Pedology and mineralogy of loess profiles at Kapela-Batajnica and Stalac, Serbia

Profiles with multiple paleosols developed in loess at Kapela-Batajnica and Stalac were studied by chemical, physical and mineralogical methods to det ermine paleoclimatic changes through the Pleistocene. The cyclic nature of sedimentary and pedogenetic processes is indicated by the CaCO3 content and silt and clay mineralogy. Stalac is 200 km south of Kapela-Batajnica, and differences between individual paleosols at the two sites are attributed to local differences in soil parent material composition, weathering intensit y or erosion of the paleosols. The profile at Stalac provides an important link between typical Middle European and SE European loess-paleosol sequenc es, and indicates the relative influences of the Mediterranean and continen tal climates. Statistical analysis of values for the hydrolytic alteration index of Thorez and other mineral ratios calculated at 0.5-m vertical inter vals suggests a steady decrease in integlacial weathering rates since the G unz/Mindel (pedocomplexes F8 and F9) and a gradual change from warm humid t o temperate dry conditions, The climatic curve for the Kapela-Batajnica seq uence suggests continental conditions and correlates well with the NW Europ ean climatic curve up to the Gunz/Mindel Interglacial (pedocomplex F8). The curve for the lower part of the Stalac sequence shows a stronger Mediterra nean influence and correlates well with the curve for Greece, but the upper part of the Stalac sequence above the Riss 1/Riss 2 pedocomplex (F6) shows an increased continental climatic influence. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.