Acta Geologica Hungarica
Volume/Issue:
Volume 46: Issue 2
Stable isotope study in a weakly developed paleosol horizon in the Quaternary Vár-hegy travertine (Budapest, Hungary)
Authors:
Bernadett Bajnóczi Laboratory for Geochemical Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences H-1112 Budapest, Budaörsi út 45, Hungary

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Attila Demény Laboratory for Geochemical Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences H-1112 Budapest, Budaörsi út 45, Hungary

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László Korpás Geological Institute of Hungary H-1143 Budapest, Stefánia út 14, Hungary

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Pages:
149–160
Online Publication Date:
19 Jul 2005
Publication Date:
01 Oct 2003
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/ageol.46.2003.2.3
Keywords:
paleosol; paleosol; Quaternary; travertine; needle-fiber calcite; isotope
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The intraformational paleosol and calcareous muddy cavity fills interbedded in the travertine of the Vár-hegy (Castle Hill) in Budapest were analyzed for carbon and oxygen isotope compositions and compared with the isotope compositions of the host travertine. Microscopic investigations of these layers indicate mechanical reworking of the travertine and mixing with the allothigenic siliciclastic material. Micromorphological features, e.g. needle-fiber calcite, carbonate hypocoatings around pores, ferruginous precipitations and clay infillings in the paleosol and cavity fills indicate that in situ pedogenic processes were active in both layers. The presence of ferrihydrite in the A horizon of the paleosol also supports pedogenic alteration. The stable carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of bulk carbonate of paleosol and cavity fills (d13C= -0.6 to 2.1‰ and d 18O= -16.7 to -12.9‰) are very close to the compositions of the host travertine (d 13C=1.1 to 2.1‰ and d 18O = -17.7 to -13.7‰,) and differ from the probable isotope composition of pedogenic carbonate (d 13C values around -11‰). These results indicate that the studied paleosol and cavity fills have only minor pedogenic component (authigenic carbonate content up to 20%); thus the paleosol represents a weakly developed soil, mostly composed of travertine clasts and allothigenic siliciclastic material.

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Cover Acta Geologica Hungarica
Acta Geologica Hungarica
Print ISSN:
0236-5278
Online ISSN:
1588-2594

Acta Geologica Hungarica
Language English
Size  
Year of
Foundation		 1952
Publication
Programme		 changed title
Volumes
per Year		  
Issues
per Year		  
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia  
Founder's
Address		 H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 0236-5278 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2594 (Online)

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