Paleosols from North Part of Barlad City （Romania）

The loess deposits comprise several paleosol layers reflecting alternation of drier and wetter climate during Quaternary. Such a situation occurs in north of Barlad, on The Sohodau＇s Hill. Morphological study of the quarry paleosols from north of Barlad was accomplished based on field observations and macroscopic physic-chemical results. Three levels of paleosols with variable thickness were determined. These three fossils layers are interbedded by four loess deposits. The physical-chimical data provide important information for the paleosol genesis and depositional/climatic environments. The carbon content and C/N ratio indicate the strength of pedogenesis in the Pleistocene and trends of biomass accumulation.

PALEOSOLS AND THEIR REFLECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN THE NORTHEAST REGION OF THE QINGHAI－XIZANG PLATEAU

Based on field investigations,laboratory analyses and 14C dating,this paper discusses the laws of the formation and development of the paleosols in the northeast region of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau since Late Pleistocene.The authors reconstruct basic conditions of climate,vegetation,soil and natural zones during the three periods in which the paleosols were formed,i.e.the last interglacial of the Late Pleistocene,warm stage of Late Glacial and the Optimum of Holocene.Finally,this paper discusses the relationship between the paleosols and the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

PALEOSOLS OF SANDY LANDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN THE WESTERN PART OF NORTHEAST PLAIN OF CHINA WESTERN DURING HOLOCENE

Two-three paleosol layers were formed in the western part of the Northeast Plain. China during Holocene. These paleosol layers interlaid with eolian fine sand layers. Dated by 14C dating. archeology and TL and analyzed by statistics.the formation periods of paleosols are divided from the results. The periods are 11, 000- 7000 5500-4500. 3500- 2800 and 1400- 1000 a B. P. respectively.According to the spore-pollen compositions in more than ten sand dune paleosol profiles, it is discovered th.t there is little spore-pollen in the sand layers and a little spore-pollen in the paleosol layers. The spore-pollen compositions in the paleosols are simple. mainly Artemisia (50% - 70%) and Chenopodiaceae. In the paleosols of 11,000 - 7000 a B. P.. the spore-pollen composition is Artemisia-Rubiaceaechenopodiaceae. The contents of Ephedra pollen in the lower and upper parts of the layer are less than that in the middle part. In the paleosols of 5500- 4500 a B. P.,the spore-pollen composition is Artem isal - Chenopod iaceae - Melilotus. There is some Salix sp. and Betula sp. pollen in the lower part of the layer and some Ephedra pollen in the upper part. In the paleosols of 3500- 2800 a B. P.. the spore-pollen composition is Artemisia Chenopodiaceae - Rubiaceae. There are som e Kochia and Baryaceae. In the paleosols of 1400-1000 a B. P., the spore-pollen composition is also Artemisia-Chjenopod tao eae - Rubiaceae. There is a little pine pollen. The grain size of paleosol is relatively coarse, but still finer than that of eolian sand and becomes coarser from the bottom to the top of the profile. This fact reflects that the weathering environments during the paleosol formation periods were wetter than that during the eolian periods and became dryer from middle to late Holocene.

Analysis of Post-Burial Soil Developments of Pre-AD 79 Roman Paleosols near Pompeii(Italy)

The AD 79 eruption of Somma-Vesuvius completely buried the ancient landscape around Pompeii (Italy) to some extent conserving the pre-AD 79 Roman paleosols of the Sarno River plain. To estimate potential post-burial soil developments of these paleosols detailed soil liquid and solid phase analysis were carried out. Firstly, an in-situ soil hydrological monitoring was conducted within a pre-AD 79 paleosol in natural undisturbed stratification. The results show that soil water flow and nutrient transport from the overlying volcanic deposits into the pre-AD 79 paleosol take place. Secondly, to estimate their influence on the paleosol’s mineral soil properties, the solid phase of four pre-AD 79 paleosols and associated modern unburied soils were analysed and compared. By combining the data from the soil liquid and solid phase analysis, potential post-burial changes in the paleosols were estimated. Finally, a rise of the mean groundwater table was determined since AD 79. This distinguishes the Sarno River plain into two different zones of post-burial soil developments: 1) lower altitudes where formerly terrestrial paleosols are now influenced by groundwater dynamics and 2) higher altitudes where the paleosols are still part of the vadose zone and rather influenced by infiltration water or interflow. Thus, the mechanism of potential post-burial soil development being active in the pre-AD 79 paleosols is not uniform for the entire Sarno River plain but strongly depends on the paleotopographic situation.

