Paleoclimatic significance of mineral magnetic properties of loess sediments in northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Loess deposit in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau offers an excellent record of climate and environment changes in this region.We have conducted multiparameter mineral magnetic analyses of smaples of loess deposits from the Dongchuan,Lalakou and Panzishan sections.The methods used include magnetic susceptibility,fre-quency-dependent suceptibility,temperature-dependent susceptibility,isothermal remanent magnetization acquisibility.Maghemite and hematite is also present in the loess layers and paleosol horizons.The higher concentration of maghemite in paleosols suggests that the formation of maghemite occurred during in situ pedogenesis,which plays an important role in the enhancement of the magnetic susceptibitily.Similar to that in the Chinese Loess Plateau lying to the east of the Liupan Mountains,magnetic granulometry in the studied loess and paleosols is predominantly pseudo-single-domain(PSD). However,the mean grain-size of the ferrimagnetic minerals in loess is evidently coarser (larger PSD and multiomain-like) than in paleosols (mainly PSD).The magnetic susceptibility of loess and paleosols is positively correlated with the content of ultrafine magnet-ite/maghemite grains,and hence with the intensity of in situ pedogenesis.Therefore,the enhanced magnetic susceptibility in the studied loess-paleosol sequences can be interpreted as being due to climatically induced in situ pedogenesis.     

Rock-magnetic investigation of Siberia loess and its implication

Multiple-rock magnetic investigations conducted on the loess-paleosol sequences at Kurtak in Southwestern Siberia reveal that the mass-normalized low-field magnetic susceptibility profiles reflect changes in lithology between relatively unweathered primary loess of glacial periods and the interglacial paleosols. Maxima in susceptibility values correspond with the least-weathered loess horizons, and minima with the humic horizons of soils. Frequency-dependent susceptibility of the loess-paleosol sequences at Kurtak is very low and practically uniform, indicating the dominance of non-SP ferrimagnetic minerals and negligible pedogenesis. The history of temperature-dependence of susceptibility (TDS) and stepwise acquisition of the isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) have confirmed that magnetite is predominant magnetic mineral, and only few maghemite and probably hematite are present within the studied section. Anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility (AMS) can be used to monitor tilt and disturbance of the sedimentary layers, and also to provide information about the paleo-transport direction for Siberia loess.     

Mid-Late Quaternary loess-paleosol sequence in Lantian’s Yushan,China: An environmental magnetism approach and its paleoclimatic significance

The application of rock magnetism methods to investigating the variations of magnetic minerals in the sediments is an important approach to the reestablishment of paleoclimate evolution. Thus we performed fine magnetic measurements on the loess-paleosol sequence (from L15 upwards to S5, in which L is short for Loess, S is short for Paleosol, the same hereinafter) of Yushan stratigraphic section, which is on the southeastern margin of Chinese Loess Plateau, in Lantian County of China’s Shaanxi Province, and the thickness of which is ca. 40 m. Our study shows that the primary magnetic carriers of loess and paleosol in this section are magnetite, maghemite, hematite and goethite. Thermomagnetic analyses on the samples of representative horizons show that the higher pedogenesis degree of the sediments, the smaller variations of magnetization there will be before and after heating, probably related to the pedogenic alteration of loess sediments. Analyses of several magnetic parameters show a significant discrepancy between the paleoclimatic conditions recorded in the strata from the loess unit L15 upward to the paleosol unit S5 in the study area and those recorded in the relative strata of other sections on the Chinese Loess Plateau, and those recorded in marine sediments, indicating the great impact of regional geological background. Similarly, the rapid and intensive change recorded in the segment from L15 to S9-1, and the significant difference between the paleoclimate evolutions of the two periods before and after the change (from L15 to S9-1, and from L9 to the base of S6) indicate the strong alteration of magnetic carriers in the study area as a result of the alternations of summer and winter monsoons in East Asia.     

