LOESSFEST'09 | Aug. 31st – Sept. 3rd, 2009 |Novi Sad-Serbia
Inter-Vojvodinian Loess Stratigraphy Based on High Resolution MS Records
Jovanović, M.1, Hambach, U.2, Gaudenyi, T.1, Marković, S.B.1
1Chair of Physical Geography, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
2Chair of Geomorphology, University of Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany
Vojvodina is the northernmost province in Serbia, located in the south-eastern part of the Carpathian Basin and encompassing the area of the confluence of Danube, Sava and Tisza rivers.
Loess-palaeosol sequences (LPSS) of Vojvodina are among the oldest and most complete series of loess deposits in Europe. As the results of high accumulation rates and widespread occurrence up to 55 m thick LPSSs provide valuable data for detailed stratigraphic correlation, as well as reconstruction of natural processes coupled with climatic changes during the late Early, Middle and Late Pleistocene.
Although stratigraphy of Last Glacial LPSS from Vojvodina is resolved by absolute dating, for older horizon reliable ages are still missing. That emphasizes the importance of independent correlation methods as magnetic susceptibility (MS) stratigraphy. Many previous investigations of the loess-palaeosol sequences around the world have used MS as a basis for differentiating widespread loess and palaeosol units, correlating them regionally and relating them to the deepsea isotope stratigraphy.
In total of 2.606 samples for the MS experiments were collected at 5-cm intervals from four LPSS sites: Stari Slankamen, Batajnica, Titel loess plateau and Ruma.
High resolution MS measurements were obtained in the Palaeo- and Enviromagnetic laboratory, Chair of Geomorphology, University of Bayreuth, using an AGICO KLY-3 instrument.
According to the MBB geomagnetic polarity transition zone on the Stari Slankamen site, the V-S8 pedocomplex at the base of the section is the equivalent of S10 and S11 in China.
Double soil V-S7 on the same section is the equivalent of MIS 19 and 21 corresponding to S7 and S8 in the Chinese loess stratigraphy.
Palaeosol V-S6 represents MIS17. The oldest predocomplex of Batajnica, strongly affected by hydromorphism, could be from the same stage.
Very distinctive V-S5 is correlated to the long lasting warm interval of stages MIS15-14-13. It represents the oldest pedocomplex formed in lowland of SE Carpathian Basin, and forms a characteristic feature of the middle part of all Brunhes LPSS in Euroasia. Pronounced peak at the upper shoulder represents a cryptotephra layer, recognized by low frequency MS/frequency dependent MS ratio.
The occurrence of BAG tephra on the Titel loess plateau (above V-S4) is unique for LPSS of Vojvodina, but it is an excellent correlation marker with profiles in the Danube valley further upstream.
The third pedocomplex V-S3 is correlated to MIS9. Its distinct double peak is also visible in equivalent palaeosol S3 in Central Asia and China.
The palaeosol V-S2 fitted to MIS7 represents a typical MS pattern which can be observed also at other loess sections in the middle and lower Danube Basin.
A sudden peak in V-L2 unit indicates tephra layer and it is recognized in all except Stari Slankamen site.
The course of MS with depth in V-S1 and V-L1 shows a characteristic pattern also present in China as well as in the Carpathian basin. The sudden increase of the values at the base is followed by the main peak which, again, shows gradual decrease of MS with time.
The MS course in V-L1 is marked by one or two sawtooth shaped weak peaks with gentle slopes at the base and a sudden decline at the top related to the last glacial cycle with interstadial palaeosols.
The distinct and characteristic LPSS MS records of the Vojvodina opens the possibility to extend temporal correlations across the Eurasian loess belt, to the marine isotope record and to the Antarctic ice cores as well. Although stratigraphic correlation based only on the MS pattern reveals an unambiguous chronology assigning palaeosol units down to V-S5 to marine isotope stages (MIS) 1 to 15, for the lower units, however, such a correlation to the Chinese loess or to loess sections in southeastern Europe is only possible through detailed palaeomagnetic analyses.