Holocene Moraines and Rock Glaciers in the Central Ben Ohau Range, South Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract

Young moraines and rock glaciers in the central part of the Ben Ohau Range, about 42 km. south of the highest peaks of the Southern Alps, are briefly described. A new formation, the Ben Ohau Formation, consisting of the Ferintosh, Jacks Stream and Dun Fiunary Members, is proposed for moraines and rock glaciers believed to have been built since the climatic optimum by three minor glacial advances. Moraines, and outwash and fan gravels, deposited during a more extensive pre-climatic optimum advance which was contemporaneous with the Cockburn Glacial Phase (Cochrane) in North America are assigned to the Birch Hill Formation. The sequence of glacial advances recorded in the Ben Ohau Range is compared with that found in western North America.