Clay mineralogy of Quaternary sediments covering mountainous and hilly areas of Hungary

Abstract

Clay mineral data relating to Quaternary sediments of mountainous and hilly regions of Hungary were collected from published papers and unpublished laboratory reports of the Hungarian Institute of Geology. Predominantly XRD and thermal data were considered. Mineralogy was compared with transport and environmental conditions of deposition of the pelitic material. There is an older, kaolinite-rich and a younger, smectite+illite-rich red clay type covering the karstic surfaces of Aggtelek Mts, Szendro Mts (N Hungary) and Villany Mts (S Transdanubia), indicating warm/humid and warm/arid climatic conditions, respectively. Clear relationships, however, may be confused by multiple redeposition of older weathering crusts. Volcanic ranges are covered by smectite (beidellite)-rich red clay (Matra Mts and foothill areas) and loam (=nyirok, Tokaj Mts). In hilly areas of SE Transdanubia the Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene are represented by the Tengelic Red Clay Fm. which has similar compositional types as on the mount...