Stratigraphy and material of the loess layers at Mende, Hungary

Abstract

Various experimental research methods were adopted in the present investigation for the analysis of the samples which were taken from 16 different places from the loess exposures in the brickyard at Mende, Hungary. The quartz grains in the loess showed a fairly outworn stage of roundness. The colour of the loess alternates from pale yellow to strong brown (2.5Y, 7.5YR). The amounts of calcium and magnesium vary according to the stage of weathering. No constant proportion can be noticed between them. Magnesium is preserved proportionally better than calcium in the weathering. Carbonates mainly come from rock minerals. The weight % of Ca in the carbonate concretion was 21.17, that of Mg only 0.29. The phosphorus content in fresh loesses is a little larger than in soil horizons. The pH values in the aqueous suspension of the samples ranges from 8.3 to 8.75. Electric conductivity values are also high — between 64.1 and 118.7 S. The C-14 dating was done with material from the third paleosol horizon counting downwards from the surface. The computations yielded a radiocarbon age of 27200 +1400/-1100 yr. B.P., which corresponds to the Paudorf Interstadial between Würm stages II and III. At the end of the paper, the results obtained are compared with opinions generally held as to the origin of loesses. The present author is in favour of the diagenetic theory of loess origin.