GLACIAL GEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF PRECONSOLIDATION VALUES IN SUB-TILL SEDIMENTS AT SKORGENES, WESTERN NORWAY

Bottomsets from glaciomarine deltas situated stratigraphically below a nd above the Weichselian maximum glaciation till at Skorgenes, western Norway, were tested for consolidation in an attempt to quantify the i ce thickness at the time of deposition of the till. The value of the p reconsolidation pressure in the lower unit (15 +/- 1 MPa), indicates a n ice thickness over the site of some 1350 +/- 90 m. This is, however, only considered a minimum because values of preconsolidation pressure s normally are lower than actual ice thickness would suggest due to in complete drainage of the bed during consolidation. The estimated ice t hickness indicates an ice surface some 400 m above the lower limit of the block field in the area, suggesting that this limit can not be use d as a criterion for reconstructing the upper glacier surface for the Weichselian maximum glaciation in western Norway. Also, the nearest mo untain peaks seemingly were completely ice covered, suggesting that no nunataks were present in that area.