Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
The landform and sediment assemblage produced by
a tidewater glacier surge in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
Matthew R. Bennett!, Michael J. Hambrey", David Huddart#, Neil F. Glasser$,
Kevin Crawford%
!School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Greenwich, Medway University Campus, Chatham Maritime,
Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
"Centre for Glaciology, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth,
Ceredigion, SY23 3DB, UK
#School of Education and Community Studies, Liverpool John Moores University, I. M. Marsh Campus, Barkhill
Road, Liverpool, L17 6BD, UK
$School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool, L33AF, UK
%Department of Environmental and Biological Studies, Liverpool Hope University College, Hope Park,
Liverpool, L16 9JD, UK
Abstract
This paper describes the landform and sediment assemblage produced by a surge (in 1948) of the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen
tidewater glacier complex in northwest Spitsbergen. The main geomorphological products of this advance are two large thrustmoraine complexes on opposite sides of the fjord, and a system of geometrical ridges revealed on glacier decay. The thrust-moraines
are composed largely of diamicton, sandy and muddy gravel, gravelly sand, sand and mud, with minor laminites. All of these appear to
be derived from the fjord #oor and represent both "ne fjord basin sediments and coarse grounding-line fan deposits. Thrusting was the
principal mode of emplacement of the sediment onto the adjacent land areas during the 1948 advance. However, the geomorphology
of the thrust-moraine complexes on either side of the fjord is quite di!erent, re#ecting a transpressive regime on the southwest side
(mainly long ridges) and a normal compressive regime on the northeast side (short ridges and pinnacles of a &hummocky' nature). The
advance which produced the moraine complex has previously been attributed to a surge of Kongsvegen, but the glaciological and
geomorphological evidence suggests that the advance involved both Kongsvegen and Kronebreen. Comparison of the landform
assemblage produced by this event with that produced by other tidewater glacier surges demonstrates the diverse range of landform
assemblages associated with glacier surges, or other episodes of rapid #ow, within glaciomarine environments.( 1999 Elsevier Science
Ltd. All rights reserved
1. Introduction
The landform/sediment assemblages associated with
rapidly advancing tidewater glaciers are poorly understood, yet are of considerable signi"cance for our understanding of the geomorphology and sedimentology of
low-lying coastal and continental shelf areas. The need
for modern analogues with which to interpret the Pleistocene record is well illustrated by the recent debate over
the landform/sediment assemblage along the margins of
the Irish Sea (e.g. Eyles and McCabe, 1989, 1991; McCar-
*Corresponding author. E-mail: m.r.bennett@greenwich.ac.uk.
roll and Harris, 1992; Huddart, 1993; Huddart and
Clark, 1993; McCarroll, 1995). In recent years there has
been a proliferation of literature describing the processes
and landforms associated with glaciomarine sedimentation (e.g. Dowdeswell, 1987; Eyles et al., 1985; Powell and
Molnia, 1989; Dowdeswell and Scourse, 1990; Powell
and Domack, 1995). However, little attention has been
paid to the landforms and sediments which result from
the rapid advance of tidewater glaciers either due to
surges, or simply as a result of the non-climatic icemarginal #uctuations common to tidewater glaciers
(Warren, 1992).
Solheim (1991) provides an exception in describing the
landforms and sediments produced by a surge of the
tidewater glacier Bra> svellbreen in Svalbard (Fig. 1A). He
0142-9612/99/$ - see front matter ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
PII: 0 1 4 2 - 9 6 1 2 ( 9 8 ) 0 0 0 4 1 - 9
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
described a subaquatic landform assemblage consisting
of an outer push-moraine inside which there is a rhomboidal ridge network (crevasse-"ll ridges; Solheim and
P"rman, 1985; Solheim, 1991). In many respects, this is
very similar to the broad landform model proposed by
Sharp (1988b) for surge-type glaciers. More recently,
Boulton et al. (1996) described the landform assemblage
produced by a tidewater glacier surging onto the island
of Coraholmen in Svalbard (Fig. 1A). They emphasised
the importance of subglacial deformation beneath the
advancing glacier in reworking glaciomarine muds to
form deformation till and identi"ed a network of crevasse-"lled ridges formed behind moraines or &till
tongues' produced by the extrusion of deformation till in
front of the glacier. This type of work illustrates the
potential of landbased data in assisting with the interpretation of o!shore seismic records and in developing
landform models with which to interpret the Pleistocene
record.
In this paper we review evidence for an alternative
landform/sediment assemblage to that described by
Boulton et al. (1996), in this case produced by a surge of
the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen tidewater glacier complex
at the head of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, in 1948 (Fig. 1A).
This work adds to the range of landform models avail-
Fig. 1. (Continued)
able with which to interpret the landform and sedimentary facies of low-lying coastal areas.
2. The glacial history of Kongsfjorden
Fig. 1. Location maps for Kongsfjorden and the Kongsvegen/
Kronebreen tidewater glacier complex. [ In (A) 1"Engelskbukta
(Uve( rsbreen and Comfortlessbreen); 2" Coraholmen, Ekmanfjorden
and Sefstr+mbreen; 3" Bra> svellbreen]
At the head of Kongsfjorden there are two tidewater
glaciers, Kongsvegen and Kronebreen, which collectively
drain an area of 1013 km2*part of the Holtedahlfonna
ice-"eld. Today Kronebreen is split by both Colletth+gda
and Ossian Sarsfjellet to form three tidewater margins
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
referred to as Kronebreen North, Central and South
(Fig. 1B). The Kongsvegen/Kronebreen glacier complex
is sometimes referred to as Kongsbreen, a term used
when the glacier complex extended well into the main
fjord (Hagen, pers. com. 1997). At present Kronebreen
South and Kongsvegen ice front is #owing and retreating
at a varying rate; Kongsvegen is almost stationary and
receding slowly relative to Kronebreen South, which has
a maximum ice velocity of 785 m a~1, an annual calving
rate of over 0.25 km3 and a rate of recession exceeding
50 m a~1 (Lefauconnier et al., 1994).
Three advances of this combined tidewater glacier
complex are recorded in historical documents, the earliest being some time around 1800 (Liest+l, 1988). Two
subsequent advances, one in 1869 and the other in 1948,
are better constrained both in space and time. The ice
front at the height of the 1869 advance is shown in
a contemporary "eld sketch reproduced by Lamont
(1876), while the extent of the 1948 advance can be "xed
using aerial photographs taken in 1936 and 1948. The
recession of the glacier complex following the 1948 advance is shown in aerial photographs from 1970, 1977,
1990, and 1995 (Fig. 1C). Additional evidence is available
in the form of oblique photographs taken during "eld
investigations in the 1960s (Wilhelm, 1961; Voigt, 1965;
Meier, 1969). These glacier #uctuations have traditionally been interpreted as the product of glacier surges,
with both Kongsvegen and Kronebreen being identi"ed
as surge-type glaciers (Liest+l, 1988; Hagen et al., 1993).
There is, however, no direct evidence for this conclusion
within the Kronebreen basin; looped medial moraines
(Meir and Post, 1969), elevated trimlines, indications of
quiescent phase #ow, such as well-developed supraglacial
stream networks and potholes (Strum, 1987), and a reduction in crevasse density (Lawson et al., 1994) were not
observed. Kronebreen has all the attributes of a fast
#owing tidewater*as opposed to a surge-type*glacier.
In contrast, Kongsvegen does have attributes indicative
of a surge-type glacier, such as looped medial moraines,
supraglacial drainage networks including potholes, and
is currently experiencing a period of quiescence (Glasser
et al., 1998).
Both the 1869 and 1948 advances are associated with
moraine assemblages on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden and on the southern tip of Ossian Sarsfjellet. The
1948 complex is, however, better developed and linked to
the contemporary ice margin (Fig. 1C), and therefore
forms the focus of this paper.
3. Methodology
The geomorphological components were mapped in
the "eld using enlarged 1 : 15,000 aerial photographs
(1990 and 1995; Norsk Polarinstitutt). The cross-sectional morphology of prominent landforms was surveyed
1215
using an Abney level, while detailed plans were constructed using a Leica TC600 Total Station. Thrusts within
the moraine complexes were recorded by measuring the
dip and direction of dip of well-de"ned rectilinear thrust
surfaces on individual ridges/mounds and within a limited number of sections. The results are plotted on
Schmidt-equal area stereographic projections.
The glacier structures within Kongsvegen were recorded from aerial photographs, and detailed site plans
were prepared using a network of cairns (Glasser et al.
1998). Interpretations were also made using the 1948,
1970, and 1995 aerial photographs.
Sedimentary facies were described using a combination of grain size, fabric and clast shape analysis. Sediments were classi"ed on the basis of the Hambrey (1994)
modi"cation of the Moncrie! (1989) classi"cation for
poorly-sorted sediments. Particle size was determined
using a combination of sieving techniques (sand and
gravel fractions) and a SediGraph 5000 D Particle Size
Analyzer (silt and clay fractions). Three-dimensional fabric data were collected for samples of 50 prolate clasts
and are plotted on Schmidt-equal area stereographic
projections. Clast shape was analysed for samples of 50
clasts following the method of Benn and Ballantyne
(1994), which has been found to give good discrimination
of glacial facies in Arctic environments (Bennett et al.,
1997). All shape samples were of mixed lithology, unless
otherwise stated.
4. Glaciology of the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen complex
The structural evolution of the Kongsvegen /Kronebreen glacier complex was examined using both historical
aerial photographs and contemporary observations at
the margin of Kongsvegen.
4.1. Aerial photograph analysis
Vertical aerial photographs exist from 1948, 1970,
1977, 1990 and 1995, and are complemented by a range
of oblique aerial photographs from 1936 and 1956, although complete coverage of the entire glacier basin is
limited to the later sorties ('1977). Oblique aerial photographs from 1936 show the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen
ice margin located at the southern tip of Ossian Sarsfjellet, running straight across the fjord (Fig. 1C). The "rst
vertical aerial photographs of the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen glacier complex were taken in 1948 during or just
after the surge (Liest+l, 1988). Unfortunately the glacier
complex is shown on just one of the photographs, at the
end of a east-west sortie along Kongsfjorden. Consequently the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen South glacier con#uence is not visible and the relative dominance of these
two glaciers during the 1948 event cannot be identi"ed.
However, later observations made by Voigt (1965)
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suggests that both #ow units were of equal importance.
The 1948 aerial photographs show a heavily crevassed
ice-lobe extending into the fjord (Fig. 1C). No glacier
structures are visible on the glacier surface because of the
intensity of crevassing, although the density of crevasse is
no greater than that on Kronebreen South today. On the
southwest side of Kongsfjorden, the ice margin surmounts a deeply dissected drift slope, separated from the
valley side by a river system. The whole of the moraine
complex on the southwest side of the fjord was covered
by active glacier ice in 1948 except for this narrow (50
m wide), steep (c. 333) and dissected outer drift slope. On
Ossian Sarsfjellet, the glacier margin in 1948 was located
along a prominent meltwater system running parallel to
the modern shoreline. Signi"cantly, not all the moraine
complex was ice-covered and part of this complex may
therefore have been proglacial. Oblique aerial photographs in 1956 show a reduced glacier lobe, but one still
in contact with the coastline of Ossian Sarsfjellet.
By 1970 Ossian Sarsfjellet was ice-free, although on the
southwest side of the fjord ice had not retreated very far
(Fig. 1C). A heavily crevassed, calving glacier in the
centre of the fjord is separated from a crevasse-free,
grounded and partly debris-covered area to the southwest. These two #ow units are separated by a transpressive fault system. This consists of at least 3 major longitudinal fractures between which there are a series of sigmodial tension fractures showing evidence of extension.
A series of prominent moraine ridges can be seen emerging from these fractures close to the ice margin.
By 1977 the ice margin was very similar to that of
today (Fig. 1C), with an active calving ice cli! in front of
Kronebreen South and a grounded ice cli! in front of the
crevasse-free ice of Kongsvegen. On the 1995 air photographs there is evidence of a small fan/delta emerging
from beneath the glacier in front of the southwest side of
the Kronebreen South ice margin, which could be observed in the "eld at low tide in 1996, indicating that
water depths are very shallow at this point.
4.2. Structural glaciology of Kongsvegen
Today the margin of Kongsvegen is deeply embayed.
Recession of the main calving front (Kronebreen South)
has occurred more rapidly than the grounded ice on the
southwest side of the ice front (Kongsvegen). As a consequence an ice cli! oriented approximately parallel to the
direction of #ow occurs behind the beach on the southwest side of the fjord (Fig. 1C). The glacier structures
within this cli! and on the surface of Kongsvegen have
been described in detail elsewhere (Bennett et al., 1996a;
Glasser et al., 1998), and are only summarised brie#y
here.
Four types of structure can be recognised in the terminal area of Kongsvegen. These structures are termed
S }S in order of formation according to normal conven0 3
tions of structural geology. The main structures are: (1)
strati"cation (S ); (2) longitudinal foliation (S ); (3)
0
1
thrusts (S ); and (4) crevasse traces (S ). The earliest
2
3
structure is primary strati"cation (S ) inherited from
0
snowfall in the accumulation area. This structure is not
readily visible on the glacier surface in the "eld, but is
evident on aerial photographs where it shows up in the
middle and upper reaches of the glacier as a di!use
pattern of light and dark ice. It can also sometimes be
seen in the ice cli! as a series of sub-horizontal and folded
ice layers. The second structure is longitudinal foliation
(S ). As on other glaciers, this is visible on the glacier
1
surface as intercalated layers of coarse-bubbly and
coarse-clear ice (Allen et al., 1960). The foliation has
a consistent strike (060}2403) sub-parallel to glacier #ow.
The foliation is not linear but has a low-amplitude sinuosity. The structure dips steeply at angles of between 703
and 853. The foliation is o!set on the glacier surface by
a series of planar fractures (S ), often associated with
2
regelation ice and basal debris layers, which have orientations that are either transverse or diagonal to the
direction of glacier #ow. In the ice cli! these fractures are
seen to o!set the strati"cation and are interpreted as
listric thrusts. They rise from the glacier bed at between
303 and 503 and terminate either just below the glacier
surface or on it. These thrusts are o!set by crevasse traces
(S ) which consist of sharp fractures picked out by vari3
ation in the bubble content of the ice. The crevasse traces
have an average strike of 175}3553, dips which vary from
503 to 903, and concave down-glacier outcrop traces.
This type of relationship is typical of surge-type glaciers
(Lawson et al., 1994), since a compressive wave and
associated thrust formation precedes the surge-front,
which is itself associated with extension, and therefore
crevasse formation.
Three of the four structures described above are associated with debris. The greatest volume is found within
the thrusts (Fig. 2A), which contain layers of basal debris
up to 3 m thick at the base of some thrusts. Most of the
debris-rich thrusts do not crop out on the glacier surface.
Angular supraglacial debris occurs within the folded
strati"cation and can be seen emerging along the fold
traces. On the glacier surface the supraglacial debris
cover rarely exceeds a thickness of one clast and forms
distinct longitudinal bands along the foliation. Dyke-like
structures of basally derived sediment occur parallel to
the foliation (Fig. 2B and C). These are formed by the
incorporation of basal sediment into the foliation during
its formation which is then elevated by continued folding
and revealed on the glacier surface by surface lowering in
the terminal zone (Glasser et al., 1998).
4.3. Summary
The aerial photograph evidence does not resolve conclusively the question of which of the two glaciers was
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
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Fig. 2. Debris-rich structures on the Kongsvegen ice margin. (A) Two debris-rich thrusts exposed within the Kongsvegen ice cli!. Ice #ow is from left to
right. (B, C) Foliation parallel debris ridges formed by folding of subglacial debris parallel to the foliation during lateral compression of the ice tongue
(Glasser et al., 1998). The boundinaged nature of the debris dyke is visible in (B).
dominant during the 1948 advance. According to Hagen
et al. (1993) the dominant glacier in 1948 was Kongsvegen in contrast to the earlier 1869 event which he
assigns to a surge of Kronebreen. The evidence for this
statement is not, however, presented. Kongsvegen has
some of the characteristics of a surge-type glacier and is
currently experiencing a quiescent phase with a #ow
velocity near zero (Lefauconnier et al., 1994), a phenomenon common to surge-type glaciers (Sharp, 1988a; Lawson et al., 1994). The presence of debris-rich thrusts, of
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
a similar angle to those typical of surge-type glaciers
(Bennett et al., 1996a; Glasser et al., 1998) in the margin
of Kongsvegen today may also be suggestive. Observations made by Voigt (1965) suggest that both #ow units
contributed equally to the 1948 advance. It is, however,
unlikely that both glaciers surged simultaneously. More
importantly, given that Kronebreen is still active, has not
undergone a post-surge quiescent phase, and has none of
the features associated with surge-type glaciers in its
basin, it seems unlikely that it is a surge-type glacier (cf.
Hagen et al., 1993).
It is possible, however, that a surge of Kongsvegen
could have precipitated a simultaneous advance of both
Kronebreen South and Kongsvegen. This idea is outlined
schematically in Fig. 3, and develops the ideas of Mercer
(1961). Mercer emphasised the importance of fjord geometry and the size of the calving glacier front on the
location of the ice margin within a fjord. He assumed that
all mass was lost via calving and that the rate of calving
was a function of the width of the calving front. In a fjord
with a uniform width, a small decrease in the equilibrium-line altitude would cause a tidewater glacier to
Fig. 3. Schematic model of the interaction of a fast-#owing tidewater glacier with a surge-type glacier. This model is an extension of the ideas outlined
by Mercer (1961) and is explained in detail within the text.
