A Mid-Wisconsinian Interstadial on Broughton Island, Arctic Canada, and its Foraminifera

Abstract

Quantitative analysis of fossil foraminifera faunas in raised marine deposits on Broughton Island, Baffin Island, reveals assemblages which can be correlated with Mid-Weichselian (Mid-Würmian) foraminiferal assemblages from the Kola Peninsula of arctic USSR. This correlation is also supported by radiocarbon datings from the two areas and leads to the conclusion that a Mid-Weichselian (Mid-Wisconsinian) interstadial can be identified for Broughton Island. It is termed the Cape Broughton interstadial. During this interstadial the sea level at Broughton Island reached to at least 46 m above the present level, and the faunal diversity there ranged between 14 and 23, which is high for arctic areas. One site, on the east side of Broughton Island, has a fauna that indicates a greater age than those correlative with the Cape Broughton type assemblage. This deposit may be Sangamonian in age.