Podzols on Esker in the Northern Taiga Zone of the Kola Peninsula

Abstract This study presents a genetic characteristic of iron-illuvial podzols formed on an esker composed of coarse-grained and medium-grained sands, including the gravel–pebble fractions with boulders. We have revealed quantitative differences in the composition and properties of iron-illuvial podzols on the esker as compared to iron-illuvial podzols formed on sandy moraines under similar bioclimatic conditions. These differences are related to the topography and specific lithological composition of rocks in the esker. Fluvioglacial deposits are usually described without their specification into intraglacial deposits, forming esker, and periglacial deposits formed beyond the glacier. However, this is insufficient, taking into account the differences in the topography and rocks of eskers.