Detailed characterization of the Late Pleistocene loess sequence stratigraphy of Remicourt (Hesbaye region, Belgium) with cone penetration tests

Abstract

1. IntroductionLoess is an aeolian deposit characterized by a very well sorted grain size distribution predominantly ranging between 10-50 µm (corresponding to coarse silt from ASTM D2487-06). In its detailed definition of loess, Pecsi (1990, 1995) added that the weight percentage of the silt fraction corresponds to 40-70%. Geologists, geomorphologists and soil scientists usually consider this material as a sedimentary sequence with heterogeneities even at local scale (palaeosols, unconformity surfaces, palaeovalleys...). In addition to preliminary survey works, characterization of loess and resulting interpretations are classically performed by sedimentological (e.g. Antoine et al., 2013; Guo et al., 2013), pedological (e.g. Ding et al., 1999; Schellenberger & Veit, 2006), mineralogical (e.g. Smykatz-Kloss et al., 2004; Pouclet et al., 2008; Pouclet & Juvigne, 2009) and chronostratigraphic (e.g. Buylaert et al., 2008; Roberts, 2008) studies. Results of these studies point out a succession of layers and horizons including removed sediments, eventual tephra (e.g. Pouclet et al., 2008; Pouclet & Juvigne, 2009) and post-depositional processes as palaeosols formation (e.g. Antoine et al., 2013; Guo et al., 2013; Schellenberger & Veit, 2006), redox processes, chemical and mineralogical modifications (e.g. Schellenberger & Veit, 2006). Moreover, loess deposits are very easily erodible, raising the complexity for stratigraphic studies due to the presence of locally eroded layers and