PRESENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE FOR THE LAST 115 KYR AT

CRDOBA CENTRAL PLAIN, ARGENTINA.

(ABSTRACT)
SANABRIA, Jorge Alberto and ARGELLO, Graciela Leonor *
* Escuela de Geologa. F. C. E. F. y N.- Univ. Nac. de Crdoba Av. Velez Srsfield
1611.C.P:
X5016GCA,
Crdoba.
Argentina.
Tel:
**54-351-4344980
jsanabria@com.uncor.edu
The study area is located in the central region of Crdoba Province, Argentina,
limiting at the west with Crdoba Sierras Chicas (64 25 W), at the north with Suqua
River (31 25S), southern with Ctalamochita River (32 10 S) and eastern with a
virtual line mostly coincident with the 64 00 W meridian.
It comprises two Geomorphological Associations inside the Chaco Pampean
Plain (Llanura Chaco pampeana) Geomorphological Province: the Peripheral
Depression (Depresin Perifrica) at the west, and the Tilted Platform (Plataforma
Basculada) to the east (Capitanelli, R. 1979). The first one is a graben running parallel
to the Sierras Chicas, possibly Pleistocene late-Holocene in age, which exhibits some
evidences of tectonic reactivations that would have been produced during the Middle
Holocene.
The Tilted Platform presents a surface gently dipping towards the East, where
two sub-associations can be distinguished: the Undulated Tilted Platform (Plataforma
Basculada Ondulada) at the West and the Flat Tilted Platform (Plataforma Basculada
Plana) (Sanabria et al, 2004) at the East.
Superficial materials are typical and retransported loess (Argello and Sanabria,
2000) within interfluves, and fluvial sediments in sectors restricted to the rivers and
arroyos surroundings. Soils developed from the loess, were classified as typical
Haplustols and Argiustols.
From the climatic point of view the area is located inside the central semiarid
region of Argentina in the transition zone between the temperate climate of the pampas
and the dry one of plains and ranges. It is mediterranean in regime.
The study of Quaternary Geology at Crdoba Central Plain began with
stratigraphic palaeontological and mineralogical analysis (Bodenbender, 1890, 1921;
Doring, 1907; Frenguelli 1918, 1921; Castellanos, 1918, 1944). More recently, Santa
Cruz (1972, 1973, 1978), generated a chrono-stratigraphic sequence that since the 90s,
has been progressively modified, due to both the luminescence dating methods
application, and further studies carried at Santa F and the central region of the country
by Iriondo (1995, 1997) and at the south of Crdoba province by Cant (1992)
In the study area, luminescence datings (TL) were initiated by Sanabria, et. al.
(1998,1999, 2000) They started as regional and shallow samplings, and then, with the
participation of foreign scientists since 2000, they turned into systematic analysis and
sampling of exposed profiles (Sanabria, 2000)
Up to the moment three profiles have been fully accomplished in the study area,
while some others are still being analyzed.
Those three profiles were correlated in order to establish a preliminary chronostratigraphic sequence for the last 115 kyr.
Corralito I Profile: It is located inside a wide lowland, along a gully,
approximately 25 km long, that extends from the Undulated Tilted Platform into the
Flat Tilted Platform, north of Corralito Town. It was 11m deep at the moment of the
study, but at present it has been further deepened about 5 m. Downward described, the

