McCarron, Stephen (2014) Deglaciation of the Dungiven Basin, North-West Ireland. Irish Journal of Earth Sciences, 31. pp. 43-71. ISSN 0790-1763

Preview

Download (7MB) | Preview

Abstract

This paper describes glacigenic landforms and sediments occurring within the Dungiven Basin, north-west Ireland. It relates them to the pattern and timing of deglacial events within several sectors of the late Midlandian British-Irish Ice Sheet. The distribution, association and sedimentology of relatively well-preserved relict deglacial landforms are used in combination to reconstruct the nature and pattern of déglaciation in the region. An intricate pattern of ice-marginal and topographic control on the formation of glacially fed water bodies within the basin occurred during glacial down- and back-wastage toward ice- source areas. The dominant ice masses in the basin retreated west and south-west toward the south Donegal Highlands and Omagh Basin regions (Derrynaflaw Morphostrati- graphic Unit). During evacuation of the Dungiven Basin by these ice fronts, the easternmost valleys of the northern Sperrin Mountains were deglaciating south-eastward, in the direction of the Lough Neagh Basin (Banagher Morphostratigraphic Unit). A proglacial lake in the mid- to lower Roe Valley during initial stages of the Derrynaflaw Unit was caused by the impoundment of proglacial drainage by a lobe of Donegal ice occupying the Foyle Basin. Subsequent glaciolacustrine environments in the valleys of the northern Sperrin Mountains were created by the interaction of retreating ice margins with local topography. Local watersheds provided control of water-body elevations as ice margins retreated south and west toward ice-dispersal.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Deglaciation; Dungiven Basin; North-West Ireland;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS
Item ID:	8869
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.3318/IJES.2013.31.4
Depositing User:	Dr. Stephen McCarron
Date Deposited:	03 Oct 2017 16:03
Journal or Publication Title:	Irish Journal of Earth Sciences
Publisher:	Royal Irish Academy
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

Repository Staff Only(login required)

Item control page

Downloads

Origin of downloads