Tracking potential source areas of Central European loess:examples from Tokaj (HU), Nussloch (D) and Grub (AT)

• Main Authors: Schatz Ann-Kathrin, Qi Yue, Siebel Wolfgang, Wu Jiade, Zöller Ludwig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: De Gruyter 2015-11-01
• Series: Open Geosciences
• Subjects: loess; provenance; sr-nd; geochemistry; dust
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2015-0048

There are several competing hypotheses for theorigin of loess in Europe but quantitative evidence is stillrare. Here, Sr-Nd isotopic and bulk elemental compositionof loess from Marine Isotope Stages 2 and 3 fromthree study regions in Central Europe – Nussloch (Germany),Grub (Austria) and Tokaj (Hungary) - are analyzed.This study aims at examining differences and similaritiesof loess deposits throughout Europe, correlating loesswith potential source rocks from major mountain rangesand comparing loess with floodplain sediments from mainrivers as integrated samples of the drainage areas. The resultsshow that European loess deposits are largely uniformand that sediment sources have been rather stablein the Southern and Eastern parts of Central Europeand more variable in West Central Europe. However, themethods used are not sufficient to unequivocally confirmand reject potential sediment sources but, in combination,help to identify the most likely sediment origins. While adirect correlation of loess and potential source rocks is dif-ficult, the comparison with floodplain sediments is mostpromising and confirms previous hypotheses. Loess fromTokaj and Grub is most likely a mix of material transportedby the Danube River and sediments from the surroundingmountains. Rhine River sediments are probably the mainsource of loess at Nussloch.