Kluczowy profil interglacjału mazowieckiego w Krukienicach na międzyrzeczu Sanu i Dniestru (Ukraina)

Abstract

THE KEY PROFILE OF THE MAZOVIAN INTERGLACIAL FROM (KRUKIENICE) IN THE SAN AND DNIESTER INTERFLUVE (UKRAINE) Summary The San and Dniester interfluve in the East Carpathian Foreland (north-western part of the Ukraine) – an extremely important area when considering many questions related to Quaternary palaeogeography and stratigraphy – was glaciated only once, during the San 2 Glaciation, about 500 ka BP. Old glacial deposits occurring in watershed areas are exposed or overlain by a thin cover of younger sediments. The glacial landforms are well preserved. The Krukienice profile of the Quaternary deposits is of fundamental importance for the problems connected with the Mesopleistocene in the studied area. The complex research of this profile concerned both mineral (loess, lacustrine, glacigenic) and organic (peat, gyttja) deposits. TL dated mineral deposits overlying peat and gyttja represent the Liwiec and Odra Glaciations, and those occurring under organic deposits are related to the San 2 Glaciation in the San and Dniester interfluve. Palaeobotanical analysis revealed almost complete pollen succession of the Mazovian Interglacial occurring in organic deposits of a fossil lake. Six local pollen assemblage zones (L PAZ), corresponding to four interglacial pollen periods, are presented as a simplified pollen diagram. The rich macroscopic flora of the site with the presence of a dozen or so seeds of Taxus and several exotic taxa is noteworthy. The similarities between Krukenyci macroflora and other macrofloras of the Mazovian Interglacial age evidence the uniformity of climatic conditions on vast areas. Organic deposits occurring in the depressions adjacent to the fossil lake are related to the end part of the Mazovian Interglacial. Palaeogeographical interpretation of the lake and neighbouring area development is presented.