THE PLEISTOCENE GLACIATIONS OF THE CRADLE

MOUNTAIN REGION, TASMANIA

Michael Noel Thrush,

B.Ed., B.A. (Hons)

A Thesis submitted for the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy

in

Physical Geography

January 2008
This work contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in
any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material
previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text.
I give consent to this copy of my thesis, when deposited in the University Library, being made available for
loan and photocopying subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

I hereby certify that the work embodied in this Thesis is the result of original research, the greater part of
which was completed subsequent to admission to candidature for the degree.

Signature:………………………………………………………………………………...Date:…………………..

.
Acknowledgments

This research would not have been possible without the invaluable assistance of numerous individuals
and organisations. I thank and gratefully acknowledge the valuable contributions of the following:

• The University of Newcastle for provision of funding by way of a University Postgraduate Scholarship
and provision of ongoing material support.

• The University of Tasmania for the use of their equipment, library facilities and office space for a
number of years during the completion of the thesis.

• The Australian Research Council and Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and
Technology for support of the research by way of grants for dating purposes via my
Supervisor.

• The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Services for permission to collect samples for
sedimentary analysis and dating within the Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair National Park
and provision of accommodation and other material assistance on numerous occasions.

• Mr John Wright for unrestricted access to the family property on the Middlesex Plains.

Very special thanks are extended to the following:

• Professor Eric Colhoun for his supervision of my work. He has provided encouragement
and greatly needed advice, criticism and assistance over the entire project.

• Such thanks are also given to David Hannan, my Honours Supervisor from the University
of Tasmania, who accompanied me on several field trips giving very helpful advice, and
who has provided much-needed encouragement and resources.

• Dr David Fink who with David Hannan has kindly allowed me to use a number of
cosmogenic exposure-age dates covering much of the research area.

Finally, I would like to thank my long-suffering family who have been so supportive
throughout the entire experience. I especially want to thank my now-seasoned research
assistants, my wife Jennifer and my son Allan. I am sure they will never look at a road
cutting in the same way.
 i

The Pleistocene Glaciations of the Cradle Mountain Region, Tasmania.

Table of Contents.

List of Figures. .................................................................................................................... vi

List of Tables. ......................................................................................................................x

Abstract. ............................................................................................................................ xii

1. The Cradle Mountain — Middlesex Plains Region and its Environment. ...........................................1

1.1. Location. .....................................................................................................................................1

1.2. Topography.................................................................................................................................3

1.2.1. Metamorphic Rock Region. ..............................................................................................4

1.2.2. Middlesex Plains. .............................................................................................................6

1.2.3. Northern Bounding Areas.................................................................................................7

1.3. Geology of the Area. ...................................................................................................................7

1.3.1. Introduction. .....................................................................................................................7

1.3.2. The Southern Section — Precambrian Rocks and Overlying Formations........................7

1.3.2.1. The Precambrian Rocks. .............................................................................................7

1.3.2.2. The late Carboniferous/Permian Rocks.....................................................................10

1.3.2.3. Jurassic Dolerite........................................................................................................12

1.3.3. The Northern Section. ....................................................................................................13

1.3.3.1. Cambrian Rocks........................................................................................................13

1.3.3.2. Ordovician Rocks. .....................................................................................................13

1.3.3.3. Devonian Rocks. .......................................................................................................14

1.3.3.4. Tertiary Rocks. ..........................................................................................................14

1.4. Climate......................................................................................................................................14

1.5. Vegetation.................................................................................................................................15

2. Previous Work on Glaciation of the Cradle Mountain Region and Adjacent Areas. .........................19

2.1. Research Area..........................................................................................................................19

2.2. The Forth and Mersey Valleys and the Central Plateau. ..........................................................22

2.3. Vale of Belvoir...........................................................................................................................24

2.4. West Coast Glacial Systems.....................................................................................................24

3. Methodology. ...................................................................................................................................32

3.1. Research Objectives.................................................................................................................32

3.2. The Methodology Framework. ..................................................................................................33

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3.3. Identification and Characterisation of Glacial Deposits. ............................................................33

3.3.1. Till. .................................................................................................................................33

3.3.2. Sedimentary Analysis.....................................................................................................34

