Commune: Lubawa (pow. iławski, woj. warmińsko-mazurskie) , Lubawa (pow. iławski, woj. warmińsko-mazurskie)
Framework element or context represented:
Pleistocene ice-sheet sediments.
Primary geological/geomorphological interest:
The Lubawski Interglacial organogenic lake sediments and Middle Polish Glaciation tills.
Comparative assessment justification:
The Losy site is an unusually significant outcrop of the interglacial sedimants older than Eemian Interglacial. The pollen succession is simillar to those from Uecker Interglacial in Ropersdorf (Germany).
Protection status and accessibility:
The outcrop is protected since 1992 as a geological documentary site. It represents high scientific values.
Character of site: Artificial outcrop.
Area: 2 ha
Altitude: 180 m a.s.l.
Lithology: sands, silts, clays, other organic rocks
Discipline: Palaeobiology, Stratigraphy of Quaternary
Process Age: Quaternary, *all periods
Bedrock Age: Quaternary, *all periods
Description of primary interest:
The proposed geosite is situated within the extent of the youngest, Vistulian (Weichselian) Glaciation. There are the organogenic lake sediments (gyttja, lake marl and silt), about 16.0 m thick, of the Lubawa Interglacial (older than Eemian) age. The upper part of the lake complex is noted in a large exposure. Underlying deposits are vary-grained sands and are dated by the thermoluminescence method at about 237 000 BP years. The overlying sediments are dated at 230 000 BP years. Based on the results of the palynologic analysis there are distinguished four main climatic-floristic interglacial periods and within them 12 pollen horizons. The lake sediments containe diatoms, mollusc and scales of fishes. The hole complex of deposits croped in Losy is glacideformed and have a diapir shape now. It represents the stratotype of the Liubawa Interglacial.
Literature:
BER A. 1999–Preliminary list of the Quaternary geosites in Northern and Central Poland, their age and geological position. Pol. Geol. Inst., Spec. Papers, 2: 77-85. BER A. 2001–Ważne czwartorzędowe stanowiska geologiczne Polski północnej i środkowej (Polish only). In: W trosce o Ziemię. Księga ku czci Prof.. S. Kozłowskiego: 224-239. KUL Lublin. KRUPINSKI K.M., MARKS L. 1986–Interglacial sediments at Losy, Mazury Lakeland. Bull. Pol. Acad., Earth Sc., 34: 375-386. KRUPINSKI K.M., MARKS L. 1991–Odsłonięcie jeziornych osadów interglacjalnych w Losach koło Lubawy (Polish only). In: Ochrona i funkcje zabytków przyrody nieożywionej jako elementów środowiska naturalnego Polski. Abst. Symp. Zakł. Ochr. Przyr. PAN, Kraków: 31-33.