Geomorphology and Quaternary stratigraphy: The roles of morpho-, litho-, and allostratigraphy

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe subdivision and ordering of Quaternary sediments and landforms is very often based on geomorphology. Quaternary landforms such as moraines, river terraces, palaeoshorelines, and indeed any other landform, can be arranged and ordered in time based on their relative position in the landscape. Morphostratigraphy is the subdivision of sedimentary units primarily on the basis of surface form. Whilst surface form is often used as a criterion for separating sedimentary units, morphostratigraphy also usually incorporates lithological criteria to aid stratigraphical subdivision, and morpho-and lithostratigraphy are often interlinked in Quaternary science. However, another approach-allostratigraphy-has increasingly been applied to subdivide and order Quaternary sediment landforms. Allostratigraphy uses discontinuities to subdivide sedimentary successions. Allostratigraphy enables lateral variations in lithology to be included within the same stratigraphical unit. Furthermore, it enables lithologically similar sediments stacked on top of each other to be divided into separate units based on discontinuities. This paper examines the applications of morpho-, litho-and allostratigraphy to subdivide sediment-landform assemblages and critically reviews their role in Quaternary stratigraphy.

Dinâmica De Rampa De Colúvio Na Superfície De Palmas/Água Doce Durante O Quaternário Tardio – Bases Para Compreender a Evolução Das Encostas No Planalto Das Araucárias

“…Em ambos os registros foram encontrados sedimentos com diferentes graus de pedogênese, discordâncias verticais e descontinuidades laterais. Diante disso, foi aplicado em conjunto os critérios lito-, pedo-, alo-e cronoestratigráfi cos para individualizar as unidades estratigráfi cas (HUGHES, 2010). Na sequencia aplicou-se descrições e nomenclatura pedoestratigráfi ca (CATT, 1990), igualmente ao que foi feito para outras seções estratigráfi cas descritas na área (PAISANI et al, 2016a).…”

Geomorphology of Blidinje, Dinaric Alps (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

“…However, several past glaciated high plateaux in the Dinaric Alps are surrounded by karst poljes, containing some of the thickest and best-preserved glacigenic deposits in the Mediterranean (Adamson et al, 2014;Žebre et al, 2016). An example of well-preserved outwash and till deposits is Orjen Mountain in Montenegro (Adamson et al, 2014;Hughes, 2010).…”

“…The methods used in this research follow the concept of morpholithostratigraphy (Hughes, 2010). A 100 km 2 study area was mapped in detail during fieldwork campaigns over the course of the summers of 2014 and 2015.…”

“…Although a great progress has been made on the palaeoglaciation studies, the Dinaric Alps still lack a precise glacial chronology and a comprehensive palaeoclimate interpretation. The only glacial chronology in the Dinaric Alps has been provided for coastal (Hughes, Woodward, van Calsteren, Thomas, & Adamson, 2010) and central Montenegro (Hughes, 2010), using uranium series dates from secondary carbonates of tillites. These studies indicate four glacial phases, with the largest glaciers occurring before 350 ka, being significantly larger than during the Last Glaciation.…”

Evolução De Paleocabeceira De Drenagem Do Rio Chopinzinho (Sul Do Brasil) Durante O Quaternário Superior

“…A matriz metodológica empregada reside no uso conjugado dos critérios lito-, pedo-, alo-e cronoestratigráfi cos (HUGHES, 2010). Unidades coluviais e colúvio-aluviais foram individualizadas com base em características reconhecidas em campo (cor, geometria, textura e constituintes da fração > grânulo).…”