3.3.2.1. Particle-Size Analysis. ...............................................................................................34

3.3.2.2. Clast Analysis............................................................................................................37

3.3.2.3. Till Fabric Analysis. ...................................................................................................38

3.4. Mapping. ...................................................................................................................................39

3.5. Establishing the Limits of Glaciations and Patterns of Ice Flow. ...............................................40

3.5.1. Mapping of Moraines and Outwash Deposits.................................................................40

3.5.2. Mapping the Distribution of Erratic Boulders. .................................................................40

3.5.3. Mapping of Striae and Other Landforms Indicating Ice Flow Patterns. ..........................40

3.6. Reconstructing Glaciological Conditions...................................................................................40

3.6.1. Equilibrium Line Altitudes. ..............................................................................................41

3.6.1.1. Cirque-Floor Altitude Method.....................................................................................41

3.6.1.2. Maximum Elevation of Lateral Moraine Method (MELM)...........................................42

3.6.1.3. Accumulation Area Ratio Method (AAR). ..................................................................42

3.6.1.4. Toe-to-headwall Altitude Ratio Method (THAR). .......................................................43

3.6.2. Regional Snowline. ........................................................................................................43

3.6.3. Calculation of Temperature Depressions During Past Glacial Events............................43

3.7. Dating. ......................................................................................................................................44

3.7.1. Relative Dating...............................................................................................................45

3.7.1.1. Depositional Landforms.............................................................................................46

3.7.1.2. Soil Weathering Conditions. ......................................................................................46

3.7.1.3. Weathering Rind Development..................................................................................46

3.7.1.4. Modification of Erosional Landforms. ........................................................................47

3.7.2. Numeric or Absolute Dating. ..........................................................................................47

3.7.2.1. Radiocarbon Dating...................................................................................................47

3.7.2.2. Cosmogenic Exposure-Age Dating. ..........................................................................47

4. Cradle Glaciation: Last Glaciation. ...................................................................................................50

4.1. Pattern of Glaciation. ................................................................................................................50

4.1.1. Pencil Pine Phase. .........................................................................................................51

4.1.2. Dove Phase. ..................................................................................................................63

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4.1.3. Cradle Valley Phase.......................................................................................................65

4.1.4. Summary of Glacial Phases. ..........................................................................................67

4.2. Reconstruction of Ice Movement. .............................................................................................67

4.2.1. Ice Sources. ...................................................................................................................68

4.2.1.1. Erratic Sources and Distribution. ...............................................................................68

4.2.1.2. Striae, Grooves and Roches Moutonnées.................................................................72

4.2.1.2.1. Cradle Plateau. ...........................................................................................73

4.2.1.2.2. Dove Basin..................................................................................................76

4.2.1.2.3. Cradle Valley...............................................................................................77

4.2.1.2.4. Hounslow Heath/Mt Kate South Ridgeline. .................................................78

4.2.1.2.5. Hansons Valley. ..........................................................................................79

4.2.1.2.6. Rodway Valley. ...........................................................................................81

4.2.1.3. Moraines....................................................................................................................84

4.2.1.3.1. Pencil Pine Creek and the Dove Valley North of Cradle Valley...................85

4.2.1.3.2. Cradle Valley and Smiths Saddle................................................................85

4.2.1.3.3. Hansons Valley. ..........................................................................................89

4.2.1.3.4. Rodway Valley. ...........................................................................................90

4.2.1.3.5. Suttons Tarn. ..............................................................................................91

4.2.2. Ice Movement.................................................................................................................92

4.3. Glacial and Periglacial Deposits: Physical Characteristics........................................................93

4.3.1. Pencil Pine Phase. .........................................................................................................93

4.3.2. Post Pencil Pine Phase Sediments. ...............................................................................97

4.3.2.1. Ronny Creek Hummocky Moraine.............................................................................97

4.3.2.2. Dove Lake Glaciotectonite.......................................................................................106

4.3.2.3. Iron Pans. ................................................................................................................107

4.3.3. Scree............................................................................................................................110

4.3.4. Felsenmeer. .................................................................................................................113

4.4. The Pattern of Deglaciation. ...................................................................................................115

4.4.1. The Dove Gorge...........................................................................................................116

