The last interglacial pedocomplexes in the litho- and morpho-stratigraphical framework of the central-northern Apennines (Central Italy)

Major controls on architecture, sequence stratigraphy and paleosols of middle Pleistocene continental sediments ("Qc Unit"), eastern central Italy

“…Based on morpho-, pedo-and litho-stratigraphy coupled also with archaeology, the terrace deposits of the Adriatic side of the Italian peninsula have been attributed to MIS 8, MIS 6, MIS 4-2 and MIS 1 (Coltorti and Pieruccini, 2006;Eppes et al, 2008).…”

“…The common Fe/Mn and the rare depletion features are related to the low permeability of the deep argillic horizons and the presence of an intermittent fluctuating water-saturated environment occurring on the flat valley floor (Lindbo et al, 2010). The red colour is usually associated with rubification processes and commonly interpreted as occurring during interglacial conditions (Cremaschi and Trombino, 1998;Scarciglia et al, 2003Scarciglia et al, , 2006Coltorti and Pieruccini, 2006) although red soils might also derive the colour from the colluviation of older red soils (Coltorti and Pieruccini, 2006). The lack of colluvial features and the monogenic evidence for its formation point out that the iron compounds (poorly crystalline ferrihydrites or very fine-grained hematite) were released in situ after severe weathering of the primary minerals during a single pedogenetic phase (Fedoroff, 1997;Yaalon, 1997).…”

Stratigraphic architecture and quaternary evolution of the Val d'Agri intermontane basin (Southern Apennines, Italy)

“…Their boundaries correspond to 6th order degradation-aggradation surfaces that are the product of fundamental changes in depositional and erosional processes. Truncated paleosols formed during interglacials generally mark the stratigraphic contacts as observed in similar Quaternary alluvial sequences of the Mediterranean area (Coltorti and Pieruccini, 2000;Macklin et al, 2002;Magliulo et al, 2006) and in general in others sedimentary basins (Weissmann et al, 2002(Weissmann et al, , 2005. The weathering horizons contain themselves important paleo-environmental information regarding climate, flora, soil and sedimentary chemistry, which can be put in a relative chronological sequence with the tectonic and sedimentation/ erosion phases.…”

“…The pedological features of this paleosol strongly suggest a high degree of pedogenetic evolution in prolonged warm-humid (Mediterraneanlike, sensu Dudal et al, 1966;Suc, 1984;Finke et al, 1998;Scarciglia et al, 2003) climatic conditions, which occurred regionally (Coltorti and Pieruccini, 2000;Scarciglia et al, 2003;Carboni et al, 2006). Moreover, it points to slow or null sedimentation over a long time span, in the range of several thousands of years (e.g.…”

Tephrochronological study in the quaternary Val d’Agri intermontane basin (Southern Apennines, Italy)

“…Late Pleistocene pedogenesis in warm-humid ''Mediterranean-like'' climate conditions during MIS Stage 5, in areas of morpho-tectonic stability, caused the final development of a highly mature fersiallitic paleosol at the top of Valle del Nasillo Alloformation. The end of interglacial conditions and climatic cooling was marked by the erosion of the fan surfaces, and probably took place during MIS Stage 4, when most of the slopes in the Apennine underwent severe phases of denudation (Coltorti and Dramis 1995;Coltorti and Pieruccini 2006). The progressive re-establishment of interglacial conditions (MIS Stage 3) determined the development of a wide axial alluvial plain and the progradation of transverse coarse-grained alluvial fans (Vallone dell'Aspro Alloformation; VAA, Fig.…”