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
advance down the fjord until it widens allowing the width
of the calving front to increase (Fig. 3A). If we apply this
type of hypothetical model to Kongsfjorden two points
become apparent. Firstly, the glacier con#uence between
Kronebreen Central and Kronebreen South (Fig. 1C) is
a point of unstable behaviour, since glacier con#uence
would reduce the size of the joint calving front and could
therefore precipitate an advance (Fig. 3B). Secondly,
a surge of Kongsvegen would cause a change in the
relative size of the calving front of both Kongsvegen and
Kronebreen South and could cause both glaciers to advance. Consider the two hypothetical examples C and
D in Fig. 3, which show two con#uent tidewater glaciers.
The left-hand glacier is a surge-type tidewater glacier,
while the right is a fast-#owing tidewater glacier. Each
example is taken in turn below.
1. Example C. Initially the calving front of both glaciers
is in equilibrium with the #ux of ice to the margin and
therefore remains stationary. A surge of the left-hand
glacier causes a readjustment of the calving front; an
increase for the surge-type glacier and a decrease for
the right-hand glacier. If the width of the calving ice
cli! in front of the surge-type glacier is in equilibrium
with the ice #ux during the surge the glacier will
remain stationary. However, the right-hand glacier is
no longer in equilibrium and must advance to increase
the width of its calving front (Fig. 3C). Consequently,
a surge in one glacier causes an advance in another.
2. Example D. Here the #ux of ice during the glacier
surge is not in equilibrium with the width of the new
ice cli! and both glaciers advance down the fjord until
the calving front of both glaciers widen su$ciently to
restore equilibrium.
If one applies this type of model to Kongsfjorden, then
a surge of Kongsvegen could precipitate an advance of
Kronebreen South. Critical in this type of model is the
speed at which the surge-wave passes through Kongsvegen relative to the response time of Kronebreen
South. If the passage of the surge wave is rapid then
Kongsvegen would simply advance into the fjord and
pinch o! the snout of Kronebreen South. In practice,
however, glacier surges often occur relatively slowly and
may last several years in Svalbard (Dowdeswell et al.,
1991; Hamilton and Dowdeswell, 1996; Hambrey et al.,
1996). Equally, Kronebreen South has a very high velocity, with a maximum of 785 m a~1 (Lefauconnier et al.,
1994), and would have a rapid reaction time.
The essential point here is that we do not know the
cause of the 1948 advance, simply that both glaciers were
involved and that Kronebreen South does not have the
characteristics of a surge-type glacier, although Kongsvegen does. The type of model outlined above, however, illustrates how the interaction of a surge-type glacier with a fast-#owing tidewater glacier can result in
a range of complex glacier #uctuations such as those
1219
observed in Kongsfjorden and is a model which needs
further exploration.
5. The landform and sediment assemblage
The 1948 advance is recorded on land on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden and on the southern tip of
Ossian Sarsfjellet (Fig. 1C). The assemblage of landforms
and their associated sediments is shown in Fig. 4 for the
southwest side of Kongsfjorden and in Fig. 5 for Ossian
Sarsfjellet.
On the southwest side of Kongsfjorden an ice-cored
lateral moraine extends northwards from the current ice
margin (Fig. 4) and is separated from the valley side by
a small #uvial system running the length of the moraine.
This lateral moraine is actively back-wasting towards the
southwest as a result of debris #owage and ablation of
the buried ice, which is revealed in the #ow-scars and
channels (Fig. 6). Between the lateral moraine and the
fjord shore there is a series of low ridges forming geometrical ridge networks (Fig. 4; Bennett et al., 1996a). At the
northern end of this lateral moraine there is an in#exion
towards the east in the landform assemblage and the
lateral moraine is replaced by a large moraine complex
consisting of an imbricate stack of wedge-shaped sediment sheets composed of sandy gravel and diamicton.
These sediments appear to be derived from the fjord
#oor, as indicated by the presence of foraminifera, shell
fragments and salt e%orescence. This moraine complex
is being periodically reworked during wet weather by
debris #ows.
On Ossian Sarsfjellet the landform assemblage consists
of an extensive moraine complex composed of diamictons, sands, gravels and muds which form a series of
stacked mounds and pinnacles (Fig. 5). This moraine
complex is bisected by a prominent meltwater system
which starts as a meltwater channel and kame terrace
system in the east, and ends in the west in a series of
rock-cut meltwater channels. Diamicton is draped and
&spilled' over a prominent north}south escarpment at the
eastern side of Ossian Sarsfjellet (Fig. 5).
In the following section, we describe and interpret the
range of sedimentary facies present within this landform
complex, and then focus on the geomorphology of the
principal landform elements, which are the two moraine
complexes and the geometrical ridge networks.
6. Sedimentary facies
6.1. Description
Eight broad facies can be recognised both on Ossian
Sarsfjellet and on the southwest side of the fjord.
1. Diamicton-1. This diamicton is characterised by
a high proportion of subangular and subrounded
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
1221
Fig. 5. Landform and sediment facies on Ossian Sarsfjellet. (A) Facies distribution map, also shown in the location of surveyed pro"les in Fig. 18. (B)
Particle size for matrix samples of some of the facies in (A).
b
Fig. 4. Landform and sediment facies on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden. (A) Facies distribution map, also shown in the location of
surveyed pro"les in Figs. 6 and 9. (B) Particle size for matrix samples of
some of the facies in (A). (C) Shaped data for key diamicton facies.
[VA"very angular and WR"well rounded are the end member of
the roundness scale: very angular, angular, subangular, subrounded,
rounded and well rounded]
clasts and is generally massive with a wide range of
clast sizes. Gravel content is variable, but typically
between 20 and 40%, although a signi"cant proportion of the diamictons recorded on Ossian Sarsfjellet were clast-poor ((5%). Clasts are typically
subangular or subrounded, and "ne-grained sedimentary lithologies are commonly striated. Typical
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Fig. 6. Two pro"les across the lateral moraine on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden, showing the relationship between the moraine and the
rectilinear ridge networks. See Fig. 4 for pro"le locations.
shapes are shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The matrix varies
in its silt content, but is usually quite sand-rich; the
clay content is small (Figs. 4B and 5B). Foraminifera, shell fragments and salt e%orescence occur in
some of the diamictons, particularly the "negrained clast-poor examples.
2. Diamicton-2. In contrast this diamicton contains
a high proportion of angular and very angular
clasts (Figs. 7 and 8). It normally consists of a massive sandy diamicton, with a high proportion of
angular and very angular clasts, although there is
usually a wide range of shapes (Fig. 7). It can be
distinguished on the basis of roundness, but not
particle form from diamicton-1 (Fig. 4C). Only a few
clasts are striated. It occurs extensively on the icecored lateral moraine on the southwest side of
c
Fig. 7. Clast shape data for the principal facies within the moraine complex on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden. The clast shape matrix consists of
four uni-lithology samples taken from the same location within each facies. The in#uence of clast lithology within a single environment can be seen by
reading the matrix horizontally, while the contrast between di!erent facies is obtained by reading the matrix vertically. [VA"very angular and
WR"well rounded are the end member of the roundness scale: very angular, angular, subangular, subrounded, rounded and well rounded]
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
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Fig. 8. Co-variant plots of the RA index (percentage of Very Angular and Angular clasts) versus the C index (percentage of clasts with c : a axial ratio
40
of )0.4) for all the clast shape data obtained from the moraine complex on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden and from Ossian Sarsfjellet. The
subglacial, supraglacial and glacio#uvial facies envelopes are obtained from Bennett et al. (1997).
Kongsfjorden and is being actively reworked and
sorted by debris-#ow activity.
3. Sandy gravel and gravelly sand facies-1. This facies
consists of interbedded sandy gravel, sand and silt
units either in subhorizontal sheets or in large channels. Matrix supported gravels are also present in
some of the sequences. Foraminifera and shell fragments occur abundantly within the matrix. This
gravel facies only occurs in the moraine complexes
and can be distinguished on the basis of clast roundness from diamicton-1, which is more angular. This
clast shape distinction is most marked for soft limestone clasts (Fig. 7). These gravels appear to have
a higher silt content on Ossian Sarsfjellet than that
recorded within the moraine complex on the southwest side of fjord (Figs. 4B and 5B).
4. Sandy gravel and gravelly sand facies-2. This is
a diverse facies ranging from openwork pebble
gravel to cobble gravels. Channels and tabular cross
sets are often evident, as are isolated units of
laminated or rippled coarse sand. Shell fragments
and foraminifera are absent. It is found within the
glacio#uvial systems of the moraine system and
occasionally within moraine-mounds. It can be distinguished from the "rst gravel facies on the basis of
clast roundness (Figs. 7 and 8).