Comparison Between the Formation of Peatlands and Paleosols of Sandy Land and the Changes of Ari4 Index During Holocene in Northeast China

In Northeast China, peatlands and paleosols have developed very well in the eastern swamps and western sandy lands, respectively. They become an important object of studying the paleoenvironment in this region. Since both of them were formed under humid climate conditions, it is significant to compare their formation and ages for the unification of climatic change divisions and the reconstruction of the

Paleosols and climates in the quaternary of south America

Numerous paleosols have been described in the Quaternary as well as a fewpaleosols in pre-Quaternary rocks of South America. A broad ordering of the more importantoccurrences of paleosols show four main regions for pedogenesis: A) The lowlands adjacent to theSouth Atlantic (the Pampa and surrounding areas) with typical loess-paleosol and similarsequences. B) The Andes, characterized by paleosols intercalated with moraines, as high as 4000m.a.s.l., which are frequently developed in pyroclastic materials. C) The Caribbean region, wheresoil-forming processes underwent the following succession: Oxisols in the Lower Quaternary →Ultisols → Alfisols → Vertisols → Entisols in the Holocene. D) The Amazonian region locatedalmost permanently under udic moisture regimes of different types. The soils are typically Oxisolsand Ultisols.

Clay minerals in paleosols of cretaceous age in Istria,Croatia

Greenish clays often occur as thin layers in Early Cretaceous shallow-water carbonatesediments of Istria where they mark the top of fining upwards sequences. When they showevidence of subaerial exposure and pedogenesis they are considered paleosols. The claymineralogical composition is as follow: (1) randomly oriented I/S mixed layer, (2) regularlyoriented I/S mixed layer, (3) illitic material, (4) kaolinite and (5) chlorite. The insoluble limestoneresidue situated immediately below the greenish clays is dominated by smectite, and also containskaolinite and illitic material. The very high smectite content in the insoluble residue is probablythe result of additions of volcanic dust during carbonate sedimentation. That clay mineralcomposition in the pelitic material clearly indicates the influence of both pedogenic and diageneticprocesses. It may also indicate additional volcanic dust contribution before and during thesubaerial exposure.

ILLUVIAL DEPTH OF CaCO_3 OF THE PALEOSOLS IN THE LOESS OF GUANZHONG PLAIN

A lot of studies have been conducted on CaCO3 content in paleosols and loess, but the illuvial depth of CaCO3 was never studied. However, the latter is more important in indicating the types and developmental conditions of soils.

Paleosols in an outcrop of red beds from the Upper Cretaceous Yaojia Formation,southern Songliao Basin, Jilin Province, NE China

Paleosols in an outcrop of fluvial–lacustrine red beds have been recognized in the Upper Cretaceous Yaojia Formation in southern Songliao Basin, Songyuan City, Jilin Province, NE China. They are recognized in the field by pedogenic features, including root traces and burrows, soil horizons and soil structures. Root traces are remnants of small herbaceous plants, elongating and branching downwards in the red paleosols. They are filled by calcite,analcime, and clay minerals in spaces created by the decay of the plant roots. Burrows are found near the root traces with backfilled cells made by soil-dwelling insects. Soil horizons include calcic horizons(Bk horizon) with continuous calcareous layers, argillic horizons(Bt horizon) with clay films and dark brown to black iron-manganese cutans, vertic horizons(Bw horizon) with slickensided claystone, and deformed soil structure and gleyed horizons(Bg horizon) with mottles and reticulate mottles. Soil structures of the paleosols include pseudo-anticlinal structures,subangular blocky structures, and angular blocky structures. The micro-pedogenesis characteristics are also observed, including micrite pedogenic minerals and clay skins. Based on the pedogenic features above, paleosols types including Aridisol, Alfisol, and Vertisol are interpreted in the red beds of the Yaojia Formation. Forming in the Late Cretaceous, the paleosols can provide more details about the seasonal climate conditions and terrestrial sedimentary system in lacustrine basin.

