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Multiple advances of Alpine glaciers into the Jura Mountains in the Northwestern Switzerland

Graf, Angela ; Akçar, Naki ; Ivy-Ochs, Susan ; Strasky, Stefan ; Kubik, Peter ; Christl, Marcus ; Burkhard, Martin ; Wieler, Rainer ; Schlüchter, Christian

In: Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 2015, vol. 108, no. 2-3, p. 225-238

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    Title
    • Multiple advances of Alpine glaciers into the Jura Mountains in the Northwestern Switzerland
    Author
    • Graf, Angela. Geologische Beratungen Schenker Korner+Partner GmbH, Büttenenhalde 42, 6006, Lucerne, Switzerland
    • Akçar, Naki. Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1-3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    • Ivy-Ochs, Susan. Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP), ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Strasky, Stefan. Institute of Isotope Geochemistry and Mineral Resources, ETH Zurich, Clausiusstrasse 25, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Kubik, Peter. Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP), ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Christl, Marcus. Laboratory of Ion Beam Physics (LIP), ETH Zurich, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Burkhard, Martin. Institute of Geology, Neuchâtel University, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2007, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
    • Wieler, Rainer. Institute of Isotope Geochemistry and Mineral Resources, ETH Zurich, Clausiusstrasse 25, 8092, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Schlüchter, Christian. Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1-3, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:333094
    Summary
    To reconstruct the timing of Alpine glacier advances onto the Jura Mountains, we sampled 17 Alpine erratic boulders within and beyond the LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) extent of the Valais Glacier along three transect for the analysis of cosmogenic 10Be. Our results indicate at least two advances into the study area in Northwestern Switzerland; one during the LGM and one beforehand. Reaching of the maximum extent of by the Valais Glacier into the Jura mountains during the LGM occurred at 21.9±1.8ka based on erratic boulders exposure ages. Ages of boulders located beyond the LGM extent of the Valais Glacier vary from 19.9±1.6 to 144.0±9.6ka. These ages indicate that many of the boulders were displaced and re-deposited by local ice in the Jura Mountains both during and perhaps even prior to the LGM. Therefore, the chronology of the pre-LGM advance(s) of Alpine glaciers into the Jura Mountains remains still to be elaborated.