4.4.2. Cradle Valley and Crater Lake. ....................................................................................118

4.4.3. The Dove Basin............................................................................................................122

4.4.4. Lake Hanson. ...............................................................................................................122

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4.4.5. The Upper Rodway Valley. ..........................................................................................122

4.4.6. Suttons Tarn.................................................................................................................123

4.4.7. Summary......................................................................................................................123

4.5. Glaciological Conditions During the Cradle Glaciation Phases...............................................124

4.5.1. Equilibrium Line Altitudes. ............................................................................................124

4.5.1.1. Cirque-Floor Altitudes..............................................................................................124

4.5.1.2. Maximum Elevation of Lateral Moraines (MELM)....................................................128

4.5.1.3. Accumulation Area Ratios (AAR). ...........................................................................129

4.5.2. Regional Snowline. ......................................................................................................134

4.5.3. Topography. .................................................................................................................136

4.5.4. Palaeoclimatic Conditions during the Cradle Glaciation...............................................138

4.5.4.1. Temperature Depressions during the Cradle Glaciation..........................................138

4.5.4.2. Wind Direction, Precipitation and Precipitation Bearing Airstreams During the Cradle
Glaciation. 141

4.6. Dating the Cradle Glaciation Phases. .....................................................................................142

4.6.1. Relative Dating: Morphological and Weathering Variations within Phases. .................142

4.6.1.1. Depositional Landforms...........................................................................................142

4.6.1.2. Erosional Landforms. ..............................................................................................143

4.6.1.3. Soil Profile Development. ........................................................................................148

4.6.1.4. Weathering Rinds....................................................................................................149

4.6.2. Numerical Dating of Sediments and Landforms. ..........................................................152

4.6.2.1. Radiocarbon Dating.................................................................................................152

4.6.2.2. Cosmogenic Exposure-Age Dating. ........................................................................157

4.6.3. Dating Summary. .........................................................................................................162

5. Middle Pleistocene Glaciations Originating from the Dove Lake and Cradle Mountain Region. ....164

5.1. Introduction. ............................................................................................................................164

5.2. Erratic distribution. ..................................................................................................................166

5.3. The Sunshine Glaciation.........................................................................................................170

5.3.1. Pattern of Glaciation.....................................................................................................171

5.3.2. Glacial Deposits. ..........................................................................................................171

5.3.2.1. Sunshine Creek Till. ................................................................................................171

5.3.2.2. Tertiary Quarry Till...................................................................................................175

5.3.2.3. Pencil Pine Creek Till (North). .................................................................................179

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5.3.2.4. Suttons Valley. ........................................................................................................180

5.3.3. Glaciological Conditions During the Sunshine Glaciation.............................................181

5.4. The Middlesex Glaciation........................................................................................................184

5.4.1. Pattern of Glaciation.....................................................................................................184

5.4.2. Glacial Deposits. ..........................................................................................................185

5.4.2.1. Iris River Bridge Site................................................................................................185

5.4.2.2. Tributary Creek Site. ...............................................................................................188

5.4.3. Glaciological Conditions During the Middlesex Glaciation. ..........................................189

5.5. Dating the Glaciations.............................................................................................................190

5.5.1. Sunshine Glaciation. ....................................................................................................190

5.5.2. Middlesex Glaciation. ...................................................................................................192

6. Discussion and Conclusions Regarding the Cradle Mountain Region Glaciations.........................194

6.1. Overview of the Cradle Mountain Region Glacial Events. ......................................................194

6.2. Regional and Southern Hemisphere Correlations...................................................................199

6.2.1. Tasmania. ....................................................................................................................199

6.2.2. Mainland Australia........................................................................................................204

6.2.3. New Zealand. ...............................................................................................................205

6.2.4. South America..............................................................................................................208

6.2.5. Summary......................................................................................................................210

6.3. Recommended Additional Research. .....................................................................................211

7. Appendices. ...................................................................................................................................213

7.1. Site References. .....................................................................................................................213

7.2. Sedimentary Analysis Data.....................................................................................................214

7.3. Comparative Calibrated Radiocarbon Ages............................................................................220

7.4. Cosmogenic Exposure-Age Calculation Data. ........................................................................221

8. List of References. .........................................................................................................................223

 vi

List of Figures.

