The Lingtai section includes both the Quaternary loess paleosol sequence and the Tertiary red clay. The investigations revealed
that the
morphological features of the paleosols of the section formed in late Quaternary (S 0-S 8), middle and early Quaternary (S 9-S 41 ) and late Tertiary (the Tertiary red clay) were
different to large extent. It was caused by the different water migrating patterns during the paleo pedogenetic processes. According to the variations of the morphological features and the paleo pedogenesis, the paleosols in the different periods mentioned above were classified as the leaching type paleosols, the stagnating type paleosols and the ground water fluctuating type paleosols, respectively. The variations of the paleosols' morphological features, which are common in the Loess Plateau, were caused by the changes of environmental factors, mainly precipitation and dust accumulation rate. A correct understanding of it will help us further interpret the palaeo climates and palaeo environments of the Loess Plateau, northwest China since the late Cenozoic.