Reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental conditions by investigation of Holocene playa sediments in the Ebro Basin, Spain: preliminary results

Endorheic basins are typical landscape elements found in several parts of the Ebro Basin, Spain. Mineralogical and geochemical analysis of sediment cores from the endorheic basins facilitates the reconstruction of local palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions during the Holocene. The different morphogenetic and lithological environments of the areas investigated allows one to calibrate such information. First results of the analysis of the geochemistry and mineralogy of sediments from two endorheic basins within the central Ebro Basin indicate that the climatic conditions governing sedimentation during the Holocene changed from humid and subhumid to the present subarid conditions, but was interrupted by a phase of increased humidity. The varying character of solid bedrock caused different weathering products, which are reflected in the varying geochemical and mineralogical composition of lake deposits.