黄土高原西北缘末次冰期晚期以来黄土沉积物的岩石磁学性质

以黄土高原西北缘的靖远和古浪剖面(包含黄土层L1上部和占土壤层SO)作为研究对象,选取代表性样品进行磁化率、频率磁化率、热磁曲线、等温剩磁获得曲线和磁滞回线等测定.结果表明,靖远和古浪L1黄土和SO古土壤具有相似的岩石磁学特征.磁性矿物含量相对较低,载磁矿物均以磁铁矿为主,同时含有磁赤铁矿和赤铁矿,且SO占土壤中的磁赤...     

Preliminary study on the mineral magnetic properties of sediments from Kůlna Cave (Moravian Karst), Czech Republic

Summary Magnetic property variations in marine, lacustrine and loess-paleosol sequences have proved to be useful proxies in climate change studies. However in order to correctly interpret the record of the magnetic property variations it is absolutely necessary to have a good understanding of the cause of the observed variations. Most of the ambiguity in loess-paleosol studies is in distinguishing the role of pedogenesis from other climatic factors. Studying the mineral magnetic properties of the protected cave sediments which have not undergone pedogenesis allows us to determine the degree to which detrital input is climatically driven. These results will help us better understand the variations observed in the surficial loess-paleosol sequences. This study reports mineral magnetic data collected from entrance facies sediments deposited during the early Wurmian glacial stage in the Kůlna Cave. The entrance facies sediments consist of loess-like silts with varying amount of talus. The magnetic susceptibility record from these sediments shows higher values in layers originating in colder climates which is different to that commonly observed in surficial loess deposits. Higher values of magnetic susceptibility in Kůlna sediments are probably due to higher concentrations of ferromagnetic minerals (magnetite and maghemite) and due to an increased proportion of superparamagnetic grains. The magnetic mineralogy and the grainsize distribution (grains larger than superparamagnetic) appear not to change throughout the studied profiles. Higher magnetic susceptibility accompanied by an increase in the superparamagnetic fraction observed in the sediments deposited during colder periods can be explained by an increased input from a pedogenic source when the vegetation cover was reduced and the erosion rate increased.     

Rock-magnetic proxies of climate change from loess -paleosol sediments of the Czech Republic

Summary Rock-magnetic characteristics of late Pleistocene loess-paleosol sequences in the Czech Republic show patterns of variation that reflect climate-related depositional and diagenetic processes which acted on the sedimentary profiles. Mass-normalized magnetic susceptibility is high in interglacial and interstadial paleosols, while uniformly low values are measured in unweathered loess horizons. Normalized ferrimagnetic susceptibility and anhysteretic remanent magnetization show an enhancement of ultrafine (superparamagnetic, SP) and fine (single-domain, SD, and pseudo-single-domain, PSD) grains in chernozem paleosols correlated with δ¹⁸O substages 5c and 5a as well as in the Holocene soil. The parabraunerde paleosol associated with peak interglacial conditions, correlated with δ¹⁸O substage 5e, shows evidence of diagenetic loss of fine grained magnetic minerals, although coarse (multidomain, MD) grains appear to be preserved. Low temperature remanence behavior plus high temperature susceptibility measurements of representative samples from each lithologic unit indicate that magnetite and maghemite are the dominant magnetic minerals within the sediments. Variations in concentration-independent rock-magnetic parameters are therefore primarily a function of grain size variations through the profile. It is anticipated that with additional magnetic and non-magnetic sedimentological and geochemical tests, a quantitative rock-magnetic — paleoclimate model can be developed for the central European loess region.     

