Soils on the Late Triassic carbonate rocks in the West Karavanke Mountains and the high plateaus of the Julian Alps (Slovenia)

Grain-size analysis, mineral composition of heavy and light fraction, and surface texture of quartz grains in soils developed on different parent carbonate rocks in the region of the West Karavanke Mountains and the high plateaus of the Julian Alps (Mežakla, Pokljuka, Jelovica) revealed their polygenetic origin. Homogeneity of the heavy mineral assemblage in the soils developed on different parent carbonate rocks indicates – besides autochthonous material (insoluble residue of carbonate rocks), the presence of allochthonous (external) material in the composition of mineral component of soils, too. Heavy mineral assemblage indicates a metamorphic-igneous source area, which is most probably in the Central Alps. The Drava glacier transported material from there, and deposited it in tilles along the Drava valley. They were exposed to the fluvial and eolian erosion after the Wurm deglaciation. Mostly silty material was transported over the ridges of the Karavanke Mountains by the northeren winds. Their deposition began on the southern calm and protected slopes and saddles, and continued southward on high plateaus of the Julian Alps, and very possibly even farther.