Glacier fed deltas and new age constraints for glacial Lake Grand Gorge in the northern Catskill Mountains of New York State, USA

Abstract

Ice-dammed lakes were common along the southern margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet during deglaciation. In the Schoharie Valley of the northern Catskill Mountains, New York, a 171 km 2 lake known as glacial Lake Grand Gorge formed in an interlobate area. Previous researchers suggested that deltas developed into this glacial lake from meltwater supplied by the adjacent Hudson Lobe during deglaciation. This study investigates stratigraphy and sedimentology of Pleistocene deltas and lake deposits to determine the source of meltwater and sediment. Detailed examination of stratigraphy from quarries, stream exposures, and new exploration borings was combined with radiocarbon and OSL geochronology to establish event stratigraphy. Sedimentologic and geomorphic data from deltas in the Manor Kill and Platter Kill Valleys demonstrates that braided outwash was supplied directly from the Westerlo Sublobe that crossed the northeastern escarpment of the Catskill Mountains. New geochronologic data indicates that the lake was established by 28 ka and likely persisted to at least 22 ka. Insects and twigs recovered from lake sediments complement the OSL data and indicate: (1) that the lake was present significantly earlier than previous deglacial models predict, and (2) that it existed in an ice-free area of the northern Catskill Mountains during the last glacial maximum of the MIS 2 glaciation.