Unita’ litostratigrafiche e pedostratigrafiche nei terreni quaternari pedappeninici; loess e paleosuoli tra il fiume Taro ed il torrente Sillaro

Abstract

Eight pedological profiles excavated on the quaternary terraces at the foot of the Appennines in Emilia-Romagna between river Taro and river Sillaro are here taken into consideration. From the results of sedimentological, mineralogical and pedological researches we had been able to individuate a pedogenized loess dated back to Riss glacial period. A layer of less pedogenized loess, therefore more recent, has been recognized only in the more western profil. On the loess we find a paleosol « lessivée a pseudogley » with manifestation of hydromorfy at the base of the profil. Its beginning of pedogenesis has been dated back to the last interglacial period (Riss-Würm). An earlier paleosol buried by loess has been noticed. It presents rather homogeneous characteristics all over the examinated area: it consists of a paleosol “fersiallitique lessivée” which is dated back to the interglacial Mindel-Riss on its geostratigraphycal position. On the ground the given data we conclude that the Emilia-Romagna paleosols and loess described can be considered pedostrathigrafic and lithostratigrafic unites.