Late Saalian-Early Weichselian deposits in the Gulf of Riga (Kihnu Island) and Middle Weichselian deposits in NW Estonia (Vääna-J[otilde]esuu)

Abstract

The intertill deposits of the Kihnu Island in the Gulf of Riga, SW Estonia are according to their pollen content subdivided into two units: (1) the Late Saalian with a cold and drought-resistant pollen flora, and (2) the Early Weichselian with abundant redeposited Eemian pollen. Middle Weichselian interstadial deposits, overlain by till from the Late Weichselian stadial and underlain by the till from the Middle Weichselian, are known from the Vääna-J[otilde]esuu site in NW Estonia. The erratic Holsteinian deposits at the Karuküla site, SW Estonia, previously dated as a Middle Weichselian Interglacial sediments, still complicate the Estonian till stratigraphy. According to the pollen content, the Late Weichselian late-glacial (Oldest Dryas, DR1) Haanja till in S Estonia cannot be correlated to the Late Weichselian till in N Estonia. Evidence for an Early Weichselian till is not known in Estonia.

Key Words:

• Gulf of Riga
• Kihnu Island
• Vääna-J[otilde]esuu
• Karuküla
• pollen
• redeposition
• erratic
• till
• Late Saalian
• Early
• Middle and Late Weichselian