Tertiary and Quaternary deposits at The Palisades, central Alaska

Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey
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Abstract

The Palisades of the Yukon River, located near the geographic center of Alaska, has long been an attraction to people traveling along the river. Numerous scientific field parties have viewed or visited the locality and published short accounts of their observations. The river bluffs are as much as 90 meters high and are composed of Tertiary lignite-rich sedimentary rocks and frozen Quaternary sand, silt, and gravel. Resampling and analysis of pollen show that the Tertiary rocks are Miocene rather than Miocene and Pliocene as previously thought. The Miocene flora, possessing a number of conifer and hardwood-tree types, was more varied than the present vegetation and indicates a warmer and wetter climate than at present. The area is frequently referred to as the boneyard because of the common occurrence of large bones of Pleistocene mammals within the frozen silts.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Tertiary and Quaternary deposits at The Palisades, central Alaska
Series title Journal of Research of the U.S. Geological Survey
Volume 5
Issue 6
Year Published 1977
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description 6 p.
First page 747
Last page 752
Country United States
State Alaska
Other Geospatial Palisades, Yukon River
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