Mid-Latitude Slope Deposits (Cover Beds)

Chapter 1: Introduction

• • 1.1 Scope of the book
• • 1.2 Structure of the book
• • 1.3 Terminology
• • 1.4 History of ideas
• • 1.5 Cover beds in the context of the “Earth’s critical zone” concept

Chapter 2: Subdued mountains of Central Europe

• • 2.1 Introduction
• • 2.2 Sedimentary properties of layers
• • 2.2.1 The basal layer
• • 2.2.2 The intermediate layer
• • 2.2.3 The upper layer
• • 2.2.4 Laser granulometry of cover beds
• • 2.3 Distribution and thickness of layers
• • 2.3.1 The basal layer
• • 2.3.2 The intermediate layer
• • 2.3.3 The upper layer
• • 2.3.4 Overview of the distribution of periglacial cover-beds
• • 2.4 Classification issues
• • 2.4.1 Discrimination among Pleistocene cover beds
• • 2.4.2 Anthropogenic layers
• • 2.4.2.1 Genesis and classification of anthropogenic layers
• • 2.4.2.2 Properties of anthropogenic layers
• • 2.4.2.3 Discrimination of anthropogenic layers from periglacial cover beds
• • 2.5 Statistical approach to layer properties and distribution
• • 2.5.1 Approach
• • 2.5.2 Basal layer properties
• • 2.5.3 Intermediate layer properties
• • 2.5.4 Upper layer properties
• • 2.5.5 Overall view on statistical results
• • 2.6 Genesis of cover beds
• • 2.6.1 The basal layer
• • 2.6.2 The intermediate layer
• • 2.6.3 The upper layer
• • 2.6.4 Incorporation of substrates
• • 2.6.4.1 Incorporation processes
• • 2.6.4.2 Case study I: Sandreuth, north-eastern Bavaria
• • 2.6.4.3 Case study II: Spessart Mountains, south-eastern Hesse
• • 2.7 Chronology of periglacial cover beds
• • 2.7.1 Relative-age criteria
• • 2.7.1.1 Introduction
• • 2.7.1.2 Age of the basal layer
• • 2.7.1.3 Age of the intermediate layer
• • 2.7.1.4 Age of the upper layer
• • 2.7.2 Numerical dating of periglacial cover beds
• • 2.7.2.1 Introduction
• • 2.7.2.2 Methodical difficulties in dating cover beds
• • 2.7.2.3 Luminescence-dating results from basal layers
• • 2.7.2.4 Luminescence-dating results from intermediate layers
• • 2.7.2.5 Luminescence-dating results from upper layers
• • 2.7.2.6 Conclusions
• • 2.8 Regional differences in cover-bed properties and distribution
• • 2.8.1 Highest altitudes of subdued mountains
• • 2.8.2 Rhenish Massif
• • 2.8.3 Carbonate rocks of the eastern Thuringian Basin
• • 2.8.3.1 Introduction
• • 2.8.3.2 Properties and distribution of cover beds
• • 2.8.3.3 Conclusions

Chapter 3: Cover beds with interbedded/intercalated loess-like slope deposits

Chapter 4: Influence of cover beds on soils

• • 4.1 Introduction
• • 4.2 An integrated soil-evolution model for lithologically discontinuous soil
• • 4.3 Pedogenesis in cover beds
• • 4.4 Consequences for soil properties
• • 4.4.1 Theory of soil properties in lithologically discontinuous soil
• • 4.4.2 Physical Soil Properties
• • 4.4.2.1 Texture in lithologically discontinuous soil
• • 4.4.2.2 Soil water in lithologically discontinuous soil
• • 4.4.3 Chemical soil properties
• • 4.4.3.1 Geochemical composition of cover beds
• • 4.4.3.2 Heavy metals
• • 4.4.3.3 Oxalate and dithionite-extractable iron
• • 4.4.3.4 pH-value and acidification
• • 4.4.3.5 Stratigraphic approach to alteration in soils from cover beds
• • 4.5 Conclusions

