PALEOSUOLI TIPO TERRA ROSSA AL MARGINE PREALPINO. IL CASO DI STUDIO DEL MONTE CASTO (VAL SABBIA - BRESCIA)

Abstract

Terra Rossa Paleosols on the Prealpine Border. The Study Case of Mount Casto (Val Sabbia, Brescia - Northern Italy). - The Prealpine
reach of the Val Sabbia is characterised by the presence of a paleosurface strictly associated to the development of Terra Rossa type
soils. They are often constituted by colluviated blankets of soil material and, only in particular situations, preserved in place.
The described soil profile has been identified on the slopes of Mount Casto (a limestone plateau 400 m high). The profile is composed
of two different pedologic units: the deeper one is a Terra Rossa fersiallitic paleosol in place, while the upper one is a soil developed
from some loess blankets.
The two units can be identified on the basis of their micromorphological, chemical and physical characteristics and, above all, using
indexes and parameters enhancing their different degree of morphological development and of pedogenetic expression; the latter due to a paleoenvironmental change affecting the study area during its recent geological history.