Fossil Patterned Ground in Eastern England
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26485/BP/1964/14/18Keywords:
fossil patterned ground, eastern England, Pleistocene, periglacial phenomena, solifluction, aeolian deposits, chalk, polygonsAbstract
Fossil polygons and stripes of a distinctive type are found widely in eastern England. They are notable for their large size, and for the striking rendering by present vegetation. Representative sections were dug to expose the underground structures. Polygons are composed of superficial cover materials (aeolian sands or solifluction debris) lying in flat-bottomed troughs formed in chalky materials. Stripes are very similar. The origins of the structures are discussed. The forms are found to be essentially different from stone polygons etc. and cannot be matched with any present Arctic patterns. Some 500 localities are known and all are restricted to chalky materials and the eastern half of the country. A general Last Glaciation age for the patterns is indicated: some however may have survived from the Gipping (Saale) retreat.
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