巴基斯坦Bahawalpur黄土岩石磁学特征及磁化率变化机制研究

风成黄土是陆地上分布最广泛的沉积物之一,记载了各种古气候演化信息.目前巴基斯坦的黄土研究甚少,磁化率与气候对应的变化机制研究尚未开展.本文对位于巴基斯坦印度河平原Bahawalpur地区新发现的黄土-古土壤剖面进行系统的岩石磁学研究,结合粒度和漫反射光谱(DRS)数据,讨论巴基斯坦黄土的磁化率变化机制.实验结果显示:Bahawalpur(BH)剖面黄土层主要的载磁矿物为磁铁矿,同时含有少量磁赤铁矿和针铁矿,磁性颗粒以原生的MD和PSD颗粒为主.相对于黄土层,古土壤层则是以针铁矿为主,含有顺磁性矿物和少量磁铁矿.BH剖面磁化率与成土作用关系和中国黄土高原典型剖面相反,磁化率的变化可能存在一个阈值12.8×10^-8 m³·kg^-1,在阈值之上,强磁性矿物(磁铁矿、磁赤铁矿)占主导;阈值之下,以弱磁性矿物(主要是针铁矿)为主,这种磁性矿物的转变可能导致磁化率降低.本文可为今后利用磁化率解读该地区地层蕴含的古气候信息提供新线索.     

CBD方法对天然样品磁性矿物影响

本研究选择川西高原、天山和西伯利亚Kurtak剖面的黄土古土壤样品及亚热带非风成样品进行CBD处理,系统测量并对比处理前后的磁学参数,包括低频磁化率、频率磁化率、非磁滞剩磁、饱和等温剩磁、剩磁矫顽力和热磁曲线(J-T曲线),分析处理前后磁性矿物种类、含量和磁畴的变化.结果表明,CBD方法对于磁性矿物的溶解并无明显的选择性,在温度与反应时间一定的条件下,磁性矿物的溶出量主要受控于其粒径分布.CBD方法可以非常有效地去除具有更大比表面积的细粒(< 1 μm)磁性矿物,同时溶解粗粒(>1 μm)磁性矿物外缘,使其粒径变细.CBD处理后磁化率变化存在多种可能,对于成土作用较强的古土壤,CBD方法可以较为准确地提取成土成因的磁性信息;而干旱和过度湿润条件下的风积黄土,不宜使用CBD方法区分原生与次生磁性矿物.     

Molecular fossil and paleovegetation records of paleosol S4 and adjacent loess layers in the Luochuan loess section, NW China

Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique, a series of biomarkers were identi- fied, including n-alkanes, n-alkane-2-ones, isoprenoid etc. from the loess-paleosol samples collected from the S4 and adjacent L5, L4 of the Luochuan loess section, Northwestern China. Based on these data, especially n-alkanes and high-resolution magnetic susceptibility and grain size data, the pa- leoenvironment and paleovegetation history during S4 was reconstructed. The CPI (Carbon Predomi- nance Index) and correlation between n-alkanes and magnetic susceptibility and grain size data dem- onstrated that the molecular fossils in paleosol and loess layers can reflect the vegetation condition during the loess-paleosol formation, if the allochthonous organic inputs could be excluded reasonably. The ACL (average chain length) index is correlated well with paleomagnetic susceptibility and grain size variations, displaying their good synchrony with warm and humid climate. However, it relatively lagged behind the paleomagnetic susceptibility and the grain size variations when the climate began to deteriorate. During the formation period of paleosol, the n-alkanes was dominated by C31 homologue, indicating that the primary organic input originated from herbs. Our study also demonstrated that the herbs were more flourish than wood plants in Loess Plateau, especially in the Luochuan area during the warm and humid phase, and there was no typical forest vegetation developed in the studied period.     

高分辨率洛川剖面黄土磁性地层学

洛川剖面作为经典的黄土剖面,磁极性地层界线的具体位置还不清楚.通过对洛川黄土-古土壤序列以10 cm间隔的古地磁研究,厘定了磁极性界线的具体位置：（1）MB (Matuyama-Brunhes) 界线位于53 m处,S8的上部.（2）Jaramillo位于67.8~72.5 m,上界在S₁₀的上部,其下界位于L₁₃的顶部.（3）Olduvai位于107.2~114.2 m,上界位于S₂₅的顶部,相当于WS₂的上部,其下界位于L₂₉的上部,相当于WL₂的上部.4）并未检测到Matuyama的底界,可能位于红粘土内.     

