Sedimentary architecture and chronostratigraphy of a late Quaternary incised-valley fill: A case study of the late Middle and Late Pleistocene Rhine system in the Netherlands. (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peeters, J.; Busschers, F.S.; Stouthamer, E.; Bosch, J.H.A.; Van den Berg, M.W.; Wallinga, J.; Versendaal, A.J.; Bunnik, F.P.M.; Middelkoop, H.
• Is Part Of: Quaternary science reviews. Volume 131:Part A(2016)
• Page Start: 211
• Page End: 236
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: Eemian interglacial -- Incised-valley -- Delta -- Estuary -- Sea level -- Preservation -- Glacio-isostasy -- Palaeogeography -- Luminescence dating; Geology, Stratigraphic -- Quaternary -- Periodicals; Stratigraphie -- Quaternaire -- Périodiques; 551.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2015.10.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-3791

Abstract

Abstract: This paper describes the sedimentary architecture, chronostratigraphy and palaeogeography of the late Middle and Late Pleistocene (Marine Isotope Stage/MIS 6-2) incised Rhine-valley fill in the central Netherlands based on six geological transects, luminescence dating, biostratigraphical data and a 3D geological model. The incised-valley fill consists of a ca. 50 m thick and 10–20 km wide sand-dominated succession and includes a well-developed sequence dating from the Last Interglacial: known as the Eemian in northwest Europe. The lower part of the valley fill contains coarse-grained fluvio-glacial and fluvial Rhine sediments that were deposited under Late Saalian (MIS 6) cold-climatic periglacial conditions and during the transition into the warm Eemian interglacial (MIS 5e-d). This unit is overlain by fine-grained fresh-water flood-basin deposits, which are transgressed by a fine-grained estuarine unit that formed during marine high-stand. This ca. 10 m thick sequence reflects gradual drowning of the Eemian interglacial fluvial Rhine system and transformation into an estuary due to relative sea-level rise. The chronological data suggests a delay in timing of regional Eemian interglacial transgression and sea-level high-stand of several thousand years, when compared to eustatic sea-level. As a result of this glacio-isostatic controlled delay, formation of the interglacial lower deltaic system took only place for a relative short period of time: progradation was therefore limited. During the cooler Weichselian Early Glacial period (MIS 5d-a) deposition of deltaic sediments continued and extensive westward progradation of the Rhine system occurred. Major parts of the Eemian and Weichselian Early Glacial deposits were eroded and buried as a result of sea-level lowering and climate cooling during the early Middle Weichselian (MIS 4-3). Near complete sedimentary preservation occurred along the margins of the incised valley allowing the detailed reconstruction presented here. Highlights: The Rhine formed a 50 m thick incised-valley fill during the late Quaternary. The valley fill includes fine-grained deltaic sediments of Last Interglacial age. Timing and volume of deltaic deposition was strongly controlled by glacio-isostasy. Complete preservation of deltaic sediments is highest along incised-valley margins.