Enviromagnetic Study of the Reference Ukrainian Loess-Palaeosol Sequence at Stari Kaydaky

Summary The loess-palaeosol sequence at Stari Kaydaky is located in the southernmost margin of the penultimate glaciation in the Dnipro Lowland. The ca. 28-m thick exposure comprises loess intercalated with eight major pedocomplexes. Here we present new magnetostratigraphic, pedostratigraphic and palynological results which demonstrate the importance of the site for long-term palaeoclimatic record. Palaeomagnetic data, obtained through thermal and alternating field demagnetisation, demonstrates the presence of normal polarity within the entire profile studied indicating a Brunhes chron age of this interval. The new magnetic susceptibility record and palaeopedology below 17.5 m depth indicate the deposition of the well-developed Upper Shyrokyne (SK-S7), Martonosha (SK-S6), Lubny (SK-S5) and Lower Zavadivka (SK-S4) soil units (more than 3 m thick each). The section provides a rare opportunity to investigate short- and long-term climatic changes over the early Middle Pleistocene in the region. Therefore, the Stari Kaydaky section can be considered as one of the reference climatic archives in Europe.