The margin of a Middle Pleistocene ice advance at Tottenhill, Norfolk, England

Abstract

Exposures at Tottenhill quarry, west Norfolk, are described. Detailed sediment logs, lateral sediment distribution and facies relationships are presented, together with palaeocurrent measurements and pebble counts. It is concluded that the sequence represents a delta-like subaquatic fan accumulation that was deposited by glacier meltwater at the eastern margin of the present Fenland. The ice must have entered the area from the west to northwest. An arctic leaf flora is associated with still water pool sediments within the fan sequence. Pollen assemblages appear to be largely derived by reworking from underlying in situ temperate stage sediments which are correlated with the Hoxnian Stage.The age of the deposits is discussed and it is concluded that the glaciation concerned must date from the early part of the Wolstonian Stage on the basis of the previously established stratigraphical sequence in the area.

Quaternary glaciations of northern Europe

“…The same programme of geological mapping also concluded that a MIS 6 glaciation reached the north coast of East Anglia where it deposited a distinctive lithofacies with Scandinavian erratics and produced distinctive ice marginal landforms such as push-moraines and outwash fans with ice-contact slopes, similar to those formed during MIS 6 glaciations further east in the Netherlands and north Germany (Hamblin et al, 2000;, Rose 2009). This ice limit is linked to a proposal for a MIS 6 glaciation identified by outwash sediments in northwest Norfolk (Gibbard et al, 1992Gibbard and Clark, 2011). The age for this glacial event is based palaeosol microstratigraphy from an overlying fossil soil (Lewis and Rose, 1999)) and the freshness of the topography by comparison with northern Europe.…”

“…[Pre-proof accepted manuscript] 20 distinctive lithofacies with Scandinavian erratics and produced distinctive ice marginal landforms such as push-moraines and outwash fans with ice-contact slopes, similar to those formed during MIS 6 glaciations further east in the Netherlands and north Germany (Hamblin et al, 2000;, Rose 2009). This ice limit is linked to a proposal for a MIS 6 glaciation identified by outwash sediments in northwest Norfolk (Gibbard et al, 1992 Gibbard and Clark, 2011 (1986). Subsequently this ice limit has been moved southward to accommodate the evidence from northwest Norfolk and this new limit is used in Gibbard and Clark (2012).…”

Age limits on Middle Pleistocene glacial sediments from OSL dating, north Norfolk, UK

“…These consist of: (1) a two-stage scheme with glaciation occurring during the Anglian and Wolstonian stages (Baden-Powell, 1948;West and Donner, 1956;Mitchell et al, 1973;Gibbard et al, 1992;Banham et al, 2001); (2) a single-stage scheme with extensive glaciation occurring during the Anglian Stage (MIS 12) (Perrin et al, 1979;Banham, 1988;Hart and Boulton, 1991;Lunkka, 1994); and (3) a multiple-stage scheme with glacial advances occurring in several Middle Pleistocene cold stages Clark et al, 2004;Lee et al, 2004a). The last of these schemes (Table 1) is based upon recognition of several lithologically distinct till sheets in northeast Norfolk, separated by glacial retreat sediments and which are interpreted to reflect glacier advances during eccentricityforced climate cooling.…”

“…Indirect evidence for glaciation in west Norfolk within the low-lying Fenland basin during MIS 6 is represented by glacial outwash sediments at Tottenhill (Gibbard et al, 1992). These outwash deposits overlie an interglacial peat within the Nar Valley Clay Formation which has been dated by U-series to 317 ± 14 ka BP, equivalent to MIS 9 (Rowe et al, 1997).…”

“…Whilst the more recent stratigraphic re-appraisal has been supported by possible evidence of glaciation during MIS 10 in the Upper Thames catchment (Sumbler, 1995(Sumbler, , 2001, and partial age constraints on material bracketing likely MIS 6 deposits in west Norfolk (Gibbard et al, 1992;Rowe et al, 1997) and tills in East Yorkshire (Bateman and Catt, 1996), direct dating of the glacial succession itself has not been previously attempted. The divergence of views relating to the chronology of glaciation in lowland Britain also highlights the clear need for an increased use of absolute dating methods and a reduced reliance on dating based upon correlation of widely spaced and ambiguous evidence without robust age control.…”