Quaternary geology of Bluegoose Prairie, Baffin Island, Nunavut

The surficial geology and glacial history of Bluegoose Prairie (NTS 36H/1-8) are described, and the first surficial geology map of the area is presented. Four phases of ice flow occurred in Bluegoose Prairie since the Last Glacial Maximum. Collapse of the Foxe Dome ca. 6.2 - 6.5 14C ka BP initiated deglaciation of Foxe Basin. Deglaciation of Bluegoose Prairie and subsequent isostatic rebound were rapid, as evidenced by a relative sea level curve constructed using marine mollusc 14C ages. Diverse macrofossil assemblages show deglacial climate was as warmer or warmer than today. Contemporaneous pairs of terrestrial and marine macrofossils allow for the measurement of deglacial marine reservoir age for Bluegoose Prairie. This new value of 985 ± 10 14C years, 265 14C years older than previously thought, can be applied to deglacial marine 14C ages in Foxe Basin and Hudson Strait. Application of this value allows more accurate palaeogeographic reconstructions.