Detrital zircon U–Pb age analysis of last glacial loess sources and proglacial sediment dynamics in the Northern European Plain

Loess deposits along the northern fringe of European loess belt potentially record past changes in dust emission from areas proximal to former ice sheets. Recent chronologies across this region generally agree on greatly enhanced deposition rates when Fennoscandian Ice Sheet reached its maximum extent during late last glacial. However, uncertainties over material's source and origin limit understanding causes activity. In particular, southwestern Poland has been attributed multiple origins, mainly involving glaciofluvial outwash plains margin and/or local sources mountainous Sudetes Western Carpathians. Here we apply detrital zircon U–Pb age analyses for a large number grains recovered four samples taken different stratigraphic units exposed at Biały Kościół Poland, previously luminescence dated MIS 4–2, assess provenance as well temporal evolution glacial fluctuations. Furthermore, analysed spectra five potential sediments constrain history sediment recycling mixing within Northern Plain prior deflation deposition. The broad range components detected suggests both closer Peri-Gondwanan proto-sources while narrow, dominant Carboniferous peak is consistent with sourcing Strzelin Hills Sudetic foreland. presence derived reveals that mixture widespread Plain, result long-term fluvial reworking cover proglacial area throughout Quaternary. Local rivers draining foreland transported Fennoscandian-Peri-Gondwanan particles denuded Hills, resulting nearby, temporally stable were substantially increased maximum. Given our model formation essentially involves distribution via short distance aeolian transport, infer proportion sheet controlled by drainage pattern major relation Pleistocene margins where abundant. Based deposits, southern influence central highlands currently divide between Danube Basins.