New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts
Interglacial vegetation in South Westland, South Island, New Zealand
N. T. MOAR
Research Associate
Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln 8152, New Zealand
I. C . MCKELLAR
Deceased
Formerly New Zealand Geological Survey
DSIR, New Zealand
Abstract Two pollen diagrams derived from organic sediments
at the northern and southern ends of Greens Beach, north of Lake Ianthe,
South Westland, New Zealand, are discussed. The sediments overlie till of the
penultimate glaciation (Waimean Glacial) and at the southern site are buried
beneath c. 12 m of fluvioglacial gravels of last glacial (Otiran Glacial)
origin; at the northern site, the peats are overlain by silt, probably overbank
deposits, and loess. The pollen diagrams reflect mostly events of the last
interglacial (Kaihinu). Although both diagrams represent the same phase of the
interglacial, similarities are not immediately apparent because of breaks in
the pollen record from the northern (Opuku) site. Two radiocarbon dates, one
from mid section (NZ4379A, 29 600 ± 850 14C yr BP) and
one from nearer the base (NZ4378A, 38 000 + 4450 -2850 14C yr
BP), provide a mid-Otiran age for the site. Because the pollen diagrams reflect
interglacial conditions, and because of the stratigraphic position of the
organic sediments, the dates are rejected as being too young.
Keywords pollen diagrams; Greens Beach; South
Westland; Kaihinu Interglacial; Otiran Glacial
New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 2001, Vol. 44: 17-24
0028-8306/01/4401-0017 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand
2001
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (765K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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