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 day in the form of clay coatings is lacking, probably due to its strong incorporation into the matrix. Redox features were intensified in t he pseudogley of the next stage (Unit III). Polyphase calcitic features her e indicate that illuviation of clay pre-dates illuviation of micrite and it s later recrystallization into sparitic calcite. Further deterioration of d rainage conditions and increased accumulation of fine particles led to the formation of vertisol (Unit Il). Paleovertisol is characterized by a maximu m of clay, stress-originated microfabric, abundant Mn precipitates and calc itic pseudomorphs. The peak of landscape instability occurred later and is recorded in the upper Unit I, in which micromorphological signs of colluvia l and aeolian processes are juxtaposed with various ferric accumulations, a ssociated with gleying. The final episode occurred at a time of climatic in stability, devegetation, and probably, a simultaneous groundwater rise in t he littoral zone. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.