New data on the MIS 5e paleosol found in the loess-paleosol sequence of the Elista section (Republic of Kalmykia)

In the south of the East European Plain, within the boundaries of the city of Elista, a loess-paleosol sequence has been discovered in which the Late Pleistocene of the Salyn interglacial paleosol has been uncovered. The aim of the study is to obtain new knowledge about pedogenesis and conditions of paleosol formation in one of the poorly studied regions of the East European Plain during the Late Pleistocene. Multi-proxy analysis (particle-size distribution, magnetic susceptibility, loss on ignition, color, and micromorphology) with high-resolution sampling along the Elista section was applied to reconstruct the paleosol cover. Two OSL dates were obtained to refine the age, which confirmed the paleosol age consistent with MIS 5e. In the loess-paleosol sequence of the Elista section, the Salyn interglacial paleosol (MIS 5e) is morphologically similar to Calcic Kastanozems (or Aridisols), characteristic of the modern soil cover in the study area. It is revealed that the interglacial soil formation was passing into the «waning» stage, which was a precursor of climate change and the onset of the ice age. In this transitional interval, the Salyn interglacial paleosol, due to increased climate aridization, developed according to the type of modern Calcic Gypsic Kastanozems (or Gypsids). In hyperarid conditions, its profile corresponded to Calcisols (or Calcids).