6.4. Weathering and palaeosols: w

It must be recalled that kaolinisation (k) is typical for the oldest peneplain and rubefaction (r) for later Tertiary planation surfaces of the Ardennes (Gullentops, 1954). During the Quaternary new sediments are weathered and complete soil profiles are increasingly preserved. They allow insight in the organo-chemical environment of sometimes very short climatic fluctuations. Pedostratigraphy is consequently an important tool in assessing past global change.

Examples: As Soil (wA): intense reddish-brown weathering, well preserved on surfaces of the Zutendaal Formation; essentially achieved before Elsterian Glacial.

Rocourt Soil (wR): a polygenetic soil developed on Hainaut loess Member, more mature than Holocene soils; developed until end of the Eemian.

Usselo Soil (wU): a nannopodzol formed on top of the Wildert Member cover sand and preserved through covering of the Hechtel Member dune sand; Bölling/Alleröd Oscillation of Latest- Weichselian, ended with Younger-Dryas.