A new technique for identifying rock avalanche–sourced sediment in moraines and some paleoclimatic implications

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2012 A new technique for identifying rock avalanche–sourced sediment in moraines and some paleoclimatic implications Natalya V. Reznichenko; Natalya V. Reznichenko * 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand *E-mail: [e-mail]; [e-mail] Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Timothy R.H. Davies; Timothy R.H. Davies 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James Shulmeister; James Shulmeister 2School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stuart H. Larsen Stuart H. Larsen 3School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Natalya V. Reznichenko * 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand Timothy R.H. Davies 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand James Shulmeister 2School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia Stuart H. Larsen 3School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia *E-mail: [e-mail]; [e-mail] Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 25 Jul 2011 Revision Received: 30 Oct 2011 Accepted: 03 Nov 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2012) 40 (4): 319–322. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32684.1 Article history Received: 25 Jul 2011 Revision Received: 30 Oct 2011 Accepted: 03 Nov 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Natalya V. Reznichenko, Timothy R.H. Davies, James Shulmeister, Stuart H. Larsen; A new technique for identifying rock avalanche–sourced sediment in moraines and some paleoclimatic implications. Geology 2012;; 40 (4): 319–322. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32684.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Moraine chronologies are widely used to infer local climate change events and to correlate these events globally, based on the assumption that moraines always reflect climatic drivers. However, this assumption is unreliable in tectonically active terrain because moraines can also be formed by large landslide (rock avalanche) deposits on glaciers. These can affect glacier motion and cause moraines to form while requiring no climate variation, and can thus cause significant errors in climatic signals extracted from moraine chronologies. To eliminate such errors requires a method for identifying moraines that have been influenced by rock avalanches. Herein we present and test a new diagnostic technique that unambiguously identifies rock avalanche sediments using newly discovered fine-sediment signatures characteristic of rapid, high-stress comminution. We test this technique on Holocene moraines in the Southern Alps, New Zealand, which have previously been interpreted as climatic indicators, and demonstrate that some of them unambiguously contain rock avalanche material; so their climatic significance is questionable. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.