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Late Quaternary Glacial and Vegetation Changes, Little Cottonwood Canyon Area, Wasatch Mountains, Utah

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

David B. Madsen  and
Donald R. Currey
David B. Madsen
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Donald R. Currey
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112 Department of Geology/Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
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Abstract

Glacial geology and 14C dating in the central Wasatch Mountains indicate: an early canyon-mouth glaciation (Dry Creek till), probably during isotope stage 6; on that till, a paleosol (Majestic Canyon soil) dated at about 26,000 yr B.P.; overriding that soil, a later canyon-mouth glaciation (Bells Canyon till) probably beginning prior to about 19,000 yr B.P.; a midcanyon deglacial pause (Hogum Fork till) prior to 12,300 yr B.P.; an upper-canyon deglacial pause (Devils Castle till) prior to 7500 yr B.P.; and late Holocene periglaciation. Pollen ratios from bog profiles in the mid to upper reaches of the canyon suggest that temperatures cooler than the Holocene average occurred until after about 8000 yr B.P. Warmer and dryer than average conditions were initiated about 8000 to 7500 yr B.P. During the later portion of this Altithermal period conditions became relatively warm and wet. Two subsequent episodes of cooler than average temperatures correspond chronologically to the initial stades of Neoglaciation elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains. However, there is no geomorphic evidence of corresponding glacial activity in the canyon area. Relative moisture during these two periods differs significantly, suggesting that Neoglacial conditions were controlled primarily by changes in summer temperature.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , September 1979 , pp. 254 - 270
Copyright
University of Washington

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