History of the temperature-dependence of susceptibility and its implications: Preliminary results along an E-W transect of the Chinese Loess Plateau

An investigation of rock magnetic properties using the temperature-dependence of susceptibility (TDS) and the coercivity of different IRM components was conducted on samples of the Malan loess (L1) and the last interglacial soil (S1) along an E-W transect of the Chinese Loess Plateau. We find that the behavior of the TDS is useful in identifying maghemite (γ-Fe_2O_3) in both loess and paleosol, and that it can be used as a new proxy of the degree of pedogenesis, which is closely linked to climatic conditions. Based on results from the TDS, we conclude that (1) the detrital magnetite grains predominate in the L1 unit to the west of Liupan Mts, where the weathering and pedogenetic processes were weakest; (2) a comparable degree of pedogenesis exists in the L1 at the east of the Liupan Mts and the S1 at the west of the Liupan Mts; (3) a higher concentration of maghemite is found in the S1 unit at the eastern sections, suggesting that the local climate was warmer and more humid in this interval. In addition, we propose that TDS measurements can be used as a rapid means of determining the reliability of the paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) record in loess/poleoso/sequenees.     

Pedogenesis affecting the Matuyama-Brunhes polarity transition recorded in Chinese loess?

A detailed record of the Matuyama-Brunhes (M-B) transition has been obtained from the loess unit 8 (L8) at Duanjiapo (34.2°N, 109.2°E),Shannxi Province of China. An investigation of the rock magnetic properties using hysteresis loops, thermomagnetic analyses identifies pseudo- single domain magnetite as the main carrier of the remanence, with a small contribution from maghemite and hematite. The paleo-direction records obtained reveal: (ⅰ) The M-B transition was recorded in the middle and lower part of L8, and comprises of five fast reversals. (ⅱ) The duration of the M-B polarity transition related to the directional change is about 4800 a. (ⅲ) The virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) path during the transition is confined over Africa, peaked 90° away from the sampling site, in contrast with the results obtained from the Weinan loess section. The different VGPs are probably attributed to the pedogenesis.     

Magnetic properties of surface soils across the southern Tarim Basin and their relationship with climate and source materials

The magnetic susceptibility (χ) of surface soils on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) has strong positive correlation with mean annual precipitation.It is widely accepted that ultrafine magnetite/maghemite grains produced during pedogenesis are responsible for the enhancement of χ,and loess χ on the CLP has been widely used as a proxy for the intensity of the East Asian summer monsoon.However,few works have investigated mechanisms for the enhancement of χ in the case of surface aeolian sediments in westerly-dominated inland China,north of the Tibetan Plateau.Here detailed rock magnetism and grain size studies of 49 surface samples taken across the southern Tarim Basin for different rainfall/temperature/altitude conditions are presented.The results show that samples taken from desert have the lowest χ values and that χ of loessic sand and loess samples decreases with increasing altitude.In addition,the rock magnetism studies suggest that the magnetic properties of surface soils across the southern Tarim Basin are mainly controlled by the concentration of coarse aeolian ferrimagnetic minerals.The contribution of ultrafine pedogenically produced magnetic grains to χ is very limited.     

中国风尘沉积环境磁学研究现状

中国黄土-古土壤-红黏土序列完整记录了7.5 Ma以来东亚季风演化历史。黄土-古土壤的低频磁化率已成为东亚夏季风演化的代用指标之一,并得到广泛的应用和全球对比。虽然古土壤磁化率增强的成土观点已得到广泛认可,但磁化率与成壤强度的相关性还不是十分清楚,磁化率应用方面仍存在问题。磁化率与成壤强度、生物化学作用和古气候关系尚在研究中。     

末次间冰期陇西黄土记录与气候不稳定性问题的初步研究

陕西黄土高原黄土记录的分辩率较高，Ｓ１古土壤厚达８．５ｍ，主要由两个古土壤组和其间黄土层组成。临夏塬堡剖面上可分为５个古土壤层，主要黄土层记录了末次间冰期内的较干冷高粉尘堆积时期。     