5. Muddy gravel. This facies is characterised by moderately well-sorted pebble/cobble gravel, with clasts
coated with mud. Clast shapes are similar to those
of the "rst sandy gravel subfacies and are usually
more rounded than those of diamicton-1 and the
second sandy gravel subfacies. This facies is usually
associated with the sandy gravel facies.
6. Sand. A range of moderately well-sorted sand units
are present. These may be laminated or rippled, but
are more commonly massive.
7. Mud. Sandy mud with occasional pebble gravel
clasts, shell fragments and foraminifera occur within
the moraine complexes, particularly on Ossian Sarsfjellet.
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Table 1
The abundance of di!erent facies in the thrust moraines of Ossian
Sarsfjellet and on the southwestern side of Kongsfjorden
Facies
Southwest side
Kongsfjorden
Ossian Sarsfjellet
Diamicton-1
Sandy gravel/gravelly sand
Muddy gravel
Sand
Mud
Sand-mud laminites
*****
****
*
*
*
*
****
***
*
***
***
**
4.
5.
* occasional
***** abundant
8. Sand-mud laminites. Rhythmically laminated mud
and sand, occasionally with isolated gravel clasts,
occur within both the moraine complexes, although
they are more evident on Ossian Sarsfjellet. Thicker
sand-mud layers are also present in minor amounts.
The frequency with which these eight facies are encountered within the moraine-complex of Ossian Sarsfjellet and that of the southwest side of Kongsfjorden is
indicated in Table 1. The moraine-mounds of Ossian
Sarsfjellet contain a much "ner-grained facies assemblage
than the moraine complex on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden which is dominated by diamictons and sandy
gravels. Supraglacial debris (e.g. diamicton-2) does not
form a signi"cant part of the moraine complex and is
only recorded as a thin veneer on some moraine-mounds.
6.2. Interpretation
Foraminifera, shell fragments and salt e%orescence are
common to many of the facies described above suggesting that much of the sediment is derived originally from
the fjord #oor. Each facies is interpreted below.
1. Diamicton}1. These are interpreted in general as basal
diamictons on the basis of their clast shape (Figs.
7 and 8) and the presence of abundant striations. The
clast poor examples, rich in foraminifera and shell
fragments, appear to be reworked or derived from the
fjord #oor where they may have been originally deposited by iceberg dumping, accounting for the basal
a$nity in their clast shapes. All the diamictons have
been sheared to varying amounts and are perhaps best
described as deformation till.
2. Diamicton}2. This diamicton is interpreted as a combination of supraglacial debris and basal debris. The
basal debris is elevated to the glacier surface along
debris-rich thrusts within the glacier ice and by foliation-parallel folding (Glasser et al., 1998).
3. Sandy gravel and gravelly sand facies-1. This facies is
interpreted as the product of sedimentation within an
6.
7.
8.
1225
ice-proximal glaciomarine grounding-line fan. The
presence of broad channels, shell fragments, foraminifera and matrix supported gravels, indicative of subaquatic deposition in an environment rich in suspended sediment, all support this interpretation
(Powell, 1981, 1984, 1990).
Sandy gravel and gravelly sand facies}2. This is found
within the glacio#uvial systems of both moraine complexes and is typical of sandur environments in general (Maizels, 1995).
Muddy gravel. This occurs in association with the
sandy gravel facies. The presence of a silt matrix coating each clast is indicative of rapid sedimentation
within an environment in which suspension settling is
occurring. Such conditions are common within some
types of grounding-line fans (Powell, 1990; Powell and
Domack, 1995).
Sand. These sediments are of variable origin and interpretation is usually dependant on the facies association. Laminated examples can be seen forming today
in shallow silting ponds in front of dewatering debris
#ows, with which they are normally interbedded.
Massive sand units can also be seen within part of the
active glacio#uvial systems. In addition massive sand
units are sometimes a feature of glaciomarine environments (Hambrey, 1994).
Mud. Due to the presence of foraminifera and shell
fragments, this facies is interpreted as the product of
suspension settling within a glaciomarine environment. The presence of laminated sequences with occasional isolated lonestones, interpreted as dropstones,
supports this interpretation.
Sand-mud laminites. These are probably tidal rhythmites and are common features of glaciomarine sequences (Mackiewicz et al., 1984; Cowan and Powell,
1990).
In summary, therefore, the sedimentary facies of the
moraine complexes studied re#ect for the most part
either "ne fjord basin sediments or coarse grounding-line
fan deposits, and give some insight into the sedimentology of the fjord #oor (cf. Elverh+i et al., 1980, 1983;
Boulton, 1990).
7. Moraine complexes
The moraine complexes on the southwest side of the
Kongsfjorden and on Ossian Sarsfjellet are very di!erent
in size and character and are therefore dealt with separately.
7.1. Southwest side of Kongsfjorden
The morphology and internal geometry of this moraine complex is shown in the transect in Fig. 9. The
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Fig. 9. Pro"le across the moraine complex on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden. See Fig. 4 for its location. The matrix grain size "eld is de"ned by
a minimum of two bulk samples. [VA"very angular and WR"well rounded are the end member of the roundness scale: very angular, angular,
subangular, subrounded, rounded and well rounded]
internal structure is based on exposures and more importantly the 3-dimensional outcrop geometry of the individual facies recorded along the transect. No evidence
was found for large-scale folding in the sediments, although associated glacier ice was strongly folded. The
moraine complex consists of a series of stacked sediment
rafts, separated by listric thrust faults. Each slab of sediment is bounded by thrusts and forms a distinct ridge
often composed of a di!erent facies from adjacent ridges.
The sediment slabs are composed of in situ sediment
which has not been subjected to resedimentation. The
upglacier face of each ridge has a rectilinear form de"ned
by a thrust surface, and dips between 303 and 403. Individual ridges or sediment slabs can be traced along the
strike of the moraine complex for distances ranging between 5 and 550 m (Fig. 10A}C). The moraine complex
can be divided into three sections separated by two areas
of debris #ow activity (Fig. 9), working from the southeast or fjord side they are:
1. Section 1 (0}200 m; Fig. 9) consists of a series of
sediment slabs/ridges composed of sandy and mud-
rich diamictons. These ridges are separated by an
area of debris #ows from the second section.
2. Section 2 (300}600 m; Fig. 9) consists of a system of
sharp-crested gravel ridges which form the largest
and most prominent part of the moraine complex
(Figs. 10 and 11). Each ridge is between 20 and 50 m
high and can exceed 800 m in length. At its most
complex it consists of 6 sub-parallel sediment slabs
each forming a ridge (Fig. 10A). The upglacier face
of each ridge or sediment slab forms a rectilinear
slope, with dips varying from 303 to 543. This
system of gravel ridges contains slabs of coarsely
crystalline, strongly folded glacier ice (Fig. 10D),
interleaved between gravel units and separated
from them by thrusts which dip upglacier at between 323 and 543. The gravel ridge system is
dominated by sands, sandy gravels and muddy
gravels, which were probably entrained or thrust
up from a grounding-line fan within the fjord.
These prominent gravel ridges are separated by an
area of debris #ows (Fig. 10B) from the third
section.
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
1227
Fig. 10. Gravel thrust-moraines on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden. (A) The main ridge system consists of a series of stacked or imbricate slabs of
gravelly sand, sandy gravel and muddy gravel. Ice #ow was from right to left. (B) This shows the relationship of the gravel ridges to seasonally active
debris #ows which are in"lling the area to the left of the gravel ridges. Ice #ow was from right to left. (C) Individual gravel ridges are continuous for over
500 m and have a "sh plate-like crest. Ice #ow was from left to right. (D) Slabs of glacier ice occur within the gravel ridge complex as shown in this
photograph. Note the person for scale.
3. Section 3 (750}950 m; Fig. 9) consists of a series of
irregular ridges which show evidence of signi"cant
sediment-#ow both on the southwest, or ice-distal
face, of the complex and back towards the gravel
ridges (Fig. 9). However, in situ sediment does occur
revealing sequences of diamicton, laminates of mudsand, and sand units.
The ice-distal face of this moraine complex is the only
part of it visible on the 1948 aerial photographs (Fig. 4A).
The rest of the complex can be seen melting out of the
glacier surface on the 1970 aerial photographs; glacier ice
is visible between the three main ridge systems which
form the moraine complex. Each of the three ridge systems is orientated along a prominent strike-slip fracture
sub-parallel to the direction of #ow.
The moraine complex is interpreted as a thrust complex formed both by proglacial and englacial thrusting,
incorporating glaciomarine sediment and transporting it
onshore (Fig. 12) in a fashion similar to the moraines
described in front of Uve( rsbreen by Hambrey and Hud-
dart (1995) and at Comfortlessbreen by Huddart and
Hambrey (1996), both of which are located in Engelskbukta, the next fjord to the south of Kongsfjorden (Fig.
