, Stockholms Universitet Sten Ekman, Geovetenskapliga Institutionen, Geovetarcentrum, Göteborgs Universitet, S-413 81 Göteborg, Sverige Quaternary pollen biostratigraphy in the British sector of the central North Sea Sten Ekman Department of Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, University of Göteborg, S-413 81 Göteborg ABSTRACT Quaternary sediment sequences from the Fladen Ground and the Devil's Hole area in the British sector of the central North Sea are investigated on their pollen content. The sequences are correlated on the basis of pollen biostratigraphy, with reference taken to existing borehole and seismic data. The Early Pleistocene sediment sequences are correlated with the pollen-based Dutch composite stratigraphy where a good correlation with the geomagnetic polarity time scale exists. Comparisions are drawn between existing palaeoenvironmental reconstructions from marine microfossil data from the sequences and the Dutch pollen stratigraphy. The borehole sequences are interpreted as younger than the Olduvai geomagnetic event as massulae of the freshwater fern Azolla filiculoides, a species that did not appear before that event, is present in a reversed polarity sequence. Considerable freshwater influx at th e base of the pollen profiles can probably be related to delta progradation from the south during Early Pleistocene times. Indications of glaciofluvial influx in the upper part of this freshwater-influenced interval are correlated with the Menapian stage. An hiatus in the Devil's Hole vicinity separates the Menapian interval from sediment of Bavel Interglacial age. During the earlier phase of the succeeding Linge Glacial strong fluvial discharge at first influenced the Devil's Hole area after which calm arctic to high arctic marine conditions prevailed in a depositional environment influenced by meltwater from the British ice sheet. The pollen data from the later part of the Linge glacial in the Devil's Hole area indicates glaciofluvial influences from the Scandinavian ice sheet. The most pronounced influence of reworked pre-Quaternary sediments in the Middle Pleistocene sediment sequences is identified in an upper interval, rich in pre-Neogene palynomorphs, and in a lower interval, rich in N eogene palynomorphs. This change can be related to Middle Pleistocene glacial periods. The pollen content in the younger interval indicates a British provenance, possibly correlated with the Saalian stage. The pollen content in the older interval indicates derivation from the Scandinavian ice sheet, and may correlate with the Elsterian stage. The pollen stratigraphies between these two intervals reflect a vegetational transition from dwarf shrub heaths and peatlands towards boreal forests, possibly followed by a return to a more open landscape. This pollen stratigraphical succession is best preserved in the Devil's Hole sequences. In the Fladen Ground the upper part of the sequence may have been glacially eroded. The Devil's Hole sequences are probably underlain by deltaic deposits of the Cromerian Complex and earlier. Biostratigraphical and AMS ^C core data from Late Weichselian to Early Holocene Devil's Hole area sediment indicate accumulation from c. 15.7 ^C ka BP on an erosional surface on overconsolidated Saalian sediment. When the lower part of the Late Weichselian sediment accumulated the area was c. 40 m lower than present. This interpretation is based on two assumptions; 1 ) that the sediment is now about 20 m above that of global sea level at the time of deposition and 2), that the marine microfaunal content reflects a water depth of about 20 m at that time. Crustal downflexure caused by Late Weichselian glacial loading of the core area is considered as the most plausible explanation. Indications of a regressional minimum within Late Weichselian marine microfaunas c. 12 l^C ka BP in age probably reflects local isostatic rebound exceeding global eustatic rise. Keywords: Bcivelicm, biostratigraphy, Cromerian Complex, delta sediment, Elsterian, glacial isostasy, glaciomarine sediment, Late Weichselian, Menapian, North Sea, Pleistocene, pollen, Saalian, stage 7. ISSN 1400-3813 Publ. A18 1997 ISBN 91-628-2544-5 Göteborg University Department of Geology Earth Sciences Centre S-413 81 Göteborg, Sweden Göteborgs Universitet Geovetenskapliga institutionen Geovetarcentrum 413 81 Göteborg Sten Ekman QUATERNARY POLLEN BIOSTRATIGRAPHY IN THE BRITISH SECTOR OF THE CENTRAL NORTH SEA Göteborg 1997 Earth Sciences Centre Publ. Al 8 ISSN 1400-3813 ISBN 91-628 2544-5 Copyright © 1997, Sten Ekman Distribution: Earth Sciences Centre, Göteborg, Sweden Quaternary pollen biostratigraphy in the British sector of the central North Sea Sten Ekman Department of Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, University of Göteborg, S-413 81 Göteborg ABSTRACT Quaternary sediment sequences from the Fladen Ground and the Devil's Ho le area in the British sector of the central North Sea are investigated on their pollen content. The sequences are correlated on the basis of pollen biostratigraphy, with reference taken to existing borehole and seismic data. The Early Pleistocene sediment sequences are correlated with the pollen-based Dutch composite stratigraphy where a good correlation with the geomagnetic polarity time scale exists. Comparisions are drawn between existing palaeoenvironmental reconstructions from marine microfossil data from the sequences and the Dutch pollen stratigraphy. The borehole sequences are interpreted as younger than the Olduvai geomagnetic event as massulae of the freshwater fern Azolla filiculoides, a species that did not appear before that event, is present in a reversed polarity sequence. Considerable freshwater influx at the base of the pollen profiles can probably be related t o delta progradation from the south during Early Pleistocene times. Indications of glaciofluvial influx in the upper part of this freshwater-influenced interval are correlated with the Menapian stage. An hiatus in the Devil's Hole vicinity sepa rates the Menapian interval from sediment of Bavel Interglacial age. During the earlier phase of the succeeding Linge Glacial stron g fluvial discharge at first influenced the Devil's Hole area after which calm arctic to high arctic marine conditions prevailed in a depositional environment influenced by meltwater from the British ice sheet. The pollen d ata from the later part of the Unge glacial in the Devil's Hole area indicates glaciofluvial influences from the Scandinavian ice sheet. The most pronounced influence of reworked pre-Quaternary sediments in the Middle Pleistocene sediment sequences is identified in an upper interval, rich in pre-Neogen e palynomorphs, and in a lower interval, rich in N eogene palynomorphs. This change can be related to Middle Pleistocene glacial periods. The pollen content in the younger interval indicates a British provenance, possibly correlated with the Saalian stage. The pollen content in the older interval indicates derivation from the Scandinavian ice sheet, and may correlate with the Elsterian stage. The pollen stratigraphies between these two intervals reflect a vegetational transition from dwarf shrub heaths and peatlands towards boreal forests, possibly follo wed by a return to a more open landscape. This pollen stratigraphical succession is best preserved in the Devil's Hole sequences. In the Fladen Ground the upper part o f the sequence may have been glacially eroded. The Devil's Hole sequences are probably underlain by deltaic deposits of the Cromerian Complex and earlier. Biostratigraphical and AMS '^C core data from Late Weichselian to Early Holocene Devil's Hole area sediment indicate accumulation from c. 15.7 '^C ka BP on an erosional su rface on overconsolidated Saalian sediment. When the lower part of the Late Weichselian sediment accumulated the area was c. 40 m lower than present. This interpretation is based on two assumptions; 1) that the sediment is now about 20 m above that of global sea level at the time of deposition and 2), that the marine microfaunal content reflects a water depth of about 20 m at that time. Crustal downflexure caused by Late Weichselian glacial loading of the