Stage characteristics for the development of late Quaternary paleosols in the Yangtze Delta area

The late Quaternary paleosols in the Yangtze Delta area developed in the period of 25 000—12 000 aBP. Phytolith ratios (value A) of contents of fan, square and rectangle types indicaring the warm and humid climate to those of bar, hat and point types indicating cold and dry climates decrease upwards overall on profiles of the paleosols, suggesting that the climates turned from warm and humid to cold and dry. So, the paleosols developed mainly during the regression before the last glacial maximum. Changes of value A indicate no trend of warming, suggesting that the transgression was rapid after the last glacial maximum. The development of the paleosols exhibited obvious stages, which were controlled remarkably by transgression and regression: Ⅰ. Period of alternation of deposition and pedogenesis, which was from the occurrence of regresson before the last glacial maximum to the time when sea levels fell close to the lowest;Ⅱ. Exposure period with continual pedogenesis, which was terminated when the

Progress of loess research in China

Progress in Chinese loess research made in recent 15 years was introduced in this paper, including mainly distribution and paleoenvironment significance of Chinese loess, new development of loess formation age, red-brown paleosol types and environmental change, loess-paleosol sequence and climate cycles, monsoon strength change during last interglacial and last glacial periods in the Loess Plateau, climate events, and source areas of loess and material.

Bacterial Communities in a Buried Ancient Paddy Soil from the Neolithic Age

An ancient irrigated paddy soil from the Neolithic age was excavated at Chuodunshan Site in the Yangtze River Delta, close to Suzhou, China. The soil organic matter (SOM) content in the prehistoric rice soil is comparable to the average SOM content of present rice soils in this region, but it is about 5 times higher than that in the parent materials. As possible biomarkers to indicate the presence of the prehistoric paddy soil, the bacterial communities were investigated using the techniques of aerobic and anaerobic oligotrophic bacteria enumeration, Biolog analysis, and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The results showed that in the buried soil layers, the prehistoric paddy soil had the largest number of aerobic and anaerobic oligotrophic bacteria, up to 6.12 and 5.86 log cfu g-1 dry soil, respectively. The prehistoric paddy soil displayed better carbon utilization potential and higher functional diversity compared to the parent materials and a prehistoric loess layer. The Shannon index and richness based on DGGE profiles of bacterial 16S rRNA genes were higher in prehistoric paddy soil than those in the prehistoric loess soil. It might be concluded that the prehistoric irrigated rice cultivation accumulated the SOM in plowed soil layer, and thus increased soil bacterial populations, metabolic activity, functional diversity and genetic diversity. Bacterial communities might be considered as the sensitive indicators of the presence of the prehistoric paddy soil in China's Yangtze River Delta.

Authigenic titanite in weathered basalts: Implications for paleoatmospheric reconstructions

The stability of titanite is sensitive to temperature and partial pressure of CO2.The finding of authigenic titanite grains in weathering regolith formed on Parana basalts,Brazil,under tropical climatic conditions,reveals the thermodynamically-driven conversion from calcite to titanite at elevated ambient temperatures.Being unusual nowadays,this phase transition provides important implications for the understanding of silicate weathering in earlier geological epochs.Two types of secondary titanites were identified in the weathering profile of the study area.The tiny grains of 10 μm are forming in the microscopic voids in the rock.Also,large fractures filled with Fe-rich clay minerals contain bigger specimens of up to 170μm.The titanites of second type often coexist with chalcedony and barite.No carbonate minerals were found in the weathering profile.Weathering sphene can be discriminated from other titanite types by its strong positive Eu anomaly,increased Al2 O3 content and low content of trace elements.Its specific chemical composition and reactive transport modeling link this secondary mineral with dissolution of plagioclase.The titanite precipitation is controlled by slow diffusion in poorly-aerated,highly-alkaline pore fluids.The subaerial weathering of basaltic rocks provides a significant reservoir for atmospheric CO2.However,the deposition of carbonate minerals is thermodynamically avoided at the stability field of titanite.We demonstrate a complex feedback between CO2 and soil carbonates.The rise in pCO2 triggers the precipitation of calcite in the weathering regolith,but the greenhouse effect increasing the temperature can cease carbonate deposition.Secondary titanites were found in several paleosols and at least a part of them can be of weathering origin.

Influence of Elevation on Carbonate Contents in Stratified Soils, Northern Great Basin and Adjacent Mountains, U.S.A

Many soils in the western U.S.A. contain one or several carbonate-enriched zones (CEZ). Their carbonate admixture is often attributed to steady eolian influx, with intermittent leaching episodes of variable intensity leading to pedogenic enrichment at various depths. This hypothesis would require carbonate contents to decrease and depths to those horizons to increase with elevation. Here I compute correlations for the upper three CEZ of the surface soil and of up to two buried soils between elevation, carbonate content, depth to horizon, and particle-size distribution to test for elevation- dependent trends. Actually, carbonate-content decreases with elevation indicate such trends exist and can be determined with this approach. However, some significant relationship of elevation and depth to CEZ is not supported by the data. Furthermore, influence of local carbonate on CEZ in the surface soils calls for lateral translocation. Gravelly, now-buried sediments collected eolian carbonate better than finer ones, which finding implies these sediments were at the surface once and fossilized later. Altogether, the data indicate cyclical evolution: Several cycles of the formation of colluvial slope deposits with admixed carbonate-bearing loess particles were each followed by pedogenic translocation of the carbonate just to the depth of the next parent-material disconformity. Thus, disconformities are major triggers of soil-carbonate accumulation.