sequence begins with 0 to -141 cm of modern fill, with remainders of bricks, glass,
plastics, etc. From -142 to -424 cm: buried soil, evolved from the upper loess,
classified as typical Argiustol. IRSL dating values are 19.12.5 kyr at the base and
14.02.1 kyr at the top (Frechen, M et al, 2003). This formation would be equivalent to
La Invernada as described by Cant, M (1992). Between -425 and -1119 cm. a loess
deposit, very likely equivalent to Pampeana Formation (Cant op cit.), is to be seen,
including three paleosols (Moretti, L., 2002). The first two are better developed than the
third. The last two have Cx horizons. Frechen (op cit.) considers the two lower
paleosols that we mention, as belonging to a pedocomplex, comprising rather three
paleosols, with ages varying from approximately 115 to 90 kyr at the bottom to 32 kyr
at the ceiling. The pedocomplex would have been formed during the OIS5, while the
upper loesswould correspond to the OIS3 (between about 32 kyr and 20 kyr).
Monte Ralo Profile: is located on the south limit of the homonymous locality,
inside the Undulated Tilted Platform, inside a small gully approximately 9 m deep.
From 0 to-80 cm, it presents modern fill with varying stratification. Between -81 and840 cm, there is an upper loessic sediment, corresponding to OIS3. On the top, a
moderately developed soil is to be found, classified as typical Argiustol. The aeolian
material is very brittle, yellowish brown, with powdered CaCO3 in the mass, and
frecuent biodisturbations. Between -841 and -900 cm there is a paleosol, scarce to
moderately developed. Ckb horizon contains scarce CaCO3 within the mass (Fm.
Pampeano) The ages for the two loess match well with those of Corralito I (Frechen M,
et al, op cit).
Lozada Profile: It is located in an artificial cut (a pipe which was thought to
transport water, but is out of use) located 8 km west of the Lozada locality, in the
Undulated Tilted Platform. Between 0 and -100 cm includes the material extracted
during the excavation of the channel. Between -100 and -380 cm the upper loess is well
exposed, bearing the zonal soil, scarcely developed (typical Haplustol). Loess material
presents the same characteristics as in the previous profiles. According to Kemp, R et
al .(2006), the O. S. L ages. are 25 kyr at the base and 5,7 kyr at the top. They are
correlated with OIS2. From -381 to -780 cm., biodisturbed fluvial material is found,
with coarse sands and silts, Ca CO3 in the mass, originated between 80 kyr and 25 kyr
(OIS3 and 4). Between -780 and -900 cm, an aeolian sediment is observed (Fm
Pampeano), with a moderately developed paleosol at the top. The ages for Pampeano
Formation span since 115 kyr for the base to 80 kyr for the ceiling (OIS5). According
to Kemp (op. cit) and Sanabria and Argello (2003) the ages at the profile would rather
be between 99.7 17.5 kyr and 55.6 10 kyr respectively. In this last case the samples
were dated by TL
According to the data yielded by the profiles, the main discussion matter is the
age of the upper loess top. In general terms, except for the river sediment intercalated in
Lozada, the three locations correlate well in relation to the sequence of loess/ paleosols,
independently of the number of exposed paleosols.
Very likely the difference in ISRL ages is due to the fact that the samples were
analyzed in different laboratories. Anyway, the great difference between Lozada profile
(5,7 kyr at the top) and the profiles of Corralito I and Monte Ralo (14 kyr at the ceiling)
affects interpretations concerning time as a factor in soils development and paleoclimate
evolution at western Crdoba pampean plain.
It is concluded that there is a certain correlation between the palaeo-surface
where paleosols developed, and the present surface. Corralito profile, located inside a
wide lowland, paleosols exhibit a greater development, including some cemented
horizons, related to hydromorphic environments. On the other hand, those profiles

located near the boundaries between low and high environments, soils are not so well
developed.
The analyzed stratigraphic profiles, including loess/paleosols sequences made it
possible to propose a model of paleoclimate evolution within the region, since 115 kyr
to the present, as follows.
Between 115 and 80 or 55 kyr - according to the different authors- the region
underwent three cycles with climatic alternation between dry and possibly hot ,related
to loess sedimentation; and temperate- humid, with soil development, as proved by the
paleosols present at Corralito I.
Before the deposition of the youngest loess, a humid period took place
producing the high terrace of Xanaes River, and perhaps also of those belonging, to all
other rivers of the zone. This period lasted differently at different sites and is marked by
fluvial sediments in Lozada profile
Between 25 kyr- the corresponding age for Corralito I is 41.4 6.1 kyr and the
14 kyr (or 5,7 kyr according to the sampling point and/or dating method, climate turned
into dry to semiarid, and the last loess is lain, on top of which, favoured by a new humid
cycle, the present soil represented by Oncativo Series, developed.
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