Pleistocene periglacial paleohydrology reconstituted from sandstone morphologies in the Paris Basin, France

Abstract A model for groundwater silicification within the Sables de Fontainebleau in sub-contemporary landscapes in the Paris Basin proposed 35 years ago has since been continuously and substantially updated, particularly with reference to new studies that relate silica precipitation to periglacial climate conditions. Herein we link the various distinctive morphologies of silicified sandstone bodies to the flow paths of groundwaters that imported the silica, the conditions under which it was precipitated, and the patterns of iced ground. The silicified masses are, in a way, fossil groundwater flow paths. The spatial arrangements of these paleo-groundwater flow paths suggest that permafrost developed to significant depth in parts of the Paris Basin. Our model visualizes a gradual settlement of periglacial conditions in the landscape starting with (1) cooling of the near-surface regolith and development of horizontal silicified pans; (2) progressive descent of impermeable permafrost as glacial conditions persisted, leading to non-horizontal flows ‘forced’ beneath the frozen layer; (3) thickening of the permafrost and consequent pressurization of groundwater in the phreatic zone when groundwater outflows to the valleys froze and closed, and convoluted silicified masses and possibly vertical dikes were formed; (4) followed by later thawing of the permafrost and a reduction in hydrostatic level due to climate warming leading to growth of geotropic silicified bodies when residual permafrost remained at depth. In this context, the distinctive morphologies of the silicified sand masses are proxies for the paleohydrology that prevailed during silicification and constitute a new toolbox for determining the depths reached by permafrost at time of silicification.