Abstract: Ice accumulations in the Coast Mountains of southwestern Yukon and the Cassiar Mountains of south-central Yukon during the late Wisconsinan were responsible for glaciation of the Whitehorse area. Cirques in the Coast Mountains likely supported the first glaciers that advanced out of the mountain valleys ahead of the more distal Cassiar accumulation. Glacial maximum is characterized by topographically unconstrained ice flow trending northwesterly over most of the map area. Ice thickness over the city of Whitehorse exceeded 1350 m during full glacial conditions. Deglaciation is characterized by frontal retreat punctuated by periods of dynamic equilibrium and readvances. Differential retreat of the Cassiar and Coast Mountain ice lobes enabled the Cassiar lobe to penetrate, and at times readvance, up-gradient into Coast Mountain valleys. This pattern of deglaciation created ice dams and a series of proglacial lakes that submerged valleys under as much as 300 m of meltwater.

Authors: Bond, J.D.

Keywords: Regional glaciation

NTS Mapsheet(s): 105D

Citation: Bond, J.D., 2004. Late Wisconsinan McConnell glaciation of the Whitehorse map area (105D), Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 2003, Emond, D.S. and Lewis, L.L. (eds.), Yukon Geological Survey, p. 73-88.

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