The nature of the Pleistocene-Holocene palaeosols in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

Abstract

The Pleistocene to Holocene succession in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, consists of an alternation of calcareous sandstones and reddish fine-grained deposits (palaeosols). The palaeosols can be subdivided into two main groups based on the sand-sized versus clay-to silt-sized grains: (1) the sandy hamra palaeosols, and (2) the loess and loess-derived palaeosols. The hamra palaeosols can, in turn, also be subdivided into two main types according to their colour and grain size: (1) light brown loamy to sandy hamra palaeosols, and (2) dark brown sandy clay hamra palaeosols. The hamra palaeosols are polygenetic and originated in humid environments. Their red colour results from ferric oxides coating the sand grains, but also by illuviation. The various pedogenitic units and their gradual transition to loess palaeosols are due to different phases of dust accretion. Both groups of palaeosols developed during the last glacial. They are considered to represent different climate environments: hamra palaeosols represent humid climates, whereas the loess and loess-derived palaeosols represent dry and semi-dry climates.

Evaluation of the Groundwater Quality Using the Water Quality Index and Geostatistical Analysis in the Dier al-Balah Governorate, Gaza Strip, Palestine

“…Land use is dominated by agricultural land, urban and built-up areas, natural reserves and recreational areas in the coastal part [20]. The coastal aquifer in the Dier al-Balah Governorate belongs to Pliocene-Pleistocene age and consists of Kurkar Group deposits of calcareous sandstone, silt, clay, unconsolidated sands and conglomerates [21]. The aquifer is the only natural water resource and is used for various purposes, such as drinking water, crop irrigation and industrial uses [10].…”

Groundwater Vulnerability and Nitrate Contamination Assessment and Mapping Using DRASTIC and Geostatistical Analysis

“…The depth in relation to the water table varies between a few meters in the lowland area along the coast to about 70 m below the surface along the eastern border [31]. The geology of the Gaza Strip is described by Ubeid [30]. There exist no geological or hydrogeological maps of the Gaza Strip, but descriptions of the hydrogeologic conditions have been presented by various authors [21,22,[24][25][26][27]31,32].…”