Chronology of the stratum containing the skull of the Dali Man

The field investigations of geomorphology and Quaternary sediment sequences show that the sediment stratigraphic profile containing the skull of the Homo sapiens Daliensis (Dali Man) at Tianshuigou trench, Jiefang Village (109° 44′E, 34°52′N), Dali County, Shaanxi Province, is composed of the loess-paleosol sequence, 17.3 m thick, in the upper part, and the alluvial silts, fine sands and sandy gravels interbedded, 15.4 m thick, in the lower part. There are the well developed layers L₁, S₁, L₂ and S₂ in the loess-paleosol sequence of the profile, which are comparable; to those of the Luochuan loess section on the basis of magnetic succeptibility measurements and IRSL dating of the loess samples. An alluvial gravel layer, where the skull of the Dali Man was discovered, is in 13 m beneath the bottom of paleosol S₂, implying that, the age of the Dali Man must be older than about 247 kaBP when the paleosol S₂ began to be developed. The samples of mammal animal tooth and shell fossils from the gravel layer containing the skull of the Dali Man have been dated by uranium series and ESR methods respectively. Based on the multiple dating results and the stratigraphic chronology, the age of the Dali Man, therefore, would be estimated as older than 250 kaBP and younger than 350 kaBP, and reasonably estimated as 260–300 kaBP.     

Formation mechanism of ferromagnetic minerals in loess of China： TEM investigation

The results of TEM investigation indicate that magnetite and maghemite are the major ferromagnetic minerals in loess-paleosol sequences. Primary magnetite has the similar morphology and surface characteristics as eolian detrital particles. The magnetite can be classified into two categories, high-titaninm and low-titanium, which may be the indicators of magmatic rocks and metamorphic rocks,respectively. TEM investigation at nanometer scale shows that primary detrital magnetite of micron scale had been partially weathered to magnetite of 5-20 nanometer during the pedogenic process, which maintain the pseudomorphism of the aeolian debris. Some chlorite particles were also weathered to nanometer scale magnetite or maghemite in the pedogenic process. So weathering of the two minerals leads to formation of superparamagnetism, which may be the important mechanism of magnelic-susceptibnlty increase in paleosols. The mgnelite or maghhemite resulting from the weathering of chlorite contains a small amount of P and S,which is the signal of microbe-mineral interaction, and indicates that microbes may play a certain role in chlorite weathering and formation of Superparamagnetic particles.     

Mineral magnetic and pedogenic studies of the paleoclimatic record of the upper part of the loess/paleosol sequence at Jiaodao

Most researchers agree that pedogenesis plays a significant role in determining the vertical distribution of magnetic susceptibility in soils and in the loess/paleosol sequences found in the People's Republic of China. Magnetic susceptibility distribution from Jiaodao on the Chinese central loess plateau matches other published magnetic susceptibility curves. Using the CBD method and a mixing model, the lithogenic and pedogenic components of magnetic susceptibility from Jiaodao were quantified. The estimated lithogenic component showed a long-term decrease with depth and had short-term periodic fluctuations in tune with the occurrence of paleosol and loess strata. The results of the mixing model suggest that interpretations based only on fluctuations in total magnetic susceptibility will be in error and that a single estimate of average lithogenic susceptibility is not an accurate basis for adjustment of the total susceptibility.     

Magnetic characteristics and their paleoclimatic significance of Fengzhou loess in the Qinling Mountains of China

The Fengzhou loess section is very typical in the Qinling Mountains. The section, about 82 m thick and underlain by the Neogene red clay, consists of 33 layers of loess and 33 layers of paleosol. The section covers Brunnes normal polarity zone and Matuyama reversed polarity zone, and the B/M boundary is located in the middle of L₈. Matuyama reversed polarity zone records Jaramillo, Olduvai and Reunion normal polarity subchrons. The boundary between Matuyama reversed polarity zone and Gauss normal polarity zone (M/Ga) appears in the lithological boundary between loess and the Neogene red clay. Loess accumulation in Fengzhou started before 2.48 Ma. The magnetic susceptibility curve indicates 33 cold-dry and humid-warm cycles of paleoclimatic variation in the Qinling Mountains during the last 2.48 Ma. The above climatic fluctuation may be well compared with that of the oxygen isotopic records from deep-sea deposits.     