Sedimentary facies and evolution of aeolianites on Shidao Island,Xisha Islands

The aeolianite deposits on Shidao Island of the Xisha Islands,the South China Sea,contain five stages of aeolian biocalcarenites and four paleosols.The aeolian biocalcarenites consist of two sedimentary facies:dune and interdune deposits.In the dunes,large-scale festoon cross-bedding,humped cross-bedding and high-angle foreset bedding are well developed,and in the interdunes,large-scale flat-bedding and low-angle wedge shaped cross-bedding are well developed.The sedimentary structures and lamella features indicate that the aeolian deposits are driven mainly by the northeast monsoon.The aeolian biocalcarenite and paleosols may reflect the arid and humid climates of the East Asian monsoon,respectively.By comparison with the stalagmite oxygen isotope climosequence of Hulu Cave,Nanjing,we inferred that the aeolianite formed in the last glacial stage,and the paleosols were formed during relatively long-term warm events.

Interpretation of Dune Genesis from Sedimentogical Data and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Signatures: A Case Study from Ashirmata Dune Field, Mandvi Beach, Gujarat, India

The coastal dunes located near the Ashirmata region, south of Mandvi beach lies near the straight coast have been stud-ied by making use of sedimentological information and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) data. Sedimentological analy-sis reveals the NNW-SSE trending longitudinal dunes consists of well sorted fine sands with unimodal distribution pos-sibly formed by constant wind gust and also the point out to the origin of sediments from single source;mostly the sediments derived from Indus delta transported to beach by long shore drift and tidal waves, carried inland by local on-shore winds. The radargram confirms, the homogenous sand layers with paleosols at shallow depth slip faces are proba-bly formed due to extreme storm activity of Recent.

Paleoclimatic record from Chumbur-Kosa section in Sea of Azov region since Marine Isotope Stage 11

Abstract： Loess-paleosol sequences preserve records of climatic change during the Quaternary, which is important for paleoclimate study. In this study, a loess-palaeosol sequence from the Chumbur- Kosa （CK） site in the Sea of Azov region was investigated to reconstruct climatic variability during the Marine Isotope Stage （MIS）11- MIS 1, using proxies of grain size （GS）, magnetic susceptibility （xlf and Xfd（%））, carbonate content （CaCO3%） and soil color The results enabled formulation of a detailed description of the climatic characteristics related to each individual layer. The sequence indicates that the paleoclimate shifted progressively towards increasingly cooler, somewhat drier conditions. The CK section may thus be ideal for reconstructing climatie eondifions during the Middle and Late Pleistocene in the Sea of Azov region. However, the ）Of value of paleosol $2 in the CK profile indicates different characteristics from the other paleosol layers, dilution of carbonate resulting from carbonate leaching in L2 may be the main reason for the decrease in magnetic susceptibility. Furthermore, through simple analysis part of the environmental evolution process in the Sea of Azov region and Serbia during Middle and Late Pleistocene cycles. The climate cycle expressed by Xfd（%） and Xlf variations show similar patterns, with rapidly alternating cold and warm intervals. Nevertheless, although the two areas had different climatic regimes, geographical settings, and loess source areas, both exhibited similar climate change trends since the MIS 11.

