Casting new light on the chronology of the loess/paleosol sequences in Lower Austria

Abstract

This paper presents a review on recently dated sections in well-known loess/paleosol sequences of Lower Austria. The dating results indicate that there was loess deposition during the Upper Würmian Pleniglacial as recorded in the profile Joching. However, most obtained ages are older than the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and therefore erosional processes, which led to the removal of younger deposits can be supposed. Soil formation between ∼28 ka and ∼35 ka mainly resulted in the formation of Cryosols. Hence, in the studied profiles, there is no evidence for more intense interstadial pedogenesis during this time span. This might be of particular relevance to the stratigraphy of 'Stillfried B' (sensu Fink). The 2nd age cluster lies between ∼35 ka and ∼57 ka i. e. the Middle Pleniglacial (Würmian) and is dominated by loess deposits intercalated with different Cryosols. This period is also characterized by colluvial processes. There is a significant hiatus between ∼57 ka and ∼106 ka, a fact which might be due to long lasting and intensive erosional processes in the study areas. The oldest measured age of the Last Glacial is 106 ± 12 ka for the loess on top of 'Stillfried A' in Paudorf (Paudorfer Bodenbildung). Immediately below this pedocomplex and equivalents to it, ages of 124 ± 25 ka (Göttweig-Aigen), 159 ± 20 ka (Paudorf 1), and 170 ± 16 ka (Joching) were obtained in loess. Furthermore, there is evidence for older Middle Pleistocene deposits in Stratzing, Paudorf 2, Göttweig-Furth and Langenlois. Copyright: