Authigenic carbonates in Quaternary sediments and soils and related geochemical systems of Danube lowland (SW Slovakia) II

We present a framework for interpreting the carbonate geochemical systems in sediments and soils of Danube Lowland (SW Slovakia). The term carbonate geochemical systems we refer to the supergene systems in which carbonate authigenesis is the dominant factor of their formation. Presented article gives an overview of the sources of calcium and models of authigenic carbonates formation that have been proposed in literature, including presenting our new landscape-geochemical model. Study is referring to the morphological classification of authigenic carbonates, mineralogical classification – calcretes, as well as other issues concerned to the Danube Lowland. Carbonate authige-nesis is epigenetic geochemical process which leads to the excretion (neoformation) of carbonates in host sediments and soils independent on their genesis. In more details are described related supergene carbonate geochemical systems in Danube Lowland (SW Slovakia) – loesses and fluvial sediments including their history.