Multidisciplinary approach for paleoenvironmental reconstruction in loess-paleosol studies of the Darai Kalon section, Southern Tajikistan

Abstract

The available data on the loess-paleosol formation in South Tajikistan illustrate the completeness of climatostratigraphic records. However, studies with a multidisciplinary approach have not been practically used for paleoenvironmental reconstructions. This study partially corrects the lack of data on paleolandscape evolution in the loess area of Pamir and Tien Shan piedmonts. Darai Kalon serves as a key section embracing the upper part of the Matuyama Chron and the entire Brunhes Chron. High resolution magnetic susceptibility record shows that during the Brunhes epoch the climate cycles reflected by the Central Asian loess-paleosol succession can be correlated to the deep-sea oxygen isotope curve. The combination of pedological and palynological material is particularly useful for mutual interpretation. Lithological and mineralogical data essentially extend our understanding of pedogenetic and paleoclimatic dynamics. The tendency of soil and paleoenvironmental evolution recorded in the Darai Kalon section can be associated with subtropical semi-humid forest and forest-steppe landscapes. The variation of paleoclimatic parameters and paleovegetation type are characteristic of the contemporary vertical zone of Cinnamon Soils.