Transformation relationship among different magnetic minerals within loess-paleosol sediments of the Chinese Loess Plateau

The dominant magnetic minerals and carriers of magnetic signals within the Chinese Loess Plateau are magnetite, maghemite, hematite, and goethite. In this study, we investigated the provenance and evolution of magnetic minerals during loess pedogenesis, using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical and electron microscopy, including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Our results reveal that single- and multiphase mineral assemblages among magnetic minerals in the loess-paleosol sequence have been formed. Partial oxidation of coarse eolian magnetite has occurred in the desert source area and the oxidation degree is enhanced after deposition of the dust upon the Chinese Loess Plateau. This mode of origin resulted in a microtexture consisting of an inner magnetite core surrounded by a hematite rim, and strongly affected the magnetic characteristics of the loess. Goethite coexists with hematite in the loess and paleosol, and nanometer-scale hematite is formed upon goethite rims via dehydration. Our study provides direct mineralogical evidence of the magnetic record and paleoclimatic implications of the loess-paleosol sequence of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40772032 and 40573054) and National Basic Research Program (Grant No. 2007CB815603)     

天山北麓黄土环境磁学特征及其古气候意义

新疆黄土-古土壤序列环境磁学参数的变化机理及其气候意义仍存在争议.本文选择天山北麓的中梁黄土剖面,系统开展了低温和常温下环境磁学参数的测试与研究,测量包括室温的磁化率与饱和磁化强度,以及磁化率与饱和剩余磁化强度的低温变化.结果发现,该剖面黄土和古土壤样品的磁性矿物主要由磁铁矿与磁赤铁矿组成,不含任何粒级成壤形成的超顺磁矿物颗粒,其磁化率信号主要记录了粉尘磁性矿物含量变化,较高的磁化率指示较强的风动力状况或者较近的风尘源区,新疆黄土的这种环境磁学"风尘输入模式"可用来重建干旱区的风动力强弱变化.     

Optically stimulated luminescence dating of loess in South-Eastern China using quartz and polymineral fine grains

Loess deposits distributed in southeastern China play an important role for paleoclimate reconstruction of the subtropical regions. These loess-paleosol deposits are mainly spread within the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River as well as in the drainage area of the Huai River. The ages of loess paleosol sequences that are distributed along the Huai River are not well constrained. In this study, the standard single-aliquot regenerative dose (SAR) optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) protocol and two elevated temperature post infrared-infrared stimulated luminescence SAR protocols (pIRIR₂₂₅ and pIRIR₂₉₀) were applied on 4–11 μm quartz and polymineral fine grains, respectively, in order to obtain the first numerical luminescence chronology for a loess-paleosol sequence in northern Jiangsu Province. Our results show a good agreement between quartz SAR-OSL and polymineral pIRIR ages up to ~70 ka. These findings confirm that Xiashu loess accumulated during the Last Glaciation. For samples older than this, the ages increasingly deviate with depth. Fine quartz ages beyond 70 ka are interpreted as underestimates, as previous studies reported that quartz ages >70 ka from various sedimentary origins worldwide may underestimate even if they pass rejection criteria and dose recovery tests. On the other hand, the pIRIR ages are most likely overestimating the true depositional ages as indicated by the results of dose recovery tests, where a 30–60% overestimation of the recovered dose is reported for values larger than ~400 Gy. The overestimation of pIRIR protocols was also confirmed by the results obtained when large beta doses were added on top of the natural accrued dose. Moreover, our dating results suggest that L1/S1 transition (corresponding to MIS 5/4 boundary) occurred much higher in the stratigraphic sequence than may have been interpreted from the magnetic susceptibility enhancement. This inconsistency can be assigned to invalidity of magnetic susceptibility as a chronostratigraphical proxy due to ferrimagnetic minerals dissolution or transformation during paedogenesis processes in this humid subtropical region in the southeastern China.     