Figure 1-1: General location of the research area within Tasmania, Australia..............................................2

Figure 1-2: Generalised topography of research area and surrounds. .........................................................3

Figure 1-3 Generalised geology of the research area...................................................................................9

Figure 1-4: Bedrock geology excluding distribution of dolerite of the Cradle Mountain area showing
metamorphic distribution and fold trends. .....................................................................................................9

Figure 1-5 Relief of the sub-Permian surface south of Cradle Mountain area. ...........................................11

Figure 1-6: Mean monthly temperature range and mean monthly precipitation for Cradle Valley, Tasmania.
....................................................................................................................................................................15

Figure 2-1: Cradle Mountain area. Pattern of glacier ice flow. ....................................................................19

Figure 2-2: Dove Lake north-south cross-section of lake bed.....................................................................20

Figure 2-3: Late Pleistocene ice flow directions in the Cradle Mountain area.............................................21

Figure 2-4: Estimated chronology of glacial events in the King Valley........................................................26

Figure 2-5: Tasmania showing area covered by A, Figure 2-6, and B, Figure 2-7......................................28

Figure 2-6: The maximum extent of Pleistocene ice in western and central Tasmania. .............................29

Figure 2-7: The major areas of ice during the late Last Glaciation in Tasmania. ........................................31

Figure 3-1: Model ternary diagram for plotting fabric shape. ......................................................................39

Figure 4-1: Dove Lake and Cradle Valley showing principal moraine fronts, radiocarbon sites, and sites
and dates of exposure-age dated boulders. ...............................................................................................51

Figure 4-2: Reconstructed ice coverage during Pencil Pine Phase. ...........................................................53

Figure 4-3: Typical landscape of area glaciated by the Pencil Pine Phase and beyond the limits of later
phases.. ......................................................................................................................................................55

Figure 4-4: Typical summit area of Cradle Plateau with alpine herb and heath vegetation. .......................55

Figure 4-5: Quartzite rock mantle, Cradle Plateau......................................................................................56

Figure 4-6: Quartzite tors, 2 – 4 m high on the eastern side of Cradle Plateau. .........................................56

Figure 4-7: Quartzite ribs, northern section Cradle Plateau........................................................................57

Figure 4-8: Cross-valley sky-line profiles of ice passes within Cradle Valley..............................................58

Figure 4-9: Mount Kate South. Ice shorn bedrock with rounded, ice-transported quartzite boulder. ..........59

Figure 4-10: Periglacial shattered quartzite. Mount Kate South..................................................................60

Figure 4-11: Periglacial scree deposit fringing the summit zone of Mount Kate. ........................................61

Figure 4-12: Ice advances in the Forth/Mersey and Dove systems. ...........................................................62

Figure 4-13: Dolerite erratic, Mount Kate South. ........................................................................................63

Figure 4-14: Reconstructed ice coverage during Dove Phase....................................................................64

Figure 4-15: Rodway Valley looking east from south of the valley..............................................................65
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Figure 4-16: Reconstructed ice coverage during Cradle Valley Phase.......................................................66

Figure 4-17 : Little Horn and Cradle Mountain............................................................................................69

Figure 4-18: Distribution of dolerite erratics associated with the Cradle Glaciation. ...................................71

Figure 4-19: Distribution of dolerite erratics by altitude on eastern side of Dove Basin extending to Mount
Kate South. .................................................................................................................................................72

Figure 4-20: Orientation and distribution of striae, roches moutonnées and grooves within the limits of the
Cradle Glaciation. .......................................................................................................................................74

Figure 4-21: Marions Lookout. ....................................................................................................................75

Figure 4-22: Glacial grooves and striae, Glacier Rock, Dove Lake.............................................................77

Figure 4-23: Shattered quartzite bedrock, Hounslow Heath Ridgeline. ......................................................79

Figure 4-24: Small whaleback, Hansons Peak. ..........................................................................................80

Figure 4-25: Roche moutonnée, Twisted Lakes. ........................................................................................81

Figure 4-26: Ice-abraded cliff in late Carboniferous/Permian conglomerate, Little Horn.............................82

