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.