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Original Articles

Gross Morphology of Fennoskandia—Six Complementary Ways of Explanation

Pages 135-167 | Published online: 08 Aug 2017
 

ABSTRACT

Much of the development in Precambrian Fennoscandia is unknown. Geomorphology may partly fill the gap. Six complementary ways of analysis are discussed. 1. Relation landform—geology. Differences between gneiss and granite play small role in the Precambrian relief, but quartzite and some basic rocks are important for the landforms. In the Caledonides with rocks of more varying metamorphic grade the topographic differences are larger. Quartzite and some basic rocks stand for special relief.—2. Structures. Joint valleys have played a central role in Fennoscandian geomorphology, mainly as to joint formation and age. The evacuation of debris from joint zones has been less studied, and here is a wide field for future work.—3. The drainage net is supposed to be old. In separate paragraphs are described the parallelism of N Swedish rivers, the varying numbers of tributaries and supposed deflections. Water gaps and wind gaps are numerous. Most important explanations are weak rock in upstream areas, or tectonic uplift in the gap area. The former is preferred. The primary drainage net was probably developed on a flat sediment-covered surface.—4. Erosion surfaces. Regenerated surfaces are discribed and erosion surfaces in a stepwise system. There are open questions as to both types of surfaces. The way of description is important.—5. Climatic geomorphology may be of future importance. The Inselberg plains in N Sweden and N Finland are probably preserved from warmer climates. Forms of lower magnitude such as pediments are more problematic. So also V-shaped valleys that may reflect a subpolar climate of excessive valley formation.—6. Glacial erosion. The number of glaciations is higher than the classical 4 (2) ones. Cold-based glaciers may have existed. The forms are discussed in seperate paragraphs for striae, roches mountonnées, flyggbergs, partly glacially transformed valleys, through valleys, cirques. The lowest cirques are separately treated. They probably reflect older glaciations, complete or not.

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