Palaeomagnetic studies of the loess-palaeosol sequence from the Kolodiiv section (East Carpathian Foreland, Ukraine)

Abstract

The Upper Pleistocene loess-palaeosol sequence from the Kolodiiv section (East Carpathian Foreland) has been palaeomagnetically studied. Almost all samples displayed moderate to high positive palaeomagnetic inclinations and declinations enclosed between 320° and 40°. However, one sample from the fossil soil of the last interglacial pedocomplex (at 16.6 m profile depth) was reverse magnetized and therefore can be correlated with the Blake Palaeomagnetic Event. Consequently that palaeosol can be related to (Oxygen Isotope Stage) OIS 5e1. Another sample from the Dubno 1 interstadial palaeosol demonstrated southern declination and significant lowering of inclination (up to 40°). This might be a record of the Laschamp Palaeomagnetic Event or of any Late Pleistocene palaeomagnetic excursion. The magnetic susceptibility and anhysteretic remanent magnetization data reflect the presence of several soils forming during the warm conditions of OIS 5 and the complex nature of the Eemian warming. Two palaeosols that developed between ca.115 ka and 120 ka indicate at least two climatic optima during the Eemian. High values of magnetic susceptibility (up to 300 ´ 10-6 SI units) noted in the middle of the section that contains slump deposits (9.5 m to 11m of depth) suggest that this material was derived from older soils of interglacial type.