毛乌素沙地风沙沉积物磁学特征及其古环境意义

在沙漠沉积环境中,成土作用对磁化率的贡献较小,往往被原生磁信号掩盖,因此分离两种磁组分对气候和粉尘代用指标的提取至关重要.本研究选取位于毛乌素沙地东缘的锦界风沙沉积剖面为研究对象,利用多变量一元线性回归中的"平均值概念"进行磁化率的原生碎屑组分0和次生成土组分Xpedo的分离,并探讨磁学参数所承载的气候和环境意义.结果显示,磁学比值参数(如Xpedo/X0、Xfd/HIRM、Xfd%和XARM/SIRM)彼此之间存在显著线性或指数/对数相关关系,它们对成土强度指示明确,可以在一定程度上减小或避免磁性矿物背景值差异所产生的误差,与磁化率相比更适宜用于该区的古降水量重建.HIRM主要由碎屑赤铁矿含量控制,HIRM与X0存在明显正相关关系,表明碎屑赤铁矿随原生磁性矿物总体含量的增加(减少)而增加(减少),在粉尘成因磁性矿物中所占比例大致稳定,从而HIRM可以指示源区粉尘通量的变化.锦界剖面的原生和次生磁性矿物浓度均明显低于黄土高原黄土,不同地层X0和Xpedo在磁化率中所占的比例存在较大差异,因此磁化率的环境意义比较复杂,在使用其恢复古气候古环境时需慎重.     

Identification of aeolian loess deposits on the Indo-Gangetic Plain(India) and their significance

Aeolian loess deposits contain abundant information about the evolution of the paleoenvironment.For example,paleoclimate changes recorded in Chinese loess area obtained significant achievement in the past few decades.Compared to Chinese loess,research on Indian loess is lacking.Currently,most studies focus on the Kashmir area located in the southern Himalayas,and studies on other areas are rare.However,field observations demonstrate that the sediments around the New Delhi-Agra-Jaipur Plain are similar to Chinese loess-paleosol sequences.For example,the boundary between two strata is transitional and without horizontal bedding.Moreover,obvious pedogenic horizons developed among sediment sequences,probably indicating unrecognised aeolian deposits in the Indo-Gangetic Plain(IGP).To confirm this,pilot samples were obtained from the IGP and detailed indoor measurements conducted.The results indicate that the distribution patterns of particle size and rare earth elements(REE) of the pilot samples are similar to Chinese loess.Furthermore,the scanning electronic microscopy(SEM) images of pilot samples show obvious conchoidal fractures,dash-shaped concavities,and abundant small pits that usually form through mechanical impact.These are typical characteristics of aeolian particles.In addition,environmental and rock magnetic measurements indicate that the dominant magnetic minerals in the pilot samples are magnetite and maghemite,and that they likely contain small amounts of hematite.Furthermore,conventional magnetic parameters are comparable with Chinese loess.Based on this,aeolian loess deposits are widely distributed in the IGP,which may have promoted the development of Indian farming and contributed towards the prosperity of ancient Indian civilisation.This study also provides a new and valuable record for the research on paleoclimate changes in the study area in the future.     

Bartington MS2和Kappabridge MFK1-FA不同频率的磁化率在黄土、红粘土和湖相沉积物中的应用

通过Bartington MS2 和Kappabridge MFK1-FA两种仪器对黄土-古土壤、红粘土和湖相沉积物样品进行了5个频率的磁化率测试,并计算得到了4个频率磁化率.通过对比分析不同类型样品磁化率-频率变化曲线可知,当样品中细颗粒磁性矿物含量较高时,磁化率在较低频率即可达到峰值,而当样品中细颗粒磁性矿物含量较低时,磁化率在较高频率时才能达到峰值.因此,在黄土-古土壤等样品的应用中,成壤作用较强,细颗粒亚铁磁性矿物含量较高,Bartington MS2的低频(465 Hz)与Kappabridge MFK1-FA的F₁(976 Hz)和F₂(3905 Hz)频率均处于磁化率峰值区域,可以检测到SP/SD阀值区域颗粒的信息,但是对于红粘土和湖相沉积物等细颗粒亚铁磁性矿物含量较低的样品,磁化率峰值对应的频率较高,MS2型磁化率仪无法有效地检测其中细颗粒的含量,而MFK1-FA中F₂(3905 Hz)和F₃(15616 Hz)两个频率间的频率磁化率则可以较好地完成这一任务.     

