Sandy fan-like forms in the central-eastern mazovian lowland (central poland) : Textural record and chronology

• A unique, continuous, fan-shaped belt of sandy landforms in the central-eastern Mazovian Lowland, Central Poland has been investigated using a multiproxy dataset of sediment physical properties and chronological framework. Although there are several previous studies of similar fan-like forms elsewhere in Central Poland, this central-eastern part has not been investigated in detail. A combined methodological approach, using grain-size distributions, the roundness, surface character and microtexture of quartz grains, and the mineral composition of the light and heavy fractions, indicate a predominantly aeolian origin for the fan-like forms. Overlying them are dunes, the sediment within which is derived mainly from the fan-like forms. Two main aeolian phases are distinguished based on luminescence ages: (1) between around 15 and 16 ka, possibly correlated with the Pomeranian Phase of the last (Vistulian) glaciation in Poland, and representing a phase with a poorly recorded deflation event; and (2) around 12 ka, associated with the Younger Dryas onset, when fresh, non-aeolian material was delivered to the system. Overall, the palaeoenvironmental pattern of the fan-like forms is controlled by the Upper Pleistocene aeolian trends.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Naturgeografi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Physical Geography (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Fan-like forms

Luminescence chronology

Textural characterisation

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)