Variability in the structure and composition of the Upper Quaternary loess of Ciscaucasia (south of the European part of Russia)

The problem of the source of mineral dust, which makes up the loess-paleosol sequence of Ciscaucasia, remains relevant. One of the main approaches to solving the problem is the spatial analysis of the structure and composition of the loess. Based on the core analysis of three boreholes, a sublatitudinal cross-section of the loess-paleosol sequence of the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene was constructed. A gradual decrease in the thickness of loess-paleosol sequence and grain size from east to west was found out. The total thickness of the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene deposits in the OT-20 section (eastern part) is 22.6 m, SB-1 (central part) – 9.7 m, YS-1 (western part) – 5.3 m. The average content of the sand fraction decreases in the same direction: OT-20 – 17.1%, SB-1 – 6.1%, YS-1 – 1.9%. The results indicate that the main direction of the aeolian transport during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene was from east to west. Sand deserts of the Caspian low-land are probably the main source of the material. Secondary sources of mineral dust are local sandy massifs spread on the terraces of large rivers like Don and Kuban. Compositional variations of loess in depth show that the intensity of eolian processes was higher during cold periods and lower during warm ones. The loess sequences in the east of Ciscaucasia have higher temporal resolution and more responsive paleoclimatic indicators than the western ones.

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