Figure 4-27: Generalised glacial and periglacial geomorphology of Cradle Mountain and its northern
surrounds....................................................................................................................................................84

Figure 4-28: Glacial landforms within Cradle Valley. ..................................................................................88

Figure 4-29: Detail: Ronny Creek moraine complex. ..................................................................................89

Figure 4-30: Ronny Creek moraine complex viewed from the ice-distal side. ............................................89

Figure 4-31: Arête between Cradle Mountain and Little Horn. ....................................................................90

Figure 4-32: Medial moraine, upper Rodway Valley. ..................................................................................91

Figure 4-33: Moraines in the upper Suttons Valley head.. ..........................................................................92

Figure 4-34: Terminal moraine. Pencil Pine Creek. ....................................................................................93

Figure 4-35: Till within the Pencil Pine Creek terminal moraine..................................................................94

Figure 4-36: Particle-size distribution of matrix of Pencil Pine Creek terminal moraine.. ............................95

Figure 4-37: Fabric diagrams for Pencil Pine Creek site.............................................................................97

Figure 4-39: Section of hummocky moraine, Ronny Creek Cradle Valley. .................................................99

Figure 4-39: Ronny Creek hummocky moraine matrix particle-size distribution histograms.....................103

Figure 4-41: Ronny Creek moraine, Cradle Valley. Till fabric. ..................................................................104

Figure 4-41: Glaciotectonite Dove Basin east side of the lake..................................................................107

Figure 4-42: Soil horizon, till and iron pan located in the Dove Basin. ......................................................108

Figure 4-43: Till and iron pan. Dove Lake.................................................................................................109

Figure 4-44: Typical scree from Mount Campbell. ....................................................................................111

Figure 4-45: Scree slopes Mount Campbell above Lake Hanson. ............................................................113
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Figure 4-46: Felsenmeer, Marigold Valley Cradle Plateau. ......................................................................114

Figure 4-47: Felsenmeer near Crater Peak on Cradle Plateau.................................................................115

Figure 4-48: Deglaciation sequence of the Dove Gorge area...................................................................117

Figure 4-49: P-forms Dove River. .............................................................................................................118

Figure 4-50: Cradle Valley deglaciation sequence....................................................................................120

Figure 4-51: Lake Wilks cirque topographic map and cross-section.........................................................125

Figure 4-52: Lake Wilks. ...........................................................................................................................126

Figure 4-53: Aerial view of Fagus Cirque..................................................................................................126

Figure 4-54: Fagus Cirque, Cradle Valley showing location of the derived ELA. ......................................127

Figure 4-55: Cross-valley profiles through main ice flow divisions of the Dove Basin...............................130

Figure 4-56: Ice area divisions used in calculation of ELAs using AAR method. ......................................132

Figure 4-57: Ice contours and ELA locations for Cradle Glaciation phases of the Cradle System glaciers.
..................................................................................................................................................................134

Figure 4-58: Trend in regional snowline during Pleistocene. ....................................................................136

Figure 4-59: Summaries of Holocene and Last Glacial stage vegetation histories inferred from pollen
analyses of selected sites in western Tasmania. ......................................................................................140

Figure 4-60: Tasmanian and Victorian coastlines and sea level variations about Bass Strait during Last
Glacial cycle. ............................................................................................................................................141

Figure 4-61 Striae Hansons Saddle..........................................................................................................144

Figure 4-62: Holocene fracturing of Last Glaciation ice-abraded pavement. ...........................................145

Figure 4-63 Dolerite erratic and fractured quartzite on jointed platy quartzite bedrock. Mount Kate South.
..................................................................................................................................................................146

Figure 4-64: Periglacial fracture of previously ice-abraded quartzite bedrock. Hounslow Heath ridgeline.
..................................................................................................................................................................147

Figure 4-65: Dolerite weathering rind means, standard deviations and, range.........................................150

Figure 4-66: Cosmogenic and radiocarbon dates (14C yr BP) for area covered by the Cradle Glaciation
Stage. .......................................................................................................................................................155

Figure 4-67: Cradle Valley cosmogenic exposure-age boulder sites and ages, and radiocarbon sites and
calibrated ages (yr BP) with principal moraine fronts and assigned phase limits......................................156