Magnetic properties of the Tertiary red clay from Gansu

The study on magnetic properties of the red clay indicates that the red clay and loesspaleosol sequence have a common magnetic mineralogy, with magnetite, maghemite, hematite (and possibly goethite) contributing to the magnetic behavior. The red clay magnetic susceptibility is also found to have a positive relation with extrafine superparamagnetic grains. This suggests that, like the Quaternary loess-paleosols, an ultrafine ferrimagnetic component produced during pedogenesis in the red clay under humid conditions also plays an important role in susceptibility enhancement in the soil units. This is supported by the correlation between Rb/Sr ratio and magnetic susceptibility. This signifies that, like the above loess-paleosol sequence, the magnetic susceptibility of the red clay can be used as a general proxy paleoclimatic indicator, although whether its susceptibility in the red clay is comparable to pedogenesis intensity and requires further investigation. Magnetic susceptibility variation in the red clay thus also provides an eolian/pedogenic record of paleoclimatic evolution. Study of the background susceptibility indicates that, on average, the absolute scale of the paleoclimatic shift from red clay development to Quaternary loess deposition is similar to the climatic shift from stage 5 (S1) to stage 2–4 (L1). This may suggest that during the Quaternary there is an evident strengthening of the absolute wind intensity to bring more (about double) coarser and less weathered (non-SP fraction) eolian magnetic input from the source regions to the Loess Plateau than during the Pliocene. The presence of eolian red clay since 7.5 Ma BP in central-northern China implies an important environmental change from the underlying Cretaceous red sandstone. The red clay development was closely related to global drying and climate cooling since the Cretaceous and closely associated with the abrupt uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau at about that time. This uplift of the plateau intensified the East Asia monsoon system and started red clay deposition.     

Loess in the Czech Republic: Magnetic properties and paleoclimate

Summary We have studied 454 oriented samples from seven loess outcrops in the Czech Republic for comparison and correlation of the magnetic properties with those of the loess profiles in China and Central Asia. Three sections at Sedlec (Prague), Zeměchy and Dolní Věstonice cover the time span of the last glacial-interglacial cycle. Loess from the middle Pleistocene period including pedocomplexes V and VI was studied at Sedlešovice (Znojmo) and Karlštejn. Loess of uncertain — possibly lower to middle Pleistocene age — was sampled at Sedlec near Mikulov. At Červeny Kopec (Red Hill, Brno) we investigated the oldest loess near the Matuyama/Brunhes (M/B) boundary. The characteristic remanence (ChRM) determined after magnetic clearning is of normal polarity throughout all sections except at Červeny Kopec. There, two polarity changes from reversed to normal were found within two sections initially thought to represent two successive stratigraphic intervals. However, the marked similarities between lithological, susceptibility, declination and inclination profiles lead us to suggest that the two polarity changes are in fact one and the same. The two sections are therefore laterally equivalent and both have recorded the M/B field reversal. The susceptibility variations were used to mutually correlate the Czech sections and to construct a composite profile across the present day loess outcrops in the Czech Republic. They also serve as a paleoclimate proxy which can be compared and correlated with the paleoclimatic records observed in the Chinese and Central Asian loess. The origin of the low field susceptibility variations was studied by measuring the frequency dependence of susceptibility which revealed that the enhancement within the pedocomplexes is controlled by the amount of fine-grained ferromagnetic minerals present.     

Rock magnetic properties of a loess-paleosol couple along an N-S transect in the Chinese Loess Plateau

We have conducted detailed rock magnetic experiments on samples from loess unit 8 (L8) and paleosol unit 8 (S8) in Jingbian, Yichuan and Duanjiapo loess sections along an N-S transect in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Major rock magnetic results are as follows: (i) An increase of high field susceptibility (χ_h) in the same level of loess or paleosol from north to south is observed, suggesting an enhancement of pedogenesis. (ii) The low field susceptibility(χL) in loess unit L8 is almost the same in three sections. In contrast, the χ_L of paleosol unit S8 in Yichuan is highest, and the χ_L of Duanjiapo is lower than that in Yichuan section, suggesting that there is not correlation between the χ_L and the degree of pedogenesis in loess-paleosols. (iii) With the increasing of χ_L, both the contents of the superparamagnetic (SP) and the ferrimagnetic grains in loess-paleosol increase, however, the enhancement of magnetic susceptibility is probably dependent more on the increase of the ferrimagnetic concentration than on a change in the grain size. (iv) The content of the maghemite in loess unit 8 increases from the northern to the southern part of the Chinese Loess Plateau, and is positively correlated with the pedogenesis of the loess.     

