Das jungpleistozäne Lössprofil von Nussloch (SW-Wand) im Aufschluss der Heidelberger Zement AG

Abstract. At the Nussloch section located south of Heidelberg, a more recently exposed new loess wall was pedologically investigated. The profiles were investigated multidisciplinarily including grain-size spectra, organic and carbonate content, magnetic susceptibility, as well as biomorphology and malacology and infrared optically stimulated luminescence (IRSL). The lower part of the Late Pleistocene includes the subdivided Eemian paleosol and the Wuermian loess about 18 m thick. A Bt horizon, a humic-rich horizon (“Humuszone”) and several tundra gleysols (“Nassböden”) of different intensity, with and without Bw horizons could be detected. Five brown soils (WB2 – WB6) are intercalated in the loess. The brown soils WB2, WB4 and WB5 correlate to interstadial periods, as evidenced by the mollusc spectra. Furthermore, WB1 correlates to one of the three Early Wuermian interstadials (“Mosbacher Humuszone”). Soil WB1 with an age estimate of about 75 ka BP represents the reduced Early Wuermian sequence. The most intensive brown soil (WB4) has the typical soil criteria of an arctic brown soil, which most likely correlates to the about 30 ka old Lohne Soil (“Lohner Boden”). The Late Wuermian loess covering the Lohne Soil is about 12 m thick and intercalated by at least ten tundra gleysols. The equivalent of the E2-Nassboden forms a tundra gley complex including also the weak brown soils WB5 and WB6. The youngest Upper Wuermian loess about 4.50 m thick covers the Eltville tephra and is designated to correlate to the E4/E5 complex. The paleopedological results are in excellent agreement with the results and interpretation by means of malacology and magnetic susceptibility enabling detailed stratigraphic and paleoclimatic reconstruction.