Sandy soils in silty loess: The loess system of Matmata (Tunisia)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to better understand the system of Quaternary loess-palaeosol sequences (LPS) of the Matmata region in southern Tunisia. Results from a combination of predominantly classical methods (grain size and mineral analysis, CaCO3content estimation, environmental magnetism) indicate strong soil formation phases during which the conditions of sedimentation changed drastically. The heavy mineral analysis underlines northwest, west and southwest provenances of the loessic material. Furthermore, we discuss the process of soil formation in LPS and explain why these soils are very sandy in comparison to the loess units. During phases of soil formation, the northwestern sediment transport path was blocked while sandy material was blown dominantly from the southwestern Grand Erg. Therefore, we present a conceptual model including a provenance analysis of the loessic material that support and improve earlier results of Coudé-Gaussen and collaborators.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)175-186
Number of pages12
JournalQuaternaire
Volume31
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Desert margins, Environmental changes, Palaeosols, Quaternary, Southern Tunisia