SIGNIFICATO STRATIGRAFICO E PALEOPEDOLOGICO DELLE DATAZIONI U/Th RELATIVE AL CEMENTO CALCITICO DEL CONGLOMERATO DI SOTTO CASTELLO(Val Sabbia,Brescia)

The stratigraphical and palaeopedological significance of the U/Th dates of the calciticcement of the Conglomerate di Sotto Castello(Val Sabbia,Brescia-Northern Italy).This paper discussesthe stratigraphical and palaeopedological significance of some isotopic U/Th dates obtained from thecalcitic cement of the Conglomerate di Sotto Castello.It seems to be originated from the precipitationof the CaCO3 dissolved into the horizons of the overlying Quintilago vetusol.The results are as follows:>350,206 and 143.5 kY.The more ancient of which gives a minimum date for the precipitation ofthe calcitic cement and consequently also for the deposition of the Conglomerate di Sotto Castello aswell as probably for the beginning of the development of the Quintilago vetusol.Therefore the gravelof Sotto Castello should be referred to the Early/Middle Pleistocene,while the beginning of the develop-ment of the Quintilago vetusols is to be referred to the Middle Pleistocene.The two more recent dates,which are not related to different phases of precipitation of the carbonate,show a decrease in the Ucontent due to the geochemical evolution still active in the calcitic cement.