Siderolithic palaeolandscapes and palaeoenvironments in the northern Massif Central (France).

Contrasting palaeolandscapes, formed from deep palaeodrainages and pediment s surrounding bedrock palaeoreliefs, are buried by Siderolithic deposits. T wo sedimentary units have been distinguished: fluviatile deposits with feld spar, kaolinite and smectite fill up the palaeovalleys; debris flow and she et flood deposits with quartz gravels, kaolinite and illite form the pedime nts and are capped by red silica duricrusts. The deposits and the palaeolan dscapes point to an evolution from tropical climates with contrasting seaso ns towards drier ones. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifique s et medicales Elsevier SAS.