Formation and Evolution of a Paleosol across the Lower Silurian-Lower Permian Boundary in Zunyi District,Northern Guizhou,China and Its Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate Implications

This paper presents a set of bulk geochemical and mineralogical data from a paleoweathering profile located in Zunyi District, Northern Guizhou, China. It was formed at the top of the Hanjiadian Formation of the Lower Silurian. A truncated, argillic, gleyed, kryptic paleospodosol is recognized in the paleoweathering profile. Ratios of immobile elements（Ti/Zr, Ti/Al） and their binary（e.g., Nb vs. Zr/TiO_2 and Th/Sc vs. Zr/Sc）, triangular diagrams（La-Th-Sc, Th-ScZr/10, Zr-Cr-Ga） reflect that the Gaojiayan paleosol is the product of in-situ weathering of gray-green silty mudstone of the underlying Hanjiadian Formation. Mass balance calculations indicate K enrichment and Na enrichment in the upper and lower portions of paleosol, respectively. These findings both are the results of transgression, which brings substantial concentrations of such elements as K, Na, and Sr. In particular, K enrichment is achieved by the illitization of kaolinite. The biological processes of terrestrial vascular plants also enhance K concentration, especially at the top of the paleosol. Na enrichment is a consequence of albitization and/or adsorption by clay minerals through cation exchange. The mass distributions and relative mass changes of rare earth elements（REEs） in the studied profile display characteristics of vertical zonation. Three peaks in total REEs content are observed, indicating two paleoclimatic or paleoenvironmental changes. Mineralogical characteristics indicate that the paleoclimate changed first from warm and humid to cold and dry and later, to dry and lightly warmer. The corresponding soil environment varies from weakly acidic to strongly alkaline and later, to weakly acidic. Mass translocation characteristics of REEs and several transition metals suggest that the Gaojiayan paleosol may have undergone top erosion.

Soil evolution along an alluvial-loess transect in the Herat Plain,western Afghanistan

Afghanistan is located in the Eurasian loess belt,however,there is little information on the soils in the area.Loess has covered the Herat Plain in western Herat City,Afghanistan.Despite the diversity of landform and parent material,there is no information on the soil and landform evolution in this area.The objectives of this study were to identify the soils along a transect of different landforms in the Herat Plain and determine the role of geomorphic processes on the soil and landform evolution.Five pedons from an alluvial fan,the depression between alluvial fan and piedmont plain,saline and non-saline piedmont plains,and the flood plain of the Hariroud River,were sampled.Then,the physical-chemical properties,mineralogy,and micromorphology of the samples were determined.Results showed that the soil parent material in the piedmont plain is loess,whereas,in the flood plain it is a combination of loess and river alluvial sediments.Calcification,lessivage,salinization,and gleization are the most important pedogenic processes.The calcification and lessivage appear to be the result of a wetter climate during the late Quaternary,whereas the present topography causes the gleization and salinization.Clay coatings on carbonate nodules and iron nodules are abundant pedofeatures in the Btk(argillic-calcic)horizon.Iron oxides nodules are common in the soils of the flood plain.The formation of palygorskite in both alluvial-and loess-derived soils implies the onset of aridity and the trend of increase in environmental aridity in the region.It seems that after the formation of a well developed paleosol on the alluvial fan in a more humid climate in the past,the piedmont plain has been covered by loess deposits,and the calcification,gleization,and salinization cause the formation of weakly developed surficial soils.This study highlights the role of the late Quaternary climatic changes on the evolution of landforms and soils in western Afghanistan.

Geochemistry of a paleosol horizon at the base of the Sausar Group,central India： Implications on atmospheric conditions at the Archeane Paleoproterozoic boundary

A paleosol horizon is described from the contact of the Sausar Group（w2400 Ma） and its basement（Tirodi Gneiss; 〉2500 Ma） in Central India. Physical evidence of pedogenesis is marked by the development of stress corrosion cracks, soil peds, corestone weathering and nodular rocks. XRD and SEM-EDX data indicate the presence of siderite, ankerite, uraninite, chlorite, alumino-silicate minerals, ilmenite,rutile and magnetite, in addition to quartz, feldspar and mica. The chemical index of alteration, the plagioclase index of alteration, and the chemical index of weathering show an increasing trend from parent rock to the paleosol and indicate a moderate trend of weathering. The A-CN-K plot indicates loss of feldspars, enrichment in Al2O3 and formation of illite. Different major element ratios indicate baseloss through hydrolysis, clay formation, leaching of some elements, and more precipitation with good surface drainage. The paleosol is depleted in HREE in comparison to the parent rock indicating high fluid-rock interaction during weathering. The paleosol samples show flat Ce and Eu anomalies, low SREE, and high（La/Yb）N, indicative of a reducing environment of formation. Reducing condition can also be inferred from the concentration of elements such as V, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the paleosol profile. Although enriched in Fe and Mg, the overall geochemical patterns of the paleosol indicate oxygen deficient conditions in the atmosphere and development by weathering and leaching processes associated with high precipitation and good surface drainage at the time of development of this paleosol during the Archeane Paleoproterozoic transition.