1A). In this type of moraine complex thrusts propagate
both within the glacier lobe and proglacially rising from
a common deH collement surface, or sole thrust, beneath
the glacier. Debris-rich basal ice or slabs of subglacial
sediment are entrained along thrusts within the glacier
lobe, thickened by folding and bed-parallel thrusting, and
then melt out to form a moraine complex consisting of
imbricate sediment slabs each forming a ridge. Glacier ice
may be incorporated into the moraine complex between
individual thrust slabs (Fig. 9), although this need not
occur. Sediment within the upper part of a thrust is
draped over the glacier fore"eld as the ice melts. However, it is the sediment at the base of the thrust which
forms the mound/ridge, the upglacier face of which is
de"ned by the thrust surface. Consequently thrust-moraine mounds need not necessarily incorporate buried
ice, since it is only the basal part of the thrust which forms
the mound or ridge. The morphology of the resultant
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Fig. 11. The gravel ridges system within the moraine complex of the southwest side of Kongsfjorden. (A) Map of the principal ridge crests and thrusts,
with their dip and orientation of dip. Ice #ow from right to left. (B) A series of serial pro"les across the ridge system. All the ridges are composed of
sandy gravel, sands, muddy gravel or glacier ice.
mound or ridge re#ects the geometry of the thrust
and its inclination. The melt out of debris from thrusts, to
form ice-free moraine-mounds, can be seen taking place
at the margins of many of the glaciers in the Kongsfjorden area (Bennett et al., 1996b; Hambrey et al., 1997),
including Kongsvegen where the process can be observed
within the terminal ice cli! (Bennett et al., 1996a). Due to
the location of the ice front in 1948, close to the outside
edge of the moraine complex, it would appear that the
moraine system formed predominately by thrusting within the glacier lobe (Figs. 4A and 12). On the 1970 aerial
photographs the three main ridge systems of the moraine
complex can be seen melting out of the glacier, each
separated by ice, and occupying a prominent longitudinal strike-slip fracture. This coupled with the orientation of the moraine complex (sub-parallel to the fjord
axis, the inferred #ow direction, and therefore the direction of maximum compression) suggests that the thrust
system was transpressive, involving both strike-slip as
well as normal compression. The linear nature of the
moraine complex, dominated by well-de"ned thrust
ridges, which contrasts with those formed by this process
elsewhere (Hambrey and Huddart, 1995; Huddart and
Hambrey, 1996), probably re#ects this transpressive regime.
The geometry of the thrust-slabs in relation to the
former fjord #oor is indicated by the preservation of
primary sedimentary structures within the main gravel
ridge system, and were exposed in a series of sections
excavated in the crest of this system (Fig. 13). At the
southeast end of the gravel ridge system, a channel sequence was exposed in a section cut into the downglacier
face and running parallel to the ridge crest. The long axis
of the channel dips out of the face at 403 while the
transverse axis is parallel to the trend of the ridge crest.
Only the right-hand side of the channel is visible (Fig.
13A). It is "lled by a series of conformable gravel and
sand units, the most distinctive (Unit A, Fig. 13), being
composed of open work gravels coated with silty clay
indicative of rapid sedimentation in some form of subaquatic #ow. This is consistent with the interpretation of
the gravel ridge system being derived from a groundingline fan. The channel indicates that the sea #oor is discordant (i.e. perpendicular) to the plane of thrusting. A
second exposure on the ridge crest shows units of
pebble/granule gravel and sand dipping conformably
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
1229
Fig. 12. Model for the formation of the moraine system on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden involving thrusting both within the glacier ice and
proglacially. Fjord bottom sediments is thereby transferred onshore.
with the upglacier rectilinear face of the ridge (Fig. 13B).
A thrust-fault associated with a #ame structure of "ne
sand also occurs within this sequence. A similar situation
is also indicated in Fig. 13C. In both these cases, the
upglacier face of the ridge appears to be parallel to the
former fjord #oor. A more common occurrence, however,
is subhorizontal sand and gravel units in which the
bedding is truncated by both the upglacier and downglacier face of the ridge (Fig. 13D). These subhorizontal
units often show a wave-like undulation along the length
of the ridge crest, suggesting either lateral compression or
primary deposition in a series of domes. The range of
geometrical relationships between the primary bedding
and the thrust surface is consistent with that typically
found within imbricate or duplex thrust systems (Butler,
1983), formed within a bedded sequence in which there is
a contrast in competence between each layer. The type of
geometries observed in the ridge complex (Fig. 13) are
shown schematically in Fig. 14. The ridge morphology we
see today is eroded/degraded from this type of complex.
Clast fabrics were obtained from all the diamicton
thrust blocks, both on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden and on Ossian Sarsfjellet. A total of 34 fabrics were
obtained and their eigenvalues are plotted in Fig. 15
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Fig. 13. The sedimentology with the crests of the gravel ridges showing the relationship of primary sedimentary structure to the ridge or thrust
geometry. The particle size of prominent units is also shown Phi (+) units.
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
1231
Fig. 14. Illustration of the type of imbricate or duplex thrust system which could explain the range of tectonic geometries indicated by the ridge crest
sediments shown in Fig. 13.
(following: Dowdeswell et al. 1985; Dowdeswell and
Sharp, 1986; Hart, 1994). Two distinct groups of fabric
are evident on this plot (Group A and C) with a few stray
points between (Group B), examples of each fabric type
are also shown in Fig. 15. Two of the fabric clusters
correspond to process "elds identi"ed by Dowdeswell
et al. (1985) and Dowdeswell and Sharp (1986); Group
C occurs in a similar location to lodgement tills, while
Group A clusters around glacigenic debris #ows (Fig. 15).
The Group A fabrics may also be consistent with some
deformation tills (Benn, 1994). The strong lodgement
till-like fabric within some of the diamictons (Group C)
could either be the result of sediment deformation or
re#ects a pre-deformation subglacial fabric. Since much
of the diamicton is derived from the fjord #oor where
strong fabrics are normally absent (Domack and Lawson, 1985), a tectonic origin is suggested for the fabric.
The strong fabric may be indicative of either, a thin
deforming layer and moderately high strain rates (Hart,
1994), or alternatively brittle, or brittle-ductile, strain
within the thrust slab (Benn and Evens, 1996). Group
A fabrics have eigenvalues which are either indicative of
re-sedimentation (Dowdeswell and Sharp, 1986) or subglacial deformation (Benn, 1994, 1995). However, due to
small scale fabric variability the former interpretation
appears more likely. They also occur in locations likely to
have experienced some re-sedimentation. This is well
illustrated by a coastal section through diamicton at the
northeastern end of the transect shown in Fig. 9. Here
there are two superimposed diamicton units, distinguishable only on the basis of a slight variation in gravel
content and colour. The lower diamicton has a Group
C fabric, while the upper diamicton has a Group A fabric.
This suggests that the surface of the thrust mound has
undergone some degree of sediment #owage, probably
post-depositionally. In general, this is a pattern which
repeats itself with shallow, near-surface, fabrics plotting
within Group A, while deeper, undisturbed, fabrics are
typical of Group C.
7.2. Ossian Sarsfjellet
The moraine complex of Ossian Sarsfjellet is composed of numerous individual mounds/ridges with
a more chaotic disposition than that found in the moraine complex on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden
(Fig. 16A). However, the individual mounds and ridges
have the same key characteristics as those on the southwest side of the fjord as well as those typical of both
englacial and proglacial thrust complexes described elsewhere by the authors (Hambrey and Huddart, 1995;
Bennett et al., 1996b; Huddart and Hambrey, 1996; Hambrey et al., 1997), namely: (1) the mounds have wellde"ned upglacier rectilinear faces; (2) each mound is
composed of undisturbed basally derived sediment; (3)
individual mounds and ridges are separated from one
another by thrusts with adjacent mounds and ridges
commonly being composed of di!erent facies; and (4) the
mounds/ridges have a stacked or imbricate form. The
Ossian Sarsfjellet moraine complex is therefore also interpreted as the product of glacial thrusting both proglacially and within the glacier lobe itself, although the
range of morphological products contrast with those on
the southwest side of the fjord. The sedimentary facies
within the moraine complex are "ner-grained than on the
southwest side of the fjord and are dominated by glaciomarine sands, muds and diamictons.
