Hasel (Mindel)

Hasel, in the context of the Mindel glaciation (also known as the Mindel ice age), refers to a glacial stage or period in the Pleistocene epoch, specifically affecting the Alps. It is named after the Hasel river in Bavaria, Germany.

The Mindel glaciation is traditionally considered one of the major glacial periods of the Pleistocene. However, the exact definition, duration, and characteristics of the Mindel have been subject to revisions and debate within the scientific community due to advancements in dating techniques and a more refined understanding of Quaternary climate history.

Older classifications often placed the Mindel between the Günz and Riss glaciations. However, modern research, incorporating improved dating methods and stratigraphic analysis, has led to some reassessment of the traditional Alpine glacial chronology. The Mindel stage is now often correlated with marine isotope stages (MIS) that represent periods of cooler global temperatures and glacial advance. Consequently, some researchers argue that the classic Mindel as defined in older literature may encompass multiple glacial advances rather than representing a single, distinct glacial period.

Evidence attributed to the Mindel glaciation includes glacial deposits, such as moraines, erratics, and glacial outwash, found in the Alpine foreland. The extent and distribution of these deposits have been used to reconstruct the ice sheet's boundaries and understand the paleogeography of the region during the glacial period.

Due to the evolving understanding of Pleistocene glacial history, the term "Mindel" and its precise correlation with specific MIS stages should be interpreted with consideration of the ongoing scientific discourse and updated research findings in the field of Quaternary geology and paleoclimatology. The term continues to be used, but its meaning and temporal boundaries are subject to interpretation based on newer data.