Depositional environment of a fan delta in a Vistulian proglacial lake (Skaliska Basin, north-eastern Poland)

Abstract

The study reconstructed the environment of a fan delta filling the vast end depression of the Skaliska Basin, and its overlying aeolian deposits. The formation of the large fan delta is associated with the presence of an ice-dammed lake functioning during the retreat of the Vistulian Glaciation (MIS 2). The examined material was collected from five boreholes. Sediments were analysed for their granulometric composition and subjected to analyses of frosting and rounding of quartz grains. Grain size analysis showed that the fan delta deposits are built of sand sediments of very low lateral and vertical variability. The fan delta was supplied with fluvioglacial sediments. Accumulation of sediments occurred in shallow water with a very low-gradient slope. The exposed fan delta became a site conducive to aeolian processes after the lake waters fell and the Skaliska Basin depression dried. Dune deposits overlying the fan were affected by short-distance transport so they did not acquire features typical for aeolian deposits.

The north-eastern aeolian ‘European Sand Belt’ as potential record of environmental changes: A case study from Eastern Latvia and Southern Estonia

“…The primary massive sand (Sm) with an alternating sequences of normal grading in the Mustjõgi 1 profile originates from small pulsatory discharges of sediments and very likely records channel environments (cf. Woronko and Pochocka-Szwarc, 2013). It is therefore unlikely that the sediment dated were well-bleached prior to deposition, and we therefore conclude that the OSL age is overestimated.…”

The fan-like forms in the southern margin of the Mazovian Lowland area (Central Poland): a new high-resolution textural-timing study

“…3). This differs significantly from the typical morainic till outline where the multi-origin grains and the mineralogical content prevail (Woronko 2012a;Woronko and Pochocka-Szwarc 2013). Collectively, the slight increase in cracked-type (C and NU) grains and the dominance of aeolian-type grains suggest a significant role of a water-saturated deposit at the base of the active layer with the onset of intense aeolian activity during winter freezing.…”

“…Obtained dates and sedimentary properties of Unit 1 support the findings of Goździk (2007), who points out the aeolian sand supply in fluvial sediments reflected by the gradual increase in RM-type quartz grains in the transition from the Middle to Late Plenivistulian. The matt grain enrichment together with the high quartz and resistant mineral content as observed in Unit 1 is due to the intense aeolian transformation as has been noted in a numerous other localities in Poland (Mycielska-Dowgiałło 1993Mycielska-Dowgiałło and Woronko 2004;Woronko 2012a, b;Woronko and Pochocka-Szwarc 2013). Additionally, the most likely factor for an altered sedimentary pattern is the significance of the colder (GS-9-12) and warmer (GI-9-12) episodes noted in between GS-9 and GS-11 (Blockley et al 2012).…”

“…In fan-like forms, quartz grains appear to be shiny up to 10 % and within some samples as high as 30 %. Such features of the aeolian-dominated deposits may be due to the high moisture of the sediments blown by wind (Woronko and Pochocka-Szwarc 2013). In addition, it has been noted in the numerous aeolian sand sheets (El Gammal and El Gammal 2010;Kalińska 2012).…”

Late-glacial to Holocene aeolian deposition in northeastern Europe – The timing of sedimentation at the Iisaku site (NE Estonia)

“…The analysis further included assessment of grains rounding using Krumbein's (1941) scale. Seven groups of grains were determined in both sand fractions (0.5e0.8 and 0.8e1.0 mm), providing an insight into the sedimentary history of the sediment (Woronko and Hoch, 2011;Woronko, 2012aWoronko, , 2012b: (1) RM ¼ aeolian wellerounded frosted (Krumbein roundness 0.7e0.9), where the high degree of rounding is an effect of long-lasting abrasion during transport in saltation (Woronko and Pochocka-Szwarc, 2013), (2) EM/RM ¼ intermediate aeolian partially-rounded frosted (Krumbein roundness 0.3e0.6), (3) EL ¼ high-energy aqueous environment, well-rounded shiny (Krumbein roundness 0.7e0.9), where the high degree of rounding points at long-term chemical weathering and abrasion on the grain surfaces (Woronko and Pochocka-Szwarc, 2013), (4) EL/ EM ¼ intermediate high-energy aqueous environment, partially rounded shiny (Krumbein roundness 0.3e0.6), (5) C ¼ broken with at least 30% of the original grain surface, and (6) NU/L ¼ fresh, nonabraded (Krumbein roundness 0.1e0.2), and (7) NU/M ¼ outwardly frosted/matt with sharp edges without any effect of transport; a similar group has been described by Bull and Morgan (2007) and Ritchot and Cailleux (1971).…”