Red-coloured pedosediments of the Lori Basin, Armenia

In this work, the samples of red-coloured pedosediments were analyzed. They were found in two sections of the Lori Basin, Armenia - Kurtan-IV and Yagdan. Micromorphological analysis, the measurement of magnetic susceptibility, particle size distribution, CHN, determination of bulk, and biomorphic composition was made. Based on the results of previous studies, the age of the deposits overlying these sections was known. The pedosediment from the Kurtan-IV section is overlain by a mixture of sand and volcanic ash, which is dated at about 1.4 Ma (Calabrian). The pedosediment from the Yagdan section is overlain by 2-2.5 Ma basaltic lava (Gelasian). As a result of our research, it was revealed that both pedosediments were formed in conditions differ from current ones and have differences between themselves also. The pedosediment from the Yagdan section was formed during the dominance of the subtropical climate. It was revealed the presence of manganese-ferruginous and clayey films, a low index of carbonization and salinity, and a relatively high index of weathering. Pedo-sediments from the Yagdan section can be classified as Cambisols with vitric, argic, chromic qualifiers. By the time the later section Kurtan-IV was formed, the climate became cooler, which was reconstructed by the appearance of phytoliths of coniferous plants. Pedosediment from the Kurtan-IV section can be classified as Stagnic Luvisols. The later factors influencing the preservation of pedosediments and changes in their composition and properties were identified. Thus, the upper horizon of the Yagdan section sharply differs from the underlying ones in increased weathering and oxidation, and these properties are retained up to the third layer. It has increased indicators of magnetic susceptibility and the content of copper elements, cobalt, nickel, vanadium, chromium, which were brought in by basalt lava. The pedosediment from the Kurtan-IV section was overlain by lacustrine deposits, which led to a decrease in the magnetic susceptibility and an increase in the SiO₂ content and carbonation index. This work was supported by RFBR, grant N19-29-05024 mk.