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Weathering and paleoprecipitation indices in a Late Pleistocene–Holocene loess–paleosol sequence in central Argentina

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Abstract

A Late Pleistocene–Holocene loess–paleosol sequence in central Argentina was studied to obtain a weathering insight and to probe geochemical tools as paleoclimatic proxies. Three paleosols and a buried soil interlayered with loess mantles compose Corralito I sequence (32°00′7″ S, 64°11′08″ W, 469 m a.s.l). Several weathering indices (CIA, CIA-K, and LWI) and elemental ratios (∑Bases/Al2O3, Rb/Sr, CaO/TiO2, Na2O/TiO2) were calculated. An incipient weathering degree throughout the sequence was detected, denoting that the parent material (i.e., loess mantles) has not been substantially modified by pedogenesis. Although a statistically significant correlation between magnetic susceptibility and several weathering indices was identified, the weathering intensity was not strong enough to produce a decrease in the magnetic signal of the paleosols, which is, in part, inherited from the detrital fraction. Paleoprecipitation indices, calculated using geochemical data, suggest slightly wetter conditions during paleosol formation when compared to loess. Paleosols were formed during humid conditions (paleosols II and II during MIS 5e, and paleosol I during MIS 3) with sedimentation pause and soil development, whereas loess layers were deposited during more arid conditions.

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Fig. 1

(modified from Zárate 2003) and location of Corralito I loess–paleosol sequence. b Field photograph of the sequence. c Stratigraphic column of the sequence (modified from Rouzaut and Orgeira 2017)

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT, PICT-2017-2026), the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET, Argentina, PIP 112-201701-00088), and the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (SECyT- UNC 33620180100385CB). V.A. Campodonico and A.I. Pasquini are members of CICyT, CONICET. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers who helped to improve this manuscript.

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  1. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016CGA, Córdoba, Argentina

    Sabrina Rouzaut & Andrea Inés Pasquini

  2. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de La Tierra (CICTERRA), CONICET y Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 1611, X5016CGA, Córdoba, Argentina

    Verena Agustina Campodonico & Andrea Inés Pasquini

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  1. Sabrina Rouzaut
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Rouzaut, S., Campodonico, V.A. & Pasquini, A.I. Weathering and paleoprecipitation indices in a Late Pleistocene–Holocene loess–paleosol sequence in central Argentina. Environ Earth Sci 80, 28 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-020-09324-5

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