The loess-paleosol and related subaereal sequence in Hungary

Abstract

The loess of type localities is subdivided into 3 subseries on the basis of the paleosols allowing even an Eurasian comparison for their lithostratigraphy.

• 1. The upper young loess (8–10 m) is most widespread, characterized by 3 sandy loess and 2 intercalated humic loess horizons. The ages of the humic loess horizons H₁, H₂ are c. 16 ka and 20 ka BP, respectively.

• 2. The lower young loess (15–20 m) contains 4 loess packets and 3 chernozem-like paleosols, usually doubled soil complexes (designated MF, BD, BA). The MF paleosol complex, first member of lower young loess is c. 27–28 ka BP (C¹⁴ and TL dating). The lower young loess is underlain by a brown forest soil and chernozem-like paleosol-assemblage (MB), probably formed during the last interglacial (c. 105–125 ka BP).

• 3. The old loess (c. 20 m) is generally characterized by 6–7 loess, mainly brown forest soil and 2 interbedded fluvial sand layers. The lowermost old loess member and an ochre-red paleosol lie below the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary (0,73 Ma).

• 4. The loess is underlain by a subaerial non-loessic sequence (20–40 m) with 5–10 red soils, red clays mostly directly superimposed on and locally interbedded by sand and silty sand. At the base of this sequence of red paleosols usually Uppermost Miocene inland sea deposits are found.

It can be concluded that the reddish paleosol developed under climatic, and in general, ecological conditions (probably warm subhumid with rapid cyclical climatic changes) differing from the cold and semiarid or semidesert environments of typical loess formation. The former conditions were characteristic — from the Lower Pliocene to the Lower Pleistocene — on continental or global scales.