The moraine complex on Ossian Sarsfjellet can be
divided into two morphological facies separated by the
main #uvial system which runs parallel to the coast and
bisects the moraine system (Fig. 5). The area to the north
of the #uvial system is composed of large, linear, stacked
moraine ridges, while the area to the south of the #uvial
system is more chaotic in form, being composed of
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Fig. 15. Eigenvalue plot for fabrics taken from diamictons within the moraine complexes of both Ossian Sarsfjellet and the southwest side of
Kongsfjorden. The data is grouped into two main areas (Group A and C) with a few stray points (Group B). Typical fabrics for each cluster of data
points is also shown using Schmidt-equal area stereographic projections. Contours are at 1, 3, 5, 7% per 1% area. The process "elds shown in the inset
are based on Dowdeswell et al. (1985).
numerous small mounds, ridges and pinnacles producing
a more &&hummocky'' appearance (Fig. 16A). On the 1948
aerial photographs the ice margin is located along the
meltwater system (Fig. 5A). Both areas of moraine com-
plex, the subglacial south and proglacial north, contain
similar sedimentary facies, vegetation and soil development, and are consequently believed to both date from
1948. The thrust orientations within the two parts of the
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Fig. 16. The Ossian Sarsfjellet moraine complex. (A) The complex
consists of numerous small ridges/mounds of varying geometry.
However, all have pronounced upglacier rectilinear or thrust surfaces and have an imbricate form. This is illustrated by the morainemound in the foreground. (B) Moraine-mound pinnacle within the
Ossian Sarsfjellet moraine complex, composed of glaciomarine diamicton. The pinnacle is approximately 5 m high.
moraine system are however di!erent, in the proglacial
system thrusts dip towards the southeast, while in the
subglacial part thrusts dip more commonly towards the
southwest (Fig. 17). The moraine complex as a whole
does not appear to contain much buried ice, since the
complex is dry and there is no evidence of contemporary
debris-#ow activity. The morphological di!erences between the two moraine systems*proglacial and englacial*are summarised in Table 2.
The proglacial moraine system consists of an imbricate
stack of ridges, typically 20 m high and 150 m long. Each
1233
ridge has a well-developed rectilinear face or thrust surface which dips upglacier at between 203 and 403 (Fig.
18A and B). The inclination of these thrust surfaces
appears to decrease towards the front face (i.e. the deformation front) of the moraine complex. Thrusting occurred against a gently rising bedrock slope. The front face
of this proglacial thrust system cross-cuts earlier thrust
mounds and a prominent moraine ridge formed during
the 1869 advance, from which it can be distinguished on
the basis of vegetation, degree of degradation and soil
development (Fig. 17).
In the rest of the moraine complex, to the south of the
#uvial system (Figs. 5 and 17), the individual morainemounds are morphologically more diverse (Fig. 16). Four
morphological components can be identi"ed within this
part of the moraine complex: (1) a dissected drift sheet, up
to 5 m thick, with an undulating surface; (2) individual
moraine-mounds with a convex-upward crestline trace,
usually 5 to 10 m high and 10 to 15 m long (Fig. 16A); (3)
linear ridges usually between 10 and 20 m high and up to
100 m long composed of sandy gravels; and (4) pinnacles,
between 1 and 5 m high, composed of diamicton which,
although degrading rapidly, have not been formed by
erosion (Fig. 16B). Mound or ridge morphologies are not
facies-speci"c, although ridges are more common in
sandy gravels and pinnacles are restricted to diamictons
and muddy sands.
The range of mound and ridge morphologies present
re#ects the geometry of the thrusts from which they were
formed within the former ice margin (Bennett et al., 1998).
There are two main variables to be considered: "rstly, the
angle of the thrusts and secondly the geometry of its
strike trace. The steeper a thrust the more prominent
a ridge is likely to be once the ice has melted away, since
more sediment is left in the mound at the base of the
thrust and less is draped over the glacier fore"eld as the
ice melts. This is shown schematically in Fig. 19A, and is
based on observations within the ice cli! of Kongsvegen
(Bennett et al., 1996a) where tall prominent ridges and
mounds can be seen melting out of steep thrusts. However, there is a critical angle of approximately 453, above
which the rectilinear slope is not maintained after the ice
melts, because of collapse. The second variable is the type
of thrust. The outcrop trace of a thrust on glacier surfaces
within Spitsbergen tend to vary from linear to arcuate or
lobate forms (Hambrey et al., 1996). Short arcuate or
lobate thrusts will result in mounds with a crestline-trace
which is convex in the direction of thrusting; the resultant
mound is highest where the fault angle was highest at the
thrust apex (Fig. 19B). Thrusts with a more linear strike
trace will result in ridges. The pinnacles are less easily
explained and there are two possible models. Firstly,
a spire may form in the apex of a tight lobate thrust. The
thrust angle is greatest at the thrust apex and consequently any sediment within it would tend to melt out to
form a steep sided mound at this point. This would be an
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Fig. 17. Structural map of both the 1948 and 1869 thrust moraine complexes on Ossian Sarsfjellet. Prominent rectilinear (thrust) surfaces are shown in
the map along with Schmidt-equal area stereographic projections of the dip and direction of dip of these surfaces. The 1948 ice and deformation limits
are also shown.
extreme example of that illustrated in Fig. 19B. Alternatively, a pinnacle may form at the intersection of two
thrusts, sediment being elevated higher at the point of
intersection (Fig. 19C). Interference patterns between
lobate thrusts can be seen in their outcrop trace on
contemporary ice surfaces (Hambrey et al., 1996). Both
mechanisms could generate the diamicton pinnacles observed, although the second model seems more plausible
since it would be di$cult to produce a lobate thrust
which was su$ciently tight to produce a pinnacle as
opposed to simply a conically shaped mound.
A general model for the formation of the moraine
complex on Ossian Sarsfjellet is shown in Fig. 20. Advancing ice generated a large proglacial thrust complex
on which a series of moraine-mounds were formed by
debris melting out of thrusts within the glacier lobe itself.
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Table 2
Morphological and structural di!erences between the proglacial and
englacial thrust-moraine systems on Ossian Sarsfjellet.
Proglacial thrust-moraines
Englacial thrust-moraines
Angle of thrusting varies between Angle of thrusting varies between
153 and 303, with a strike trace of 253 and 403, with a strike trace of
1203 to 1803
0803 to 2603
Linear thrusts, relatively uniform Linear and lobate thrusts of varyin size and geometry
ing size and geometry
Imbricate thrust ridges, typically Ridges, mounds and pinnacles,
involving 10}40 m thick sediment typically involving 5}15 m thick
sediment slabs. May not always
slabs
appear imbricate and individual
ridges/mounds may be widely
spaced
Cross-cuts earlier moraine ridges
No cross-cutting relationships, all
moraines of similar age
Supraglacial drape absent
Supraglacial material may drape
individual moraine mounds/ridges
or forms garlands around the base
No buried ice
Buried ice may occur locally,
greater evidence of re-sedimentation by debris #ow and slumping
Again this involves the entrainment and onshore transfer
of glaciomarine sediment.
The range of sedimentary facies within the Ossian
Sarsfjellet moraine complex is more diverse than that on
the southwest side of the fjord and there is a higher
proportion of mud and sand (Table 1). The "ne-grained
facies are heavily fractured and deformed. Two types of
deformation facies were observed: (1) a meH lange of sand,
silt and clay; and (2) faults, thrusts and boudins.
The most common deformation facies, occurring in all
parts of the moraine Ossian Sarsfjellet is a meH lange of
sand, silt and clay (Fig. 21). The sediments are all "ne
grained, contain isolated clasts and are partially mixed.
Irregular pods of sand, with di!erent particle sizes and
degrees of sorting occur, with di!use and irregular
boundaries (Fig. 21D}F). Occasionally irregular fold
hinges can be identi"ed (Fig. 21F), although this is the
exception rather than the norm. The "ne-grained muds
are typically heavily fractured and break up into blocks
of a centimetre in size (Fig. 21C and E). Fractures are
often open, show evidence of shear and may be lined with
"ne sand. The degree of mixing and deformation is variable, ranging from areas in which deformed sand layers
can be followed as irregular stringers to areas with a chaotic mixture of sand and mud, in which irregular pods
((1}5 mm in size) of di!erent grain sizes occur in close
juxtaposition. The original sediment appears to have
consisted of mud-sand laminites and thicker mud-sand
layers. The deformation of this sequence does not show
strong primary shear, but is better described as a crude
1235
mixing of the sediment. We suggest that this facies represents three phases of deformation. First, soft sediment
deformation caused by loading of saturated sediment by
ice occurred. An element of hydrofracturing, caused by
impeded sediment drainage on loading, may be responsible for some of the sand-"lled fractures and the chaotic
mixing of the sediment layers (Clark, 1949; Hubbart and
Willis, 1957; Boulton and Caban, 1995; Boulton et al.,
1996). The second phase of deformation involved lateral
displacement of the sediment to form thrust ridges or
mounds and is responsible for the development of
shear/tension fractures within the "ne-grained muds. The
"nal phase of deformation appears to have been extensional and is represented by the open fractures and probably resulted from the withdrawal of ice support around
the thrust ridge or mound.
