Baoji-type pedostratigraphic section, Loess Plateau, north-central China

Abstract

The Baoji section is judged to be the most complete pedostratigraphic section on the Loess Plateau of north-central China. It is located about 5 km north of the city of Baoji and consists of 37 paleosols formed during more than the last 2.5 Ma. It is designated here as the type pedostratigraphic section with formally named geosols following the rules of the North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature. Geochronological control is based largely on magnetostratigraphy with the Brunhes, Matuyama and Gauss epochs, and Jaramillo and Olduvai events clearly recognized. The Baoji geosols can be correlated with equivalent pedostratigraphic units throughout the Loess Plateau by a combination of magnetostratigraphy and character, position and the association of the pedostratigraphic units within the Quaternary succession. The variation of the geosols suggests climatic cycles of varying intensity and duration; but generally warmer and moister conditions when compared with the loess units that suggest colder and drier periods.