GEOCHRONOLOGY OF MIDDLE AND UPPER PLEISTOCENE LOESS SECTIONS IN HUNGARY

The application of both thermoluminescence and infrared stimulated lum inescence dating to the extensively studied ''classical'' Hungarian lo ess/paleosol sequences from Basaharc, Mende, and Paks provides a relia ble chronological framework and climatostratigraphic reconstruction fo r the last interglacial/glacial cycle. Based on this combined luminesc ence dating study a new chronology is proposed for the ''Young Loess'' in Hungary. Luminescence dating suggests that the loess below the MF2 horizon formed during the penultimate glaciation. The MF1 horizon pro bably formed during an interstade within oxygen isotope stage 3. For t he youngest loess, overlying MFI, a very high accumulation rate was de termined. Large time gaps occur above MF2 and MF1, indicating that mos t of the record of the Last glaciation is missing in the standard sect ions at Basaharc, Mende, and Paks. Either large discontinuities or a v ery low accumulation rate occurred in all three type sections during t he soil-forming periods. High-resolution studies of climatic proxies u sing this combined luminescence dating approach provide a reliable chr onological framework for loess and loess derivatives of the last glaci al cycle in Hungary, although a precise and complete chronostratigraph ic reconstruction cannot be achieved from the incomplete records found at these sites. (C) 1997 University of Washington.