Magnetic granulometry of recent sediments from the Huguang Maar and its implication for provenience

To understand the origin and its climatic implications of the Huguang Maar sediments, we conducted laser grain size analysis and rock mangtic measurement for the recent deposits from the Huguang Maar and for the volcanic rocks of the caldera for comparison. The grain size distributions are dominated by clayey silts for both the bulk sediments and magnetic separates. Acquisition of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) and thermal demagnetization of IRM suggest (titano) magnetite as the dominating magnetic mineral in the sediments; high coercivity minerals are not detected. Therefore, the ratio of the susceptibility of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (k _ARM) to the weak field magnetic susceptibility (k), k _ARM/k can be used to estimate the grain size of magnetite. The sediments and volcanic rocks yield values of 13.7 and 11.8 for the k _ARM/_k, respectively, corresponding to grain size values of ～0.03 µm and ～0.05 µm. The magnetic granulometry of lake sediments is distinctive from one of the Chinese loess, in which published data suggest a value of 6.0 for k _ARM/_k, and grain size of ～0.1 µm, but is akin to the nearby volcanic rocks. Although a Loess Plateau source of the lake sediments cannot be fully ruled out, the catchment is most probably the main source. We explain the slightly finer magnetite grain size in sediments than in the volcanic rocks as being disintegrated of particles during erosion and transportation. We conclude that there is no evidence for aeolian input of the Loess Plateau dusts into the Huguang Maar, and the relationship between magnetic parameters of the lake sediments and winter monsoon intensity is probably more complicated than previously thought.     

Use of environmental magnetic measurements to characterize and correlate tephra-A case study in Iceland

A set of environmental magnetic parameters(i.e. magnetic susceptibility, xARM, IRMs, hysteresis loops and thermomagnetic curves) has been applied to two soil sections from SE Iceland. Results demonstrate that the main magnetic minerals in the tephras are ferrimagnetic minerals (e.g.magnetite) and canted antiferromagnetic minerals (e.g.haematite), with abundant paramagnetic material also present. Cross plots of Mrs/Ms vs. (B0)cr/(B0)c and xfd% vs.xARM/SIRM indicate that the main magnetic grain sizes in tephras are pseudo single domain (PSD) and multidomain(MD). Initial correlation of tephra layers was achieved, usingall the measured magnetic parameters, by use of the multi-variate statistical measures of Similarity Coefficient (SC) andEuclidean Distance (ED). This demonstrates that magnetictechniques can potentially assist in the identification andcorrelation of distal tephra.     

Occurrence of magnetic bacteria in soil

Enrichment of the ferrimagnetic minerals magnetite and maghemite is frequently observed in the top layer of soil horizons. Although both inorganic and organic processes are known to produce magnetite, magnetite in soils has been ascribed to an inorganic origin. We report here the discovery of living magnetic bacteria, similar to those found in salt- and fresh-water sediments, in the A horizon of a well developed soil profile in a typical meadow environment in southern Bavaria. The bacteria were detected in fresh samples using an optical microscope equipped with a rotating magnetic field and a volumetrically calibrated depression slide, permitting accurate counts of the volume density of the organisms. We suggest that magnetic bacteria and their magnetofossils can contribute to the magnetic properties of soils.     

吕梁地区不同地层结构黄土边坡坡脚开挖效应

黄土高原地区崩滑流地质灾害较为严重,与人类工程活动如灌溉和开挖等相关,尤其是坡脚开挖最容易导致坡体失稳形成滑坡崩塌地质灾害。在吕梁地区崩滑灾害野外调查的基础上,将该地区黄土边坡按地层结构概化为四种类型即单一黄土型(Q_3)、黄土-古土壤型(Q_2-S)、黄土-古土壤互层型(Q_3-S-Q_2)和黄土-古土壤-红黏土型(Q_3-S-Q_2-N_2),基于FLAC~(3D)有限差分软件,模拟分析了不同地层结构类型黄土边坡坡脚开挖效应。分析结果表明:四种不同地层结构类型黄土边坡在开挖进尺L≤20 m时,开挖角度对边坡稳定系数的影响不大;开挖进尺L≥30 m时,边坡稳定系数随开挖角度的增大显著降低,且在开挖进尺大、开挖角度较陡时边坡浅层产生贯通的最大剪应变增量带形成浅层滑坡,其中具有多层古土壤结构(Ⅲ型)的黄土边坡稳定性最好;开挖角度较缓时边坡位移以竖向回弹为主,开挖角度较陡时边坡水平与竖向位移均较大;坡型坡高相同的条件下,坡脚开挖导致不同地层结构类型的边坡变形破坏的破坏面形态基本一致,滑体厚度存在一定差异但区别不大。研究结果对黄土地区边坡科学合理开挖和灾害防治具有一定的指导意义。     

