Cretaceous calcareous paleosols: pedogenetic characteristics and paleoenvironmental implications
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    Abstract:

    Paleosols formed during the geological past are archives of paleoenvironment. Although pre-Neogene paleosols were formed a long long time ago,buried deep and subjected to strong diagenetic alteration,their pedogenetic characteristics are the basis for studying and reconstructing paleoenvironment. In an attempt to reconstruct paleoenvironment of the study regions,where calcareous paleosols of Cretaceous were discovered at several localities,a research project was launched to study pedogenesis of the paleosols. Results show that A-and B-horizons of the soils altered morphologically,but the difference between the two remained distinct;organic matter contents were generally higher in the surface soil layer than in the subsurface layer,and a calcic horizon (Bk) was commonly spotted abundant in carbonate nodules. Slickensided peds and precipitation of the calcites along the plant roots were observed in thin sections of the paleosols. The paleosols were sorted as loamy sand and sandy loam with texture being a bit too coarse. The Bk horizons of the soils were relatively enriched with Ca,Mn and Sr,but quite low in other macro-and micro-elements,like Ba,Sc,Nb,Th,U,Cr,V,Co and Ni. And negative anomaly of δCe and δEu as well as enrichment of heavy rare earth elements were detected in Bk horizons relative to A hozrions in paleosols. Classification of the paleosols in line with the Chinese Soil Taxonomy and US Soil Taxonomy were tried. Based on the findings,it is concluded that climates between semi-humid and semi-arid once appeared in Zitong-Bazhong area (Sichuan Basin) during the Berriasian-Valanginian age,in Jinlingsi-Yangshan Basin (Liaoning Province) during the Barremian age,and in Songliao Basin (Heiliongjang Province) at the Maastrichtian age.

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Huang Chengmin, Gregory John Retallack. Cretaceous calcareous paleosols: pedogenetic characteristics and paleoenvironmental implications[J]. Acta Pedologica Sinica,2010,47(6):1029-1038.

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History
  • Received:May 21,2009
  • Revised:September 06,2009
  • Adopted:September 15,2009
  • Online: August 31,2010
  • Published: