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Origin, weathering, and geochemical composition of loess in southwestern Hungary

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Gábor Újvári ,
Andrea Varga  and
Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad
Gábor Újvári*
Affiliation:
Geodetic and Geophysical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Csatkai E. u. 6-8., H-9400 Sopron, Hungary
Andrea Varga
Affiliation:
Department of Petrology and Geochemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c., H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
Zsuzsanna Balogh-Brunstad
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-2812, USA
*
*Corresponding author. Fax: +36 99 508 355.E-mail address:ujvari@ggki.hu (G. Újvári).
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Abstract

Loess geochemistry generally reflects paleo-weathering conditions and it can be used to determine the average composition of the upper continental crust (UCC). In this study, major and trace element concentrations were analyzed on loess samples from southwestern Hungary to determine the factors influencing their chemical compositions and to propose new average loess compositions. All studied loess samples had nearly uniform chemical composition, suggesting similar alteration history of these deposits. Chemical Index of Alteration values (58–69) suggested a weak to moderate degree of weathering in a felsic source area. Typical non-steady state weathering conditions were shown on the Al2O3–CaO+Na2O–K2O patterns, indicating active tectonism of the Alpine–Carpathian system during the Pleistocene. Whole-rock element budgets were controlled by heavy minerals derived from a felsic magmatic or reworked sedimentary provenance. Geochemical parameters indicated that dust particles must have been recycled and well homogenized during fluvial and eolian transport processes.

Keywords

LoessGeochemistryGlobal average loess estimatePleistoceneCentral Europe
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 69 , Issue 3 , May 2008 , pp. 421 - 437
Copyright
University of Washington

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