Inferences from geochemical characteristics of the upper part of the Middle Pleistocene interglacial deposits in Lithuania

The article presents geochemical characteristics of the Middle Pleistocene interglacials stratotype sections: two from the Butenai Interglacial and two from the problematic Snaigupele Interglacial. Geochemical data (the contents of 29 chemical elements, percentages of sediment components) are related to magnetic susceptibility (MS), bedding, lithology and previous palaeobotanical results. Higher content of carbonates and clay in sections of the Snaigupele Interglacial can be explained by wanner climate and calmer depositional environment, though the influence of chemical composition of the underlying tills is also obvious. The influence of oxic-anoxic sedimentary environment fluctuations on MS and on the separation between P-Fe and S-Mn is demonstrated. Many geochemical differences between deposits from the intervals of the Snaigupele-705 bore-hole and the Snaigupele outcrop sections which presumably include pollen zone S-6 Carpinus-Quercus enable the authors to speculate that these deposits were formed during different interglacials.