A contribution to the understanding of late Pleistocene dune sand-paleosol-sequences in Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)

•A dune-paleosol standard profile supported by IRSL is presented.•Paleosols were formed during long lasting glacial times under more humid conditions.•Soil formation is caused by a decrease in sand supply independent of climate change.•Isotopic compositions of shells reflect humidity changes during different edaphic phases.•Geomorphic and isotopic results open the discussion of soil-forming conditions in general.

This paper describes dune sand-paleosol-sequences of four pits in Northern Fuerteventura (Canary Islands). The elaborated stratigraphy is reinforced with luminescence dating to provide a first chronological estimation. Apart from a Holocene colluvial layer, the sequence spans the period from ca. 50 ka to ca. 280 ka. Paleosols were formed during glacial times and point to a standstill in sand supply. The isotopic composition of terrestrial gastropod shells retrieved from soil horizons reflects fluctuations in humidity conditions during different edaphic phases. Because eolian sands were deposited during glacial times as well, it is inferred that soil development was simply caused by a decrease in sand supply independent of climate change. Our geomorphic, geochronological and isotopic results are discussed considering different perspectives of dune sand-paleosol intercalation and more broadly, soil-forming conditions in general.