Recycled loesses – A micromorphological approach to the determination of local source areas of Weichselian loess

The article presents the results of micromorphological studies of selected Neopleistocene loess-palaeosol sequences. Broader studies of thin sections are presented for the Polanów Samborzecki (Złota) site. They served as models for analysis for similar targeted observations in other sequences. On their basis, 3 groups of microfeatures (litho-, pedo- and cryogenic) were described. An additional group are pedogenic features (clay concentrations, selected Fe and Mn–Fe nodules as well as charcoals) documented in non-soil locations, generally limited to loess macroscopically defined as primary. An analysis of these features shows that these are redeposited pedogenic microfeatures occurring in a secondary location. According to this genetic interpretation, they can be identified as pedorelicts, and, possibly, also as lithorelicts. These features clearly show that the older, pedogenically modified layers were involved in the formation of younger loesses. These studies show that the younger loesses are partially built of older loess material.