Chapter 5: Influence of cover beds on slope hydrology

• • 5.1 Introduction
• • 5.2 Basic hypotheses
• • 5.3 Case studies
• • 5.3.1 Overview
• • 5.3.2 Frankenwald Mountains
• • 5.3.2.1 Introduction
• • 5.3.2.2 Results
• • 5.3.2.3 Conclusions
• • 5.3.3 Sauerland
• • 5.3.4 Erzgebirge
• • 5.4 Conclusions

Chapter 6: Geotechnical properties of periglacial cover beds

• • 6.1 Introduction
• • 6.2 Internal stability of cover beds derived from the 'infinite mechanical slope model'
• • 6.3 Case studies
• • 6.3.1 Stability of cover beds in the flysch zone of the Vienna Forest (Austria)
• • 6.3.1.1 Study area
• • 6.3.1.2 Distribution and composition of slope deposits in the Hagenbach Valley
• • 6.3.1.3 Soil-mechanical stability of cover beds and bedrock
• • 6.3.2 Stability of cover beds on Early Triassic sandstones of southern Lower Saxony (Germany)
• • 6.3.2.1 Study area
• • 6.3.2.2 Distribution and composition of slope deposits
• • 6.3.2.3 Soil mechanic characteristics and stability of slope deposits
• • 6.3.2.4 Calculation of soil-mechanic stability of slope deposits
• • 6.4 Perspectives

Chapter 7: Transferring the concept of cover beds

• • 7.1 Introduction
• • 7.2 Basins and lowlands of the mid-latitudes
• • 7.2.1 Northern Russian Plain
• • 7.2.1.1 Successions of cover beds
• • 7.2.1.2 Sequence-stratigraphic approach
• • 7.2.1.3 Comparison to Central European successions
• • 7.2.2 Northern Great Basin, USA
• • 7.2.2.1 Buried cover beds
• • 7.2.2.2 Surficial cover beds

Chapter 8: Laser granulometry of cover beds and separating process regimes by end-member modelling

• • 8.2.2.3 Genesis and paleoenvironmental implications of Great Basin cover beds
• • 8.2.3 Konya Basin of South-Central Turkey
• • 8.3 High mountains of the mid-latitudes
• • 8.3.1 European Alps
• • 8.3.1.1 Cover beds below modern timberline
• • 8.3.1.2 Cover beds above timberline
• • 8.3.2 Mountains of the western U.S.A.
• • 8.3.2.1 Cover beds below timberline
• • 8.3.2.2 Cover beds in the Colorado Front Range above timberline
• • 8.4 Conclusions
• • 8.4.1 Significance of cover-beds
• • 8.4.2 Cover-beds in humid areas
• • 8.4.3 Cover-beds in semiarid areas
• • 8.4.4 Cover beds and elevation

Chapter 9: Relative dating with cover beds

• • 9.1 Introduction
• • 9.2 Case study at the Swabian Jurassic escarpment
• • 9.2.1 Study area
• • 9.2.2 Geomorphological setting in landslide areas
• • 9.2.3 Pedological and sedimentological setting in landslide areas
• • 9.2.3.1 Unstable, active slope areas of the Swabian Alb
• • 9.2.3.2 Stable slope areas of the Swabian Alb
• • 9.2.4 Model of the distribution of periglacial layers and soils in landslide areas
• • 9.3 Case studies in the western U.S.A.
• • 9.3.1 Introduction
• • 9.3.2 River terraces of Castle Valley, South-East Utah
• • 9.3.3 A case of misleading tephrochronology?
• • 9.3.4 Ice-wedge casts in South-Central Wyoming
• • 9.3.5 Moraines in the Ruby Mountains, North-East Nevada
• • 9.4 Cover beds of Early Quaternary age
• • 9.5 Conclusions

Chapter 10: Provenance of cover-bed eolian matter using U-Pb dating of detrital zircons

Chapter 11: Conclusions

• • 11.1 Takeouts of this book
• • 11.2 Future research demands on cover beds