The second deformation facies was observed in an
excavation through the crest of a short ridge, transverse
to the strike of the rectilinear face (Fig. 22). It is characterised by multiple units and complex deformation structures that indicate deformation events prior to and after
thrusting. The facies includes layers of mud, silt, "nemedium sand and sandy gravel. Undisrupted primary
bedding shows signs of soft-sediment deformation in the
form of load structures, but most bedding is attenuated
and boundinaged in the "ne sand and silt, or has been
subjected to small-scale normal faulting in medium sand
(Fig. 21A and B). These structures suggest bed-parallel
extension, which can only have come from the loading of
soft sediment by ice. The second phase of deformation is
that which has the most pronounced morphological expression, namely thrusting. Although bedding remains
essentially parallel to thrusting, it is truncated by the
morphologically constrained over- and under-lying
thrusts and small-scale reverse thrusts as well as chevron
and recumbent folding. These structures represent the
main compressive phase in the sediment. The last deformation event was the formation of near-vertical fractures
some of which were open to widths of 1 cm. These may
have formed once the supporting ice had melted away.
These deformation structures have implications for the
mechanism of sediment entrainment along thrust which
form within glacier ice. Traditional explanations for sediment entrainment along thrusts involve the &freezing-on'
of basal sediment which is then elevated with basal ice as
thrust displacement occurs (Boulton, 1967, 1972). For
this type of model to be consistent with the observed
deformation structures it would require ice to "rst
advance over unfrozen sediment, before basal freezing
occurs. In addition, thrust propagation involves ice displacement and therefore warm sliding ice. For &freezingon' to occur a thermal transition within the glacier prior
to or associated with the phase of compressive #ow
causing thrust displacement must occur. The alternative
is that the sediment is entrained without basal freezing.
The simplest mechanism for this would be sediment #ow
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M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
1237
Fig. 19. Schematic model of the relationship of moraine-mound morphology to the geometry of the thrusts within a glacier. (A) Shows the relationship
of mound height and de"nition to the angle of thrusting; steep thrusts result in high well de"ned moraine-mounds. (B) Moraine-mound morphology is
also controlled by thrust geometry; ridges result from linear thrusts, while lobate thrusts result in arcuate mounds. (C) One hypothesis for the
formation of moraine-mound pinnacles involving interference between two thrusts.
along a thrust, perhaps assisting in its initial propagation.
However, this is inconsistent with the preservation of
primary sedimentary structures at some locations (Fig.
13). The evidence presented here suggests that unfrozen
slices of basal sediment are incorporated into the thrust.
The degree of sediment deformation during this process
is probably a function of grain size and therefore of the
porewater pressures generated. Preservation of primary
bedding, within thrust slabs (Fig. 13) is most marked
within free draining sands and gravels, while deformation
appears greatest in "ne grained mud-sand sequences in
which high porewater pressure can be generated. A full
discussion of the entrainment process within glacial
thrusts must await a greater understanding of the
rheological behaviour of this type of basal sediment and
of the ice-bed interface.
8. Geometrical ridge network
This landform assemblage occurs inside the main
thrust-moraine complex on the southwest side of the
fjord between the shore and the ice-cored lateral moraine. It has been described previously by Bennett et al.
(1996a) and is therefore only brie#y summarised here.
The ridge network consists of two intersecting ridge
components which form a rectilinear pattern when
viewed from above (Fig. 23). The two components are: (1)
transverse ridges; and (2) longitudinal ridges. Transverse
ridges are typically straight, sharp-crested, and asymmetrical in cross-section, with an upglacier face of between
103 and 203 with a steeper downglacier face ('203)
showing evidence of slumping. The ridges are generally of
uniform height (4}8 m), although some have conical
b
Fig. 18. Two pro"les across the 1948 thrust moraine complex on Ossian Sarsfjellet the locations of the two pro"les are shown in Fig. 5. The matrix
grain size "eld is de"ned by a minimum of two bulk samples. [VA"very angular and WR"well rounded are the end member of the roundness scale:
very angular, angular, subangular, subrounded, rounded and well rounded]
1238
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Fig. 20. Model for the formation of the Ossian Sarsfjellet thrust-moraine complex.
highs, associated with intersections with longitudinal
ridges. The strike orientation of the transverse ridges is
variable, but most are orientated perpendicular to the
fjord axis and therefore the direction of glacier #ow. The
ridges are composed of homogeneous, well-consolidated,
sandy diamicton in which subrounded particles dominate. Striated, pebble to boulder-sized clasts are common
and large #at-iron or bullet-shaped clasts, typical of
lodgement till are also present (Sharp, 1982; KruK ger,
1984). Clast fabrics taken from the upglacier face plot in
Group C, while those from the slumped downglacier face
plot in Group A (Fig. 15).
In contrast, the longitudinal ridges are more varied.
They are typically low ((1 m), poorly de"ned, symmet-
rical, beaded and slightly sinuous in morphology. They
vary in length from 10 to 60 m. In all cases, the longitudinal ridges are cross-cut by the transverse ones. Sedimentologically the longitudinal ridges are also more varied
ranging from sandy diamicton to a gravel-rich sand. The
sandy diamicton has the same characteristics as that in
the transverse ridges, while the gravel-rich sand has similar clast shapes but is simply a better sorted sediment.
The ridge network can be seen melting out of Kongsvegen ice margin today and each element traced to
a distinct glacial structure (Bennett et al., 1996a; Glasser
et al., 1998). The transverse ridges are emerging from
the base of thrusts and form in the same manner as the
thrust moraine described above (Figs. 2A and 19A). The
c
Fig. 21. Deformation structures within the moraine mounds of Ossian Sarsfjellet. (A) Boudins within "ne sands and silts. (B) Soft sediment
deformation structures associated with loading and dewatering. The photograph is approximately 30 cm wide. (C) The muds are heavily fractured and
break up into cube shaped blocks (c. 1 cm). These fractures may contain sand, show evidence of shear and are often open to several millimetres. (D}F).
A meH lange of sand, silt and mud with occasional lonestones. Irregular fold hinges are some times evident (F) but for the most part the components
simply appear to be mixed with little sense of the direction of deformation.
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
1239
1240
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
Fig. 22. Field sketch of the deformation structures observed in a trench dug perpendicular to the mound crest and parallel to the direction of thrusting
on Ossian Sarsfjellet with the 1948 ice limit. Three phases of deformation structure can be identi"ed. Some of the boudins are illustrated in Fig. 21A.
longitudinal ridges are foliation-parallel and represent
linear pods of sediment emerging from the foliation either
basally or supraglacially. They have been described as
foliation-parallel ridges (Glasser et al., 1998) and result
from the incorporation of basal sediment into the foliation either at the glacier bed or where it has been
elevated to the surface along thrusts and reworked by
supraglacial streams. Lateral #ow compression enhances
the foliation by tight folding, squeezing the sediment
to form linear pods parallel to the foliation (Figs. 2B
and C).
In this case there is a direct link between debris-rich
glacier structures and the landforms emerging in front of
the glacier. The rectilinear ridge network is similar in
planform to the crevasse squeeze ridge systems described
by several authors (Sharp, 1985a; Solheim, 1991; Boulton
et al., 1996), although in cross-section they are morphologically distinct. True crevasse-"ll ridges usually
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
1241
Fig. 23. The morphology and planform geometry of the geometrical ridge network on the southwest side of Kongsfjorden. These landforms are
described in greater detail by Bennett et al. (1996a).
1242
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
have a more dyke-like form (Sharp, 1985a; Boulton et al.,
1996).
9. Discussion
The above morphological, sedimentological and structural data provide a framework for developing a model
to explain the development of the moraine complex at
Kongsfjorden. This model is applicable to similar situations where tidewater glaciers are able to transfer large
volumes of sediment from a fjord onto low relief terrain.
This investigation also raises a more general issue about
the variability of landform assemblages produced by
glacier surges in glaciomarine environments.
9.1. Landform-sediment model for Kongsfjorden
The landform assemblage produced by the 1948 advance of the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen tidewater glacier
complex at the head of Kongsfjorden consists of a thrustmoraine complex composed primarily of glaciomarine
sediments transported onshore by the advancing glacier.
Flow compression and thrusting appear to be facilitated
by reverse bedrock slopes. Glaciomarine sediments, particularly those from grounding-line fans, form the principal facies within the moraine complex on the southwest
side, while on the northeast side fjord bottom muds
dominate. As the glacier complex retreated, melting out
of debris-rich ice structures resulted in a rectilinear ridge
network, similar in planform, although not in ridge crosssection, to that frequently described as crevasse-"ll ridges
(Sharp, 1985a; Boulton et al., 1996).
The contrast in morphology between the thrust-moraine complex on the southwest side of the fjord and that
on Ossian Sarsfjellet, re#ects the di!ering nature of the
tectonic regime in these two locations. On the southwest
side of the fjord there appears to have been a transpressive regime between fast #owing ice in the centre of the
fjord and grounded ice on the southern side of the fjord
(Fig. 24). This resulted in a more linear thrust system and
consequently an extensive ridge complex. The presence of
bedded sediments in the form of a large grounding-line
fan allowed the development of an imbricate thrust system during the transpressive episode, in which the style of
deformation is similar to that within a classic duplex
thrust system (cf. Butler, 1983). Elements of this transpressive system are visible on the 1970 aerial photograph
in which the three main ridge systems of the moraine
complex (Fig. 9) can be seen melting out of prominent
longitudinal fractures sub-parallel to the #ow direction.
