Glaciofluvial sequences recording the Birrfeld Glaciation (MIS 5d–2) in the Bern area, Swiss Plateau

Abstract

In this paper, we document that glaciofluvial gravel sequences and glacial till deposits that are exposed in the Müntschemier and Finsterhennen gravel pits (Swiss Plateau west of Bern) record three glacial advances during the Birrfeld Glaciation, which corresponds to the last glacial cycle. Sedimentological logging shows that both gravel pits expose deposits of glaciofluvial braided river systems. These sediments are overlain by a till that was deposited during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The results of the provenance analysis imply that the sediments were mainly supplied by the Valais Glacier, which originated in the Central Alps. A minor contribution of the material was supplied by the Saane Glacier with sources in the northern parts of the Alps. In addition, the morphometric analysis particularly of quartzite clasts in the till deposits indicate that while some clasts (the angular ones) were eroded and transported by the Valais Glacier from the Central Alps to the depositional site, the majority of the quartzite constituents (the rounded ones) were most likely reworked from the Molasse bedrock or older gravels. This implies that a large fraction of the sediments in the Müntschemier and Finsterhennen gravel pits could represent recycled material from older fluvial gravels and conglomerates that were then reworked by the glaciers as they advanced to the foreland. Based on the sedimentological data and considering published and new optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) chronological data, we propose a landscape evolution scenario where the first glacial advance occurred during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5d. The second glacier advance followed during MIS 4, while the last one during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), which corresponds to the MIS 2. The MIS 5d advance is recorded by the lowest unit of the Müntschemier gravel pit and consists of a fining upward sequence made up of an alternation of gravel and sand beds. The MIS 4 advance is recorded by the unit beneath the LGM till at Müntschemier and by the lowermost layer in the Finsterhennen gravel pit. It comprises an alternation of gravel and sand beds, which coarsens and thickens upwards. The LGM advance, finally, resulted in the deposition of amalgamated gravel beds at Finsterhennen, which ended with the construction of a till that is encountered on the top of both gravel pits. Sediments related to the interstadial conditions between MIS 5a and MIS 5b and MIS 3 were not encountered, which suggests that the warmer periods were characterised by non-deposition and/or erosion, which possibly resulted in the observed sedimentary hiatus. Although the chronological results are still preliminary, the available information allows us to suggest that during the Birrfeld Glaciation, the Valais lobe advanced several times to the Swiss Plateau. In addition, the facies associations imply that the eastward expansion of the Valais lobe during the MIS 5d and MIS 4 were most likely shorter than during the LGM.

Comparison of three grain size measuring methods applied to coarse-grained gravel deposits

“…The grain shapes are furthermore independent of the lengths of the b-axes. Moreover, the axes' ratios of the coarse-grained material used in this study are similar to those reported for Alpine conglomerate beds (Tanner, 1944;Haldemann, 1948;Bürgisser, 1980), most likely because parts of the material in the gravel pit was derived from these (Pfander et al, 2022).…”

“…For these Quaternary deposits, measurements of cross-bed orientations and alignments of imbricated clasts revealed a paleoflow direction towards the N-NE (Fig. 2a; Pfander et al, 2022). We collected grain size data from eight locations that have four different orientations relative to the paleoflow direction (Fig.…”

“…2a and b). All clasts were extracted from the same c. 7 m-thick stratigraphic layer (i.e., FIH-S -LFA 4 in Pfander et al, 2022). The analysed deposits comprise clast-supported coarse-grained gravels, which are mostly massive-bedded but show cross-beds and imbrications in places (Fig.…”

“…1b, c and d). The grains consist of a large variety of lithologies, mostly derived from Alpine conglomerates, with a predominant occurrence of limestone constituents and a minor contribution of quartzites, granites and metamorphic pebbles (Pfander et al, 2022).…”

“…We then measured 200 grains per sample site upon collecting the data by hand and calliper and on photos. This number is sufficient to calculate accurate percentile values for moderately-to well-sorted material (Daniels and McCusker, 2010;Galia et al, 2017;Eaton et al, 2019), as is the case in the Finsterhennen gravel pit (Pfander et al, 2022). Upon sieving, the minimum representative weight of the sample to be collected was estimated based on the length of the largest b-axis measured with a calliper.…”