New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts

---

A 230 ka record of glacial and interglacial events from Aurora Cave, Fiordland, New Zealand

PAUL W. WILLIAMS

Department of Geography
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92019
Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract  Caves overrun by glaciers are known to accumulate dateable evidence of past glacial and interglacial events. Results are reported from an investigation of Aurora Cave on the slopes above Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. The cave commenced to form before c. 230 ka B.P. Sequences of glacifluvial sediments interbedded with speleothems are evidence of the number and timing of glacial advances and the status of intervals between them. Twenty-six uranium series dates on speleothems underpin a chronology of seven glacial advances in the last 230 ka, with the peak of the late Otira glaciation, Aurora 3 advance, at c. 19 ka B.P. With five advances in the Otiran, the last glaciation is more complex than previously recognised. Comparison of the record with that recorded offshore from DSDP Site 594 reveals little matching, but the correspondence of the Aurora sequence with that interpreted from other onshore deposits is more convincing. Glacial deposits on slopes above the cave for a further 660 m may be evidence of the "missing" glacial events of the mid-early Pleistocene.

Keywords  cave deposits; speleothems; uranium series dating; glacial chronology; interstadials; Fiordland

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 1996, Vol. 39: 225-241

0028-8306/96/3902-0225 $2.50/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1996

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (2094K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

---

This year's abstracts | Journal home page | All abstracts | Publishing home page