Meikirch-Interglazial

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Representation and status

Color CMYK
(0%,0%,22%,0%)
Color RGB
R: 255 G: 255 B: 200
Rank
glacial
Validity
Unit is in Use
Status
valid

Nomenclature

Deutsch
Meikirch-Interglazial
Français
Interglaciaire de Meikirch
Italiano
Interglaciale di Meikirch
English
Meikirch Interglacial Complex
Origin of the Name
Kernbohrung Meikirch (BE)
Historical Variants
Eem-Interglazial (Welten 1982), --- (Preusser et al. 2005, Preusser et al. 2011), Interglazial Habsburg/Koblenz = IG Hb/Ko = IG Meikirch (Keller & Krayss 2010)

Age

Age at top
  • Middle Pleistocene
Age at base
  • Middle Pleistocene
Dating Method
Marine Isotope Stage MIS 7 = 242–186 ka (Preusser et al. 2005)

References

Definition
Preusser Frank, Graf Hans Rudolf, Keller Oskar, Krayss Edgar, Schlüchter Christian (2011) : Quaternary glaciation history of northern Switzerland. E&G Quaternary Science Journal 60/2-3, 282-305

Another important stratigraphical record of the Aare Valley is the scientific drill hole near Meikirch, north of Bern (Fig. 1). Here, fine-grained lake sediments are found below ca. 40 m of coarse-grained melt water deposits (Fig. 8). The lake sediments (ca. 70 m) are situated on top of glacial deposits (till). Detailed pollen analyses revealed evidence for three warm periods within the lake deposits, separated by two cold phases (Welten 1982, 1988). Based on luminescence dating and re-interpreting the original palynostratigraphy, Preusser et al. (2005) correlate these three warm phases, each of which represents interglacial environmental conditions, with Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7 (242–186 ka).
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