The process of transpression between the two #ow units
was assisted by the presence of a steep bedrock slope
along the southwest side of the fjord.
In contrast, on Ossian Sarsfjellet there were two directions of compression. One from the southwest produced
by the advancing front of Kronebreen South and a
second from the southeast from Kronebreen Central
(Fig. 24). The interference pattern between these two
directions of compression resulted in the more complex
and varied thrust-moraine morphology. Proglacial
thrusting appears to have been the result of compression
from the southeast, that is from Kronebreen Central, and
may predate compression from the southwest caused by
the advance of Kronebreen South. The intersection of
thrusts caused by the interference between these two
Fig. 24. Palaeogeographical map of Kongfjorden in 1936 and 1948.
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
directions of compression may have resulted in the
distinctive diamicton pinnacles in the Ossian Sarsfjellet
moraine complex.
9.2. Surges and the glaciomarine record: landform
variability
Sharp (1988b) proposed a landform model for landbased glacier surges which consists of some form of large
push-moraine, behind which a rectilinear network of
ridges is produced by the melting out of debris within
basal crevasses and from other debris-rich structures,
including thrusts. This type of genetic model has been
widely accepted as typical of surge-type glaciers, and was
applied to the o!shore record by Solheim (1991) in describing a surge of the tidewater glacier Bra> svellbreen in
eastern Svalbard (Fig. 1A). However, perhaps the most
detailed description of the landform record associated
with a tidewater glacier surge is provided by Boulton et
al. (1996) who described the landform/sediment assemblage produced by a surge of the Svalbard tidewater
glacier Sefstr+mbreen (Fig. 1A). This assemblage is dominated by evidence for subglacial deformation of glaciomarine mud and its deposition through sediment #ow
into basal crevasses and by extrusion in front of the
advancing glacier.
The landform assemblage described by Boulton et al.
(1996) is very di!erent from that reported here for Kongsfjorden. Although the principal morphological components are similar*large moraine behind which there is
a network of rectilinear ridges*the origin of these landforms is very di!erent. Subglacial deformation and sediment #ow into basal crevasses was not recorded in Kongsfjorden, instead the assemblage is dominated by landforms formed by thrusting both in front and within the
body of the advancing glacier. The contrast between
these two landform assemblages, both formed by tidewater glacier surges, re#ects two signi"cant di!erences.
Firstly, part of Kongsvegen/Kronebreen advanced over
coarse free draining gravels in which porewater pressures
would not have been suitable for rapid deformation,
whereas Sefstr+mbreen advanced over "ne-grained glaciomarine muds ideal for subglacial deformation. Secondly, the landform assemblage produced by
Sefstr+mbreen is dominated by landforms associated
with glacial structures indicative of #ow extension (crevasse-"ll ridges), while that in Kongsfjorden is dominated
by landforms formed by structures indicative of #ow
compression (thrust ridges). This re#ects a di!erence in
the overall tectonic regime of the two glacier surges;
a function of both a contrast in coastal/fjordal geometry
and the composition of the two glacier lobes. In the case
of Sefstr+mbreen the glacier lobe was composed of
a single surging #ow unit, which expanded into a broader
fjord basin (Ekmanfjorden) and would therefore have
had a predominantly extensional regime, except in the
1243
terminal zone. In contrast, Kongsfjorden is more topographicaly constrained by steep fjord sides and the advancing glacier lobe was composed of two competing
#ow units (Kongsvegen and Kronebreen South), only
one of which was surging. In such conditions a compressive regime is more likely to dominate, and is re#ected in
the resultant landform assemblage.
The contrast between Kongsvegen/Kronebreen and
Sefstr+mbreen emphasises, therefore, the importance of
the overall tectonic regime or setting in determining the
landform/sediment assemblage produced by a tidewater
glacier surge. This is determined by such variables as: (1)
the availability of deformable sediment; (2) coastal/fjordal geometry; and (3) the composition of the advancing
glacier lobe. These two contrasting landform assemblages may re#ect end member of a continuum; one
re#ecting compressive situations and the other extensional ones. This contrast also emphasises the need for
a range of modern analogue studies if we are to develop
comprehensive landform/sediment models for rapid tidewater glacier advances, which are essential in the interpretation of the glaciomarine Pleistocene record.
Finally, it is also interesting to note that the Kongsfjorden landform complex shows a close resemblance to the
nonsurge-induced partially glaciomarine complex of
Comfortlessbreen in Engelskbukta (Fig. 1A), the next
fjord to the south of Kongsfjorden (Huddart and Hambrey, 1996). A similar suite of facies is present including
glaciomarine muds, gravel and diamicton. Furthermore
the moraine complex is morphologically similar, with
thrust-ridges of a variety of forms present. The main
di!erence is that, whereas the bulk of the Kongsfjorden
sediment is derived from the fjord, at Comfortlessbreen probably less than half is. This has important
implications for our ability to discriminate between
landform assemblages produced by surge-type glaciers
and those produced by nonsurge-type glaciers undergoing compressive #ow and in practice it may not
be possible.
10. Conclusions
From a detailed investigation of the morphology,
sedimentology and tectonic structures of a moraine complex produced by a tidewater glacier, linked to an investigation of the ice structures and debris content in the ice
margin, the following conclusions can be drawn.
1. Two contrasting moraine complexes were produced
by the 1948 advance of Kongsvegen/Kronebreen on
either side of Kongsfjorden. Structural glaciological
and geomorphological evidence suggests that a transpressive glaciotectonic regime was responsible for the
prominent ridge system on the southwest side and
a normal compressive regime for the short-crested
1244
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
M.R. Bennett et al. / Quaternary Science Reviews 18 (1999) 1213}1246
ridges and pinnacles of a &hummocky' nature on the
northeastern side (Ossian Sarsfjellet).
The glacier advance involved both Kronebreen South
and Kongsvegen. We suggest that this advance was
precipitated by a surge of Kongsvegen and have presented a simple model based on the work of Mercer
(1961) to explain this observation. This type of model
needs further investigation.
The sediments within the moraine complexes comprise diamicton, muddy and sandy gravel, gravelly
sand, sand, mud and sand-mud laminite. Broken shell
fragments and foraminifera are common and many
exposures show salt e%orescence. These facies have
been reworked from the fjord #oor and include coarse
ice-proximal grounding-line fan deposits and "ne
basinal muds.
Emplacement of these sediments on land by thrusting
is indicated by rectilinear upglacier-facing slopes, imbricate stacking of often contrasting sediment slabs,
evidence for deformation within sheets of sediment
(including shear and recumbent folding) and a clear
linkage to thrusting in the contemporary ice margin.
Reworking of sediment is achieved by debris-#ow
processes, aided by the melting of thrust-blocks of ice
preserved in the moraine complexes.
The contrast between the landform/sediment assemblage documented here for Kongsvegen/Kronebreen
and that reported by Boulton et al. (1996) for
Sefstr+mbreen is attributed to a di!erence in the overall tectonic regime during the surge; a contrast between compression at Kongsvegen/Kronebreen and
extension at Sefstr+mbreen. This is determined by
such variables as: (1) the availability of deformable
sediment; (2) coastal/fjordal geometry; and (3) the
composition of the advancing glacier lobe.
Discrimination between landform/sediment assemblages produced by nonsurge-type and surge-type
tidewater glaciers is problematic as surge-type moraine complexes, of the Kongsvegen/Kronebreen type,
in which thrusting is the dominant mechanism, are
also found at the margins of nonsurge-type glaciers in
Svalbard.
Understanding the interaction between sedimentation
and glaciotectonics in marginal-marine settings is
highly relevant to interpreting the late Pleistocene
record in more southerly latitudes. This investigation
o!ers one highly relevant model, but a range of contrasting glaciomarine-glacioterrestial settings need to
be investigated before older glacigenic sequences and
landforms can be fully understood.
Acknowledgements
Fieldwork was funded in 1995 by the University of
Greenwich and Liverpool John Moores University, and
in 1996 by the UK Natural Environment Research
Council (Grant No. GR9/02185). The logistical support
of Nick Cox and the UK Natural Environment Research
Council Arctic Base at Ny-A_ lesund is gratefully acknowledged as is Jean-Francois Ghienne for "eld assistance in
1995. We would also like to thank the Sysselmann of
Svalbard for permission to work and camp on the Ossian
Sarsfjellet plant reserve. Reviews by Doug Benn and Jaap
van der Meer are gratefully acknowledged.
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