Formation and geochronology of Last Interglacial to Lower Weichselian loess/palaeosol sequences - case studies from the Lower Rhine Embayment, Germany

Abstract

Located in the Lower Rhine area two loess/palaeosol sections were investigated focusing on the last Interglacial to Lower Weichselian pedosedimentary sequence. The sections are situated in the brown coal opencast mining area of Inden and Garzweiler, and comprise archaeological find layers from the Middle Palaeolithic. Selected ratios derived from multi-element analysis are presented for the first time for the prominent loess accumulation area north of the Rhenish Shield. In addition luminescence ages were determined based on isothermal thermoluminescence (ITL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) using the quartz mineral fraction. The results indicate multiple sediment redeposition and polygenetic soil formation for both sections displaying a complex formation of the investigated sequences. Due to the polygenetic character of the loess/palaeosol sequences, interpretation in terms of stratigraphical correlation and palaeoclimatic reconstruction is not straightforward. In addition, the geomorphological position and the formation of the palaeorelief in the surrounding area of loess/palaeosol sequences have to be taken into account as important factors of the geomorphodynamic and soil forming processes of the past.