Early Miocene European loess: A new record of aridity in southern Europe

Research Article| January 01, 2016 Early Miocene European loess: A new record of aridity in southern Europe Davor Pavelić; Davor Pavelić † 1Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia †dpavelic@rgn.hr Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Marijan Kovačić; Marijan Kovačić 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Adriano Banak; Adriano Banak 3Croatian Geological Survey, Sachsova 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno; Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno 4Departamento de Estratigrafía y Palaeontología, Universidad de Granada, Fuente Nueva S/N, 18002, Granada, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Frane Marković; Frane Marković 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kristina Pikelj; Kristina Pikelj 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alan Vranjković; Alan Vranjković 5NIS a.d., Gazprom Neft, Science and Technology Center, Narodnog fronta 12, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lucija Premužak; Lucija Premužak 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Darko Tibljaš; Darko Tibljaš 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mirko Belak Mirko Belak 3Croatian Geological Survey, Sachsova 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Davor Pavelić † 1Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Marijan Kovačić 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Adriano Banak 3Croatian Geological Survey, Sachsova 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno 4Departamento de Estratigrafía y Palaeontología, Universidad de Granada, Fuente Nueva S/N, 18002, Granada, Spain Frane Marković 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Kristina Pikelj 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Alan Vranjković 5NIS a.d., Gazprom Neft, Science and Technology Center, Narodnog fronta 12, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia Lucija Premužak 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Darko Tibljaš 2Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 95, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia Mirko Belak 3Croatian Geological Survey, Sachsova 2, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia †dpavelic@rgn.hr Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 21 Jan 2015 Received: 16 Jun 2015 Accepted: 08 Jul 2015 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2015 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2016) 128 (1-2): 110–121. https://doi.org/10.1130/B31280.1 Article history Received: 21 Jan 2015 Received: 16 Jun 2015 Accepted: 08 Jul 2015 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Davor Pavelić, Marijan Kovačić, Adriano Banak, Gonzalo Jiménez-Moreno, Frane Marković, Kristina Pikelj, Alan Vranjković, Lucija Premužak, Darko Tibljaš, Mirko Belak; Early Miocene European loess: A new record of aridity in southern Europe. GSA Bulletin 2016;; 128 (1-2): 110–121. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B31280.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The intercalation of silty units and coarse-grained units represented by conglomerates and breccia characterizes a Lower Miocene terrestrial sedimentary sequence in the North Croatian Basin, a part of the southwestern Pannonian Basin system. These sediments were previously interpreted as alluvial sediments, where the silty units would reflect deposition on a floodplain. However, in this study, we show new results that support a different interpretation of the genesis of the silty units. The units, which vary in thickness between 6 and 180 cm, are mostly composed of structureless loose silt. They are brownish yellow to yellowish brown in color and do not contain fossils. Scanning electron microscopy indicated that quartz grains show fracture faces, conchoidal fractures, V-shaped percussion marks, linear steps, and conchoidal crushing features. Such microtextures together with the macroscopic characteristics of the silt units indicate that they were deposited by wind. Therefore, this study reports the first occurrence of Miocene loess outside of China. Silt-sized particles were probably produced by salt-weathering processes on salina-type lake flats during long arid periods. Alluvial deposition was controlled by a more humid climate, so the intercalation of eolian silty units with alluvial conglomerates and breccias reflects alternation of arid and more humid periods in the early Miocene. This agrees with regional paleoclimate studies that show cyclicity in the climate, with a dry cycle and orbital-scale climate variability controlling paleoenvironmental and sedimentary changes in the area during the early Miocene. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.