Exploring the Usselo Horizon in a Dutch Moor

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In summary: The layers are predominantly sandy but more dense, likely mixed with clay (loam). The nature of the dark brown color is unclear at the moment.
  • #1
Andre
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The Usselo horizon is a well known dark sandy or peat layer extending from west to central Europe. It's from Allerod age and it's described well here by some leading Dutch researchers. Unfortunately the nestor of Dutch Palaeobotany and Palynology reseach -specialist on the Usselo horizon - diseased last year.

Anyway, so we went on expedition to a well known moor, hunting for the Usselo horizon and we found this:

vndv1g.jpg


This was one of the last pictures taken -after sampling- but with the camera exactly horizontal so that the inclination can be measured accurately.

egvl88.jpg


The layer is about 60 mm thick at the highest point but only 20mm at the lowest point. Detail here:

zo73ie.jpg


The layers are predominantly sandy but more dense, likely mixed with clay (loam). The nature of the dark brown color is unclear at the moment.

Anyway the usselo horizon is usually horizontal obviously and not layered (stratified), so what is it?
 
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  • #2
Is that dune-sand, so aeolian ??
 
  • #3
River sand actually; mostly delivered by the Rhine river towards the delta of the low countries where it became aeolian. The Usselo Horizon splits up the "younger cover sand I" and II. See this

Note that the younger cover sand I below the Usselo horzion is slightly paler in color. That can also be seen here, about 100 feet from that location, showing the horizon more typically.

9ptizt.jpg


But also here, and this site is about 100 miles to the north

2encokx.jpg
 
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  • #4
Another source area for the coversands besides the Rhine Meuse, is the basin of the North Sea before it infilled.
 
  • #5
It's the Younger Dryas Boundary.
 
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  • #6
Hi Alpha Male,

Yes I do think it is the YDB. Have you seen Annelies van Hoesel's paper on Usselo horizons and nanodiamonds?
 
  • #7
Hi Andre, I haven't read the papers but black usually means anoxic (low oxygen) conditions.
 
  • #8
Hi billiards, You cannot generalize to anoxia here. These are coversands and this is a charcoal and organic-rich horizon.
 

FAQ: Exploring the Usselo Horizon in a Dutch Moor

1. What is the Usselo Horizon?

The Usselo Horizon is a distinctive layer of soil found in Dutch moors that marks the transition from the Middle to Late Holocene era.

2. How was the Usselo Horizon formed?

The Usselo Horizon was formed approximately 5000 years ago, during a period of increased rainfall and rising groundwater levels. This caused the formation of an iron-rich layer of soil, known as an iron pan, which marks the boundary between the Middle and Late Holocene era.

3. Why is the Usselo Horizon important for scientists?

The Usselo Horizon is important for scientists because it serves as a key marker for dating and correlating sediment layers in Dutch moors. It also provides valuable information about past climate and environmental conditions in the region.

4. What techniques are used to study the Usselo Horizon?

Scientists use a variety of techniques to study the Usselo Horizon, including sediment coring, radiocarbon dating, and chemical analysis. They also use remote sensing methods, such as ground-penetrating radar, to map and analyze the distribution of the Usselo Horizon.

5. What have scientists learned from studying the Usselo Horizon?

Through studying the Usselo Horizon, scientists have gained insights into past environmental changes, such as shifts in vegetation and changes in water levels. They have also been able to reconstruct past human activities, such as land use and agricultural practices, in the Dutch moors. Additionally, the Usselo Horizon has provided important clues about the effects of climate change on the landscape over the past several thousand years.

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