Aeolian dynamics at the Orlovat loess–paleosol sequence, northern Serbia, based on detailed textural and geochemical evidence

Abstract

Abstract Previous investigations showed that the Orlovat loess–paleosol section, northern Serbia, is characterized by irregularities in sedimentological properties, magnetic susceptibility and color of the sediment. Here, we applied granulometric analysis and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses to study how the sedimentation at the Orlovat site was conditioned by specific geomorphological or climatic conditions. Grain-size analysis is an established method and one of the most frequently used paleoenvironmental proxies of loess deposits, and is complemented here with high resolution XRF analysis on sand-free samples to obtain a more detailed insight into paleoenvironmental conditions and weathering during the past ∼160 ka. The geomorphological conditions of the surrounding area and variations in wind speed over time are of great importance for a better understanding of loess–paleosol deposits. The Orlovat section was exposed to special depositional conditions, which differ from other sections studied in the Carpathian Basin. Sand was delivered during interglacials, most probably from the Deliblato Sands by the southeast Kosava wind. This study highlights the importance of an integrated sedimentological approach for reliable paleoenvironmental reconstruction.