Micromorphology of a Mousterian paleosol in aeolianites at the site Habonim, Israel

A paleosol with Mousterian tools in aeolianites at the Habonim site (Carmel Coastal plain, Israel) is a complex pedosedimentary sequence which records a succession of soil-forming episodes and stages of coastal dune instabili ty. We identified three strong soils and one accretionary soil within Moust erian pedocomplex via micromorphological techniques, coupled with FTIR and SEM/EDAX. In the lowermost, red sandy soil (hamra) in Unit IV, decalcificat ion led to the formation of micritic coatings, disrupted by faunal churning , while rubefication resulted in red ferric segregations. Illuviation of fe rruginious clay in the form of clay coatings is lacking, probably due to it s strong incorporation into the matrix. Redox features were intensified in the pseudogley of the next stage (Unit III). Polyphase calcitic features he re indicate that illuviation of clay pre-dates illuviation of micrite and i ts later recrystallization into sparitic calcite. Further deterioration of drainage conditions and increased accumulation of fine particles led to the formation of vertisol (Unit II). Paleovertisol is characterized by a maxim um of clay, stress-originated microfabric, abundant Mn precipitates and cal citic pseudomorphs. The peak of landscape instability occurred later and is recorded in the upper Unit I, in which micromorphological signs of colluvi al and aeolian processes are juxtaposed with various ferric accumulations, associated with gleying. The final episode occurred at a time of climatic i nstability, devegetation, and probably, a simultaneous groundwater rise in the littoral zone. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.