Preservation of hanging aeolian deposits in insular karst depressions: Sediment sources and implications for the Pleistocene palaeogeography of the SE Adriatic archipelago

This study examines how and why the accumulation and preservation of aeolian sands are influenced by the character of karstic basement landforms. The studied examples are Late Pleistocene aeolian sands and underlying karstified carbonates of Southeastern Adriatic islands. To address this issue the spacial relationship between karstified bedrock and aeolian cover, aeolian and associated fluvial facies, as well as the petrography of sands, including heavy minerals and bioclasts (especially foraminifera) have been studied. Specific landforms of the carbonate basement originated as a consequence of deformation, karstification and locally with additional influence of fluvial processes. They are located at different elevations above today's sea-level, as well as above ancient sand pathways towards the islands, which are now below sea-level. The karst depressions critically influenced the accumulation and preservation of aeolian sands. The depressions represented traps for accumulation and shelters for preservation of these sands. The closed type karst depressions include large examples which contain successions displaying the most complete stratigraphic record, located in the approximate centre of the depression. The open type karst depression is characterised by a partial removal of sands which were exported down-valley.