The site at Orłowo Cliff was used to analyse the stratigraphic position and palaeogeographic interpretations of the properties and depositional conditions of two basal tills from the Late Pleistocene. A multi-proxy approach involved lithofacies, petrographic analysis of the fine gravel fraction, analyses of indicator erratics and till fabric. TL dating of intra-moraine deposits was used to determine depositional time frames of tills. The sediment profile at Orłowo Cliff shows a distinct reduction in number of Pleistocene units. Obtained dating results suggest the presence of Middle and Late Pleistocene fluvial units. The main issue discussed is the stratigraphic position of the older till (Unit O-4). It can be assumed that this till was deposited probably during the Middle Weichselian (MIS4). At Orłowo Horn the till of Unit O-4 reveals incorporation of the erratic material derived from an older till in the surrounded area (according to petrographic composition – probably from MIS 8). The younger till (Unit O-6) was deposited in the Late Weichselian (MIS 2). Moreover, the till of Unit O-6 is characterised by a significant shift towards the south-west in terms of the erratic origin in Unit O-4.
The complexity of glacial sequences may increase when these formed underneath ice sheets despite subsequent changes in their extent that are accompanied by alterations in the direction of the ice flow. Our aim was to determine whether or not changes in ice sheet dynamics during the Late Weichselian are also recorded in sediments formed north of the area of its fluctuating margin (i.e., where the ice sheet prevailed independent of such fluctuations). It is shown that in these areas such a record could have occurred, as documented by results of till studies at Babie Doły. The examination was carried out using several analyses: lithofacies properties of sediments, petrographic till composition (fine gravel fraction, indicator erratics), till matrix CaCO3 content, till fabric, as well as orientation of striae on the top surfaces of large clasts. In parallel, datings of sub- and supra-till sediments using the TL method were carried out. The basal till at Babie Doły represents almost the entire Upper Weichselian, but it can be divided into subunits whose features indicate different ice flow directions and debris supply. The lower subunit developed as a result of the palaeo-ice stream along the main axis of the Baltic Sea (from the north), expanding to areas adjacent to the depression of the Gulf of Gdańsk. The upper subunit developed when the influence of the palaeo-ice stream in the study area decreased, the main role having been taken over by the ice flowing from the northwest. The till analysed also shows considerable lateral variation, indicative of the mosaic nature of subglacial sedimentation. We consider the diversity of permeability of deposits over which the ice sheet extended to be the prime factor that determined such a situation.
A new borehole in Rożce (SW Mazovian Lowland) drilled in 2012, combined with a wide variety of research methods (palaeomagnetism, palynological analysis, studies of plant macroremains and textural features of deposits) shed new light on the age and stratigraphic position of the Early Pleistocene deposits, formerly assigned as the Lower Pleistocene. The study focuses on the deposits from 50.7-104.0 m depth, between glacial till of the Nidanian Glaciation (ca. 0.9 Ma) and the Poznań Clays (ca. 5.322 Ma). The deposits situated directly underneath the till (50.7-60.2 m) are related to the Nidanian Glaciation and show a reversed polarity and correlate with the end of the Matuyama Epoch. The deposits from 60.2-104.0 m depth were accumulated during the Early Pliocene, i.e. approximately 5.332-4.6 million years ago. They appear to correlate with the middle part of the Gilbert Palaeomagnetic Epoch and thus they are considerably older than previously thought. The cored section indicates a stratigraphic gap of about 3.5 Ma from the Lower Pliocene to the first advance of the Scandinavian ice sheets into Poland, which are thought to have occurred in the early Middle Pleistocene. The analysed deposits accumulated under variable climatic conditions showing two periods with significant aridity alternated with two periods of increased humidity. Deposits of the arid periods contain no pollen, butaeolian sand quartz grains are found. During periods of more humid climate the area was covered by various types of mixed forest.
The paper presents the results of erratic boulders studies in the area of Trójmiejski Landscape Park (TLP) located west of the Gulf of Gdañsk. The research objects were boulders protected as natural monuments (66 erratics) and all boulders with long axis ³ 50 cm within two testing areas (1100 erratics). Results show that erratics of the TLP often occur in clusters and their spatial density is even near 300 items/km2 in some areas. The authors selected 44 boulders which may be interesting research objects and/or have high values for geotourism. Nine erratics reveal features potentially suitable for the terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (TCN) dating. Moreover, high number of boulders in the TLP area gives the possibility for investigations of the directions of glacial paleo-transport based on indicator erratics and analysis of glacial striae. Distinctive zones of significant clusters of boulders characterised by high attractiveness and diversified values were also indicated.
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Lithological analysis of glacial tills is a usefull tool for investigations of marginal zones of Pleistocene glaciations. Presented documentation was based on several examples taken from selected regions of Pomerania, Northern Poland. Simultaneously, regional variability of petrographical tills com po si tion was dem on strated. Some interpretational problems caused by tills weathering are discussed.
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