Separating provenance and palaeoclimatic signals from particle size and geochemistry of loess-palaeosol sequences using log-ratio transformation: Central European loess belt, Czech Republic

Abstract

Loess-palaeosol sequences represent the most complete terrestrial archives of Quaternary climatic cyclicality. Particle size and geochemistry are widely used proxy data in palaeoclimatologic analysis of loess-palaeosol sequences. The palaeoclimatologic signals hidden in the texture and chemical composition of the Czech loess-palaeosol sequences, which are part of the European loess belt, are modulated by temporal changes in the interplay of oceanic and continental macroclimates and by the diverse bedrock geology of the Bohemian Massif.Innovative tools of compositional data analysis, including log-ratio transformation and scalar-on-function regression, can substantially enhance the information value of large granulometric and geochemical datasets, when compared to classical statistics of raw data. Particle size distribution and bulk-rock geochemistry of 389 and 542 samples, respectively, from four Czech loess-palaeosol sequence sections representing the last glacial-interglacial cycle were analysed in this study. Centered log-ratio transformation was applied to the key elemental proxies and their spatial (between sections) and stratigraphic (within section) distribution. Centered log-ratio transformed densities of key elements were then plotted against particle size distribution to assess the particle size control on element concentrations.Nearly all loess-palaeosol sequence samples exhibit a bimodal particle size distribution with medium/coarse silt and coarse clay fraction representing the main modes. The dominant silt fraction is completely allogenic. The clay component is partly allogenic, transported by high altitudes air stream, and partly authigenic (neoformed in situ by pedogenic processes). However there is only a minor variation in particle size between the sections, the centered log-ratio transformed density functions reveal that the particle size control on the distribution of major and trace elements is highly site-specific. The provenance signal is recorded especially in coarser-grained fractions transported for a short distance from the source area by near-surface wind. The proportion of the authigenic clay fraction, the alteration of feldspars, micas and low alkali contents indicated by high Rb/K ratio and high values of Rb/Sr and Sr/Ca ratios, which indicate the intensity of carbonate leaching, reflect the intensity of chemical weathering, which is highest in the podzols. Precipitation rates were likely the main microclimatic factor that controlled the compositional differences. The loess-palaeosol sequences in areas with higher present-day annual precipitation show higher contents of clay minerals, higher degree of loessification (cementation) and subsequent pedogenic changes.