Veneering frost structures

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of permafrost-related coating structures, which remain poorly documented indicators of periglacial processes operating in Arctic environments. The investigation was conducted in lagoonal and alluvial deposits of north-eastern Siberia, where marine cliff exposures reveal polygonal networks of grooves filled with layered silts and interbeds of peat. Lithological, structural and sedimentological evidence indicates that these grooves represent features formed after the melt-out of perennial ice veins, and that their characteristic morphology and infill record conditions associated with syngenetic permafrost development. The study discusses the processes responsible for post-melt deformation and redeposition of material, including active-layer creep, wall erosion, and the accumulation of flood-derived sediments. The results demonstrate that permafrost coating structures constitute an important component of palaeogeographic reconstructions, enable the identification of past climatic conditions, and provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of formation and degradation of permafrost in Arctic regions.