Figure 4-68: Mean cosmogenic exposure ages and error margins to one sigma for boulders and bedrock
within the area covered by Cradle Glaciation ice.. ....................................................................................157

Figure 5-1: Sunshine and Middlesex glaciations. Reconstructed limits and ice flow direction upon the
Middlesex Plains.......................................................................................................................................165

Figure 5-2: Middlesex Plains. Typical topography of the western section.................................................166

Figure 5-3: Distribution of erratics, till sites and one rhythmite site about the Middlesex Plains. ..............167
 ix

Figure 5-4: Dolerite erratic, western sector Middlesex Plains.. .................................................................168

Figure 5-5: Barn Bluff Conglomerate erratic. Middlesex Plains. ...............................................................169

Figure 5-6: Sunshine Creek till..................................................................................................................172

Figure 5-7: Sunshine Creek Till stereoplot and ternary diagram showing fabric and ice flow direction.....173

Figure 5-8: Tertiary Quarry and descriptive diagram. ...............................................................................178

Figure 5-9: Tertiary Quarry till unit.. ..........................................................................................................179

Figure 5-10: Suttons Valley, Sunshine Glaciation moraine.......................................................................181

Figure 5-11: Field diagram of the Suttons Valley lateral moraine complex. ..............................................181

Figure 5-12: Middlesex Glaciation till site, Iris River. ................................................................................187

Figure 5-13: Till exposure along Iris River tributary. .................................................................................189

Figure 5-14: Middlesex Plains: Stage limits and cosmogenic exposure-age dates. .................................192

Figure 6-1: Glacial stages recognised originating from the Dove Basin area. ..........................................195

Figure 6-2: Exposure-age dates of moraines and blockfield at Blue Lake, Snowy Mountains, NSW. .....204

Figure 7-1: Particle size distribution histograms. ......................................................................................214

Figure 7-2: Particle size distribution histograms. ......................................................................................215

Figure 7-3: Particle size distribution histograms. ......................................................................................216

Figure 7-4: Particle size distribution histograms. ......................................................................................217

Figure 7-5: Particle size distribution arithmetic cumulative frequency overlay curves...............................218

Figure 7-6: Particle size distribution arithmetic cumulative frequency overlay curves...............................219
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List of Tables.

Table 2-1: Formations and climatic stages of the King Valley. ...................................................................24

Table 2-2: Glacial stages and chronology of the Pieman Glacial System...................................................27

Table 2-3: Selected post-Last Glaciation radiocarbon dates. .....................................................................30

Table 3-1: Characteristics of late Last Glaciation and pre-late Last Glaciation landforms and deposits. ....45

Table 4-1: Dates and MIS of the phases of the Cradle Glaciation. .............................................................50

Table 4-2: Pencil Pine Phase particle-size distribution. ..............................................................................96

Table 4-3: Pencil Pine Phase clast lithologies . ..........................................................................................96

Table 4-4: Eigenvalues, Pencil Pine Creek site. .........................................................................................96

Table 4-6: Ronny Creek Moraine matrix particle-size distribution ............................................................102

Table 4-7: Clast lithologies within till about Cradle Valley and Smiths Saddle..........................................103

Table 4-8: Eigenvalues, Ronny Creek site................................................................................................104

Table 4-9: Particle-size analysis of glacigenic deposits from sites within the post-Pencil Pine phases of the
Cradle Glaciation area. .............................................................................................................................105

Table 4-10: Cradle Valley solifluction and fluvial sediments’ matrix particle-size distribution . .................105

Table 4-11: ELAs of Cirques using Cirque-Floor Method .........................................................................127

Table 4-12: ELAs of glaciers using MELM Method. ..................................................................................128

Table 4-13: ELAs during Last Glaciation using AAR method....................................................................131

Table 4-14: Regional snowlines for the phases of the Cradle Glaciation Stage .......................................135

Table 4-15: Regional snowline and temperature depressions during the Cradle Glaciation.....................139

Table 4-15: ELAs and temperature depressions calculated for the Last Glaciation Maximum in other parts
of Tasmania.. ............................................................................................................................................139

Table 4-17: Dolerite weathering rind data: Cradle Mountain region..........................................................149

