Quaternary environmental change in the Stikine Plateau region, northwestern British Columbia, Canada

dc.contributor.advisorOsborn, Gerald D.
dc.contributor.authorSpooner, Ian Stewart
dc.coverage.spatial200000427en
dc.date.accessioned2005-07-29T23:03:54Z
dc.date.available2005-07-29T23:03:54Z
dc.date.issued1994
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 289-313.en
dc.description.abstractRecords of Quaternary environmental change have been resolved on the Stikine Plateau of northwestern British Columbia. Glacial sediment has been preserved between Early Pleistocene basalt flows on Mt. Edziza and underneath Middle Pleistocene basalt flows in the Stikine River valley. The Mt. Edziza record indicates that regional ice advanced from the southwest and west of Mt. Edziza and inundated the plateau. Radiometric and paleomagnetic dating indicates sediment deposition occurred during isotope stages 24 to 26. Paleomagnetic sampling resulted in the resolution of the Jaramillo normal polarity event within the section. The Stikine River valley section indicates that river blockage and glaciolacustrine sediment deposition occurred at about 330 ± 30 ka (isotope stage 10). The blockage was a result of early ice advance in the Coast Mountains and eventual regional ice cover is indicated by till overlying the glaciolacustrine sediment. Advance-phase glaciolacustrine sediment deposited in the Stikine River valley is a record of blockage of the Stikine River by alpine glaciation during early Fraser glaciation time. The extent and thickness (>150 m) of the section indicates that a considerable lag occurred between alpine and Cordilleran ice advance into the region. Boulder lags, perched meltwater paleochannels and extensive scouring indicate that post-glacial fluvial incision was swift and that stagnant ice may have resided in the valley during deglaciation. A palynological investigation of Susie Lake, eastern Boundary Ranges, Coast Mountains, has yielded a comprehensive Late Quaternary biostratigraphic record. Paleovegetational zones record initial colonization (by 10,000 - 7800 BP), establishment of a spruce and fir forest ecotone established by warming climate (about 7800-4200 BP), gradual cooling and precipitation inc·rease accompanied by migration of lodgepole pine into the region (about 4200 - 2100 BP) and moist and cool conditions and a lowering of treeline (about 2100 BP - Present). Late Holocene oral history records are powerful tools for the resolution of physical environmental change in remote, isolated areas. Landslides have produced river blockage and flooding; the landslides occur in unstable lacustrine deposits and failure is triggered by concentrated spring runoff. Volcanic activity may have occurred as little as 160 years ago. Although subsequent verification is desirable, oral histories may provide the initial evidence of past geological events.en
dc.format.extentxviii, 313 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationSpooner, I. S. (1994). Quaternary environmental change in the Stikine Plateau region, northwestern British Columbia, Canada (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/15661en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/15661
dc.identifier.isbn0315994924en
dc.identifier.lccQE 696 S726 1994aen
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/30361
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccQE 696 S726 1994aen
dc.subject.lccAdditional Copy: QE 696 S726 1994en
dc.subject.lcshGeology, Stratigraphic - Quaternary
dc.subject.lcshGeology - British Columbia - Stikine River region
dc.titleQuaternary environmental change in the Stikine Plateau region, northwestern British Columbia, Canada
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineGeology and Geophysics
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 948 520538894
ucalgary.thesis.additionalcopyQE 696 S726 1994en
ucalgary.thesis.notesoffsiteen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
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