Loess in a cave: Lithostratigraphic and correlative value of loess and loess-like layers in caves from the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland (Poland)

Shelter in Smoleń III – A unique example of stratified Holocene clastic cave sediments in Central Europe, a lithostratigraphic stratotype and a record of regional paleoecology

“…The series is topped with an unconformity, which may be regarded as the last record of erosional-colluvial activity. Records of analogous processes were recognized in other cave sites in the region [27] and linked with the lithostratigraphic unit E of the loess-like cave deposits.…”

“…It disappears at a distance of approximately 300 cm from the dripline. It is a loess-like sediment or "cave loess" [27]. Respecting the lithostratigraphic scheme of those authors, the lower part of layer 7 (with limestone debris) correlates with their unit A, and its upper part (less debris, more silt) with unit C. Analogous sediments occur in a number of caves in the region, including the closest ones: Biśnik Cave and Shelter above the Zegar Cave [26,141].…”

“…Most of these features contain clastic sediments, in some cases studied by archaeologists, geologists and paleontologists. The lithology and stratigraphy of Pleistocene sediments were recognized in a number of sites in the region [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. In opposition to the Pleistocene series, the Holocene sediments were poorly studied.…”

“…Explanation of this faint stratification is beyond the scope of this paper; however, the most likely reason is past human activity, which was especially intensive during the Medieval and post-Medieval periods [9,10,28]. To date, only a few sites with complex Holocene stratigraphy have been discovered in Kraków-Częstochowa Upland: Cave above the Słupska Gate [41]; Żytnia Skała Rockshelters [42]; Nad Mosurem Starym Duża Cave [43]; Rockshelter in Zalas [32]; Zawalona Cave [13]; Żarska Cave, which was excavated recently [44]; most likely Zegar Cave [45]; Perspektywiczna Cave, which is still under excavation [27,46]; and Shelter in Smoleń III, which is the subject of this paper.…”

Experimental study of loess disintegration characteristics

“…Loess disintegration is closely related to soil erosion and geological disasters such as collapse, landslides, and debris flow in loess areas (Ryashchenko et al, 2008;Krajcarz et al, 2016;Shi et al, 2016;Zhang et al, 2017;Peng et al, 2018). China has the most widely distributed loess areas on earth (Figure 1), particularly in the Loess Plateau, which is subject to extensive soil erosions.…”