Susceptibility variations of multiple origins of loess from the Ily Basin (NW China)

The magnetic susceptibility of loess from the Ily Basin,northwestern China shows maximum values in S0 paleosols but minimum values in other paleosols,the mechanism of which has been well debated.In this work,systematic magnetic measurements were made on a representative section from Neleke county.The results show that the loess horizons(L1,L2 and L3) have multi-domain magnetite grains of aeolian origin,S0 is characterized by production of pedogenetic ultrafine-grained ferrimagnetic minerals,and the other paleosols(S1,S2,and S3) are characterized by the formation of nonferrimagnetic minerals associated with waterlogging.The correlation between the low concentration of ferrimagnets,high paramagnetic content,high magnetic coercivity remanence,fine ferrimagnetic grain size and intensified pedogenesis suggest two competing processes of pedogenetic enhancement and pedogenetic depletion in the lower paleosols.Pedogenetic depletion dominates and is responsible for the low susceptibility.Changes in magnetic grain size distribution occur during pedogenetic depletion.The susceptibility variations are of multiple origins in the loess of the Ily Basin.Pedogenetic enhancement,pedogenetic depletion,and allochthonous input of magnetic minerals should all be taken into account to explain the variations of magnetic parameters.     

The incorporation of thermal methods in mineral magnetism of loess-paleosol sequences: a brief overview

The advantages of thermal methods for mineral-magnetic research of loess/paleosol sequences are illustrated in an introductory overview. When applying thermal methods, magnetite and maghemite can be distinguished, something which is difficult with field-dependent measurements at room temperature. Also, variable low-temperature oxidation that is related to climate may be quantified. Thirdly, grain-size estimates pertaining to the whole superparamagnetic range can be inferred from LT warming experiments and to a lesser extent from variable chemical alteration during heating. Application of mineral-magnetic techniques may lead to the development of quantifiable proxy parameters for paleoclimate.     

A rock magnetic record of Asian cooling and aridification processes during 1.95-0.40 Ma in the southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau

The southeastern Chinese Loess Plateau is the terminal deposition area of dusts transported by the East Asian winter monsoon and the frontal area penetrated by the East Asian summer monsoon,and thus a climate sensitive region.This paper reports a rock magnetic study of a Quaternary loess-paleosol section in such a region.We tried to reconstruct the paleoclimate evolution history in the region during 1.95–0.40 Ma with magnetic parameters.The results show a general up-section decreasing trend of the ratio of HIRM/(SIRM–IRM100 mT),indicating a long-term decreasing trend of hematite coercivities in the deposits,which can be mainly related to the cooling and aridification trend of the environment in interglacial depositional area and glacial dust source region.The ratio,lf/ARM,widely used to reflect the variations of magnetic mineral grain size,manifests a long-term increasing trend of the magnetic mineral grain size and tends to indicate an overall weakening trend of the East Asian summer monsoon that controlled the pedogenic intensity.Although the regional multi-segmented paleoclimatic records revealed by several magnetic parameters in our study,the long-term Asian cooling and aridification trend inferred here is of global correlation significance.     

Grain size distribution of quartz isolated from Chinese loess1 paleosol

Grain size distribution of bulk loess-paleosol and quartz chemically extracted from the loess/paleosol shows that mean size of the bulk samples is always finer than that of the quartz. The original aeolian depositions have been modified to various degrees by post-depositional weathering and pedogenic processes. The grain size distribution of the isolated quartz should be close to that of the primary aeolian sediment because the chemical pretreatment excludes secondary produced minerals. Therefore, the grain size of the quartz may be considered to more clearly reflect the variations of winter monsoon intensity.