Table 4-18: Tasmanian dolerite weathering rind data..............................................................................150

Table 4-19: Radiocarbon ages of sites attributed to the Cradle Glaciation Stage.....................................152

Table 4-20: Cosmogenic exposure ages of boulders and bedrock within area covered by Cradle
Glaciation..................................................................................................................................................161

Table 4-20: Dates and MIS of the phases of the Cradle Glaciation. .........................................................163

Table 5-1: Sunshine Creek Till. Eigenvalues for till fabric.........................................................................173

Table 5-2: Sunshine Stage tills. Particle-size distribution. ........................................................................173

Table 5-3: Comparison of particle-size distribution statistics of Pencil Pine Phase of the Cradle Glaciation
with the Sunshine and Middlesex Stages. ................................................................................................175

Table 5-4: Middlesex Glaciation till sites’ particle-size distribution............................................................188

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Table 5-5: Cosmogenic exposure-ages of boulders and bedrock within area covered by the Sunshine and
Middlesex Glacial Stages.. .......................................................................................................................193

Table 6-1: Pleistocene glacial events recognised in the Cradle Mountain Region....................................194

Table 6-2: Pleistocene regional snowlines, snowline depressions and temperature depressions for glacial
events in the Cradle Mountain/Middlesex Plains region. ..........................................................................196

Table 6-3: Regional correlation of the Cradle Mountain region glacial system with western Tasmanian
Pieman and King glacial systems. ............................................................................................................200

Table 6-4: Minimum dates for full deglaciation of the Cradle Glaciation ice..............................................200

Table 6-5: Cosmogenic exposure-age dates equivalent to MIS 3 age......................................................201

Table 6-6: Late Otira Glacial sequence, Westland....................................................................................206

Table 6-7: Correlation of South Island New Zealand glacial advances with Cradle Mountain region events.
..................................................................................................................................................................207

Table 6-8: Comparative ELA and temperature depressions during the Last Glaciation............................210

Table 7-1: Site map references and descriptions .....................................................................................213

Table 7-2: Selected radiocarbon ages calibrated to years BP. .................................................................220

Table 7-3: Cosmogenic dates and associated data for the Cradle Valley area. ......................................221

Table 7-4: Cosmogenic dates and associated data for Suttons Valley and the Middlesex Plains. ...........222
 xii

Abstract.

The northern Central Highlands region of Tasmania extending north from Cradle Mountain to the
Middlesex Plains shows evidence of three glacial stages, with the final stage consisting of several ice
advance phases. From oldest to youngest these have been named the Middlesex Glaciation, the
Sunshine Glaciation and the Cradle Glaciation. Cosmogenic exposure-age dating of boulders and ice-
abraded bedrock, radiocarbon dating of post-glacial organic deposits, and relative dating techniques have
resulted in assignment of the following ages for the events: Middlesex Glaciation, MIS 10; Sunshine
Glaciation, MIS 6 and the Cradle Glaciation having MIS 3 and MIS 2 phases. The Cradle Glaciation
correlates with the global Last Glaciation. Exposure-age dating of three of the Cradle Glaciation ice
advance phases indicates that the Pencil Pine Phase predates 38.9±4.0 ka, the Dove Phase occurred ca.
29.2±1.4 ka, and the Cradle Valley Phase occurred between >19.7±1.1 – 17.6±1.0 ka. At least two
undated retreat/readvance phases followed the Cradle Valley Phase. Deglaciation of the area was
probably complete considerably before 11.2 ka. The recognised glacial events decreased in areal extent in
each successive advance. Using the 0°C summer mean isotherm as the base for the altitude of the
equilibrium line altitude, the regional snowline, regional snowline depression and temperature depression
for each of the events were: Middlesex Glaciation, 942 m/1616 m/10.5°C; Sunshine Glaciation, 984
m/1574 m/10.23°C; Pencil Pine Phase, 1010 m/1548 m/10.06°C; Dove Phase, 1050 m/1508 m/9.8°C; and
the Cradle Valley Phase, 1060 m/1498 m/9.74°C. The geomorphic evidence and dating of several phases
of the Cradle Glaciation indicates a complex history of ice advances for Tasmania during the Last
Glaciation.