Palaeosols in southern Pannonian Basin dunes (Croatia and Serbia): Assessing regional correlation and parent material effects

Palaeosols that developed in aeolian sands of fluvial origin were investigated in the Pannonian Basin, including one profile in the Đurđevac Sands in Croatia and three profiles in the Deliblato Sands (Labudovo Okno, Dubovac, and Grebenac) in Serbia. The study aimed to characterise the morphological, pedological, and mineralogical properties of palaeosols and sands formed within aeolian successions. Distinct palaeosol horizons were identified, described, and sampled based on field observations. Horizon descriptions included colour, grain size, structure, texture, evidence of bioturbation, and the presence of charcoal, pottery, and/or fossils. Laboratory analyses included grain size and pH measurements, granulometric parameters (Mo, So, Sk) and their ratios (So/Sk), as well as determination of carbonate, soil organic matter and humus content, and bulk mineral composition of the <2 mm fraction using X-ray diffraction. The studied palaeosols in the Đurđevac Sands date to the Holocene and Late Glacial, while the youngest palaeosols in the Deliblato Sands are associated with the Bronze Age (2200–700 BC), as indicated by pottery fragments found in anthropogenic horizons at Labudovo Okno and Dubovac. The Deliblato Sands are composed of finer-grained material and exhibit better developed palaeosol profiles compared to those in the Đurđevac Sands. The Đurđevac Sands show lower average carbonate and humus contents, but higher soil organic matter levels than the Deliblato Sands profiles. Differences in mineral composition further suggest distinct sediment provenance between the two regions. The Đurđevac Sands are dominated by quartz with minimal carbonate content and trace minerals, indicating prolonged aeolian activity under stable, humid climatic conditions. The Deliblato Sands display significantly greater mineralogical diversity, with lower quartz content and higher proportions of carbonates, plagioclase, pyroxenes, and secondary minerals. These findings indicate that palaeosols in the Drava catchment (Alpine origin) differ from those in the Tisza–Danube catchment (Carpathian and Carpatho–Balkan origin) and open the possibility of a Morava River influence (future investigations).