Lower Limit and Maximum Age for the Last Major Advance of the Carstensz Glaciers, West Irian

Abstract

ACTIVITIES of the recent Australian Universities Carstensz Glaciers Expedition included a search for the lowest morainic material in the East Otomona Valley. The presence of till there was first recognized by Dozy¹ in 1936 during an expedition from the south coast to the Carstensz Toppen (rendered Carstenz on Indonesian maps). Dozy reported finding morainic material overlying old river gravels, the lowest glacial deposits being between 1,900 m.y. and 2,200 m.y. This is lower than has been recorded for former glaciers in other tropical areas to date (for example, the east side of Mt Ruwenzori, 2,000 m; ref. 2), and Verstappen³ has queried whether post-glacial river transport of the morainic material to lower altitudes has not occurred.