Magnetic properties of the Tertiary red clay from Gansu Province, China and its paleoclimatic significance

The study on magnetic properties of the red clay indicates that the red clay and loess- paleosol sequence have a common magnetic mineralogy, with magnetite, maghemite, hematite (and possibly goethite) contributing to the magnetic behavior. The red clay magnetic susceptibility is also found to have a positive relation with extrafine superparamagnetic grains. This suggests that, like the Quaternary loess-paleosols, an ultrafine ferrimagnetic component produced during pe-dogenesis in the red clay under humid conditions also plays an important role in susceptibility enhancement in the soil units. This is supported by the correlation between Rb/Sr ratio and magnetic susceptibility. This signifies that, like the above loess-paleosol sequence, the magnetic susceptibility of the red clay can be used as a general proxy paleoclimatic indicator, although whether its susceptibility in the red clay is comparable to pedogenesis intensity and requires further investigation. Magnetic susceptibility variation in the red clay thus also provides an eo-lian/pedogenic record of paleoclimatic evolution. Study of the background susceptibility indicates that, on average, the absolute scale of the paleoclimatic shift from red clay development to Quaternary loess deposition is similar to the climatic shift from stage 5 (S1) to stage 2-4 (L1). This may suggest that during the Quaternary there is an evident strengthening of the absolute wind intensity to bring more (about double) coarser and less weathered (non-SP fraction) eolian magnetic input from the source regions to the Loess Plateau than during the Pliocene. The presence of eolian red clay since 7.5 Ma BP in central-northern China implies an important envi-ronmental change from the underlying Cretaceous red sandstone. The red clay development was closely related to global drying and climate cooling since the Cretaceous and closely associated with the abrupt uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau at about that time. This uplift of the plateau intensified the East Asia monsoon system and started red clay deposition.     

Vertical variations of luminescence sensitivity of quartz grains from loess/paleosol of Luochuan section in the central Chinese Loess Plateau since the last interglacial

The provenance of loess in Chinese Loess Plateau, including origin, transport pathways and source areas, has long been one of the most important questions. In this study, the vertical variations of the luminescence sensitivity of quartz grains from the central Chinese Loess Plateau were investigated by using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques. Our results indicate that the luminescence sensitivity of quartz grains of paleosols can be much higher than that of loess beds. In addition, the quartz grains from the loess-paleosol sequence exhibit a temporal trend in the strength of luminescence sensitivity, characterized by higher values in soils and lower values in loess beds. The OSL sensitivity of quartz grains of the loess-paleosol sequence also shows very similar trend to the magnetic susceptibility and particle size fluctuations, implying that the luminescence sensitivity might be climatic dependent. The possible factors affecting the variations of luminescence sensitivity were discussed including particle size, natural radioactivity, and the provenance of eolian deposits. We suggest that the temporal variations of luminescence sensitivity can be attributed to the retreat-advance of deserts, the different contributions of glacial origin quartz particles associated with mountain processes, and wind patterns during glacial/interglacial cycles. Therefore, the secular variations of luminescence sensitivity of quartz grains are ultimately influenced by past climatic change through its controlling on sediment provenance changes.     

Development of a magnetic method for reconstructing the paleoclimate of the rock formation time: A case study of the Paleolithic Kostenki-12 site section (the Voronezh region)

A magnetic method is proposed for reconstructing the paleoclimate existing at the formation time of rocks of the Paleolithic Kostenki-12 site section. Results obtained from an experimental study of scalar magnetic characteristics (SMCs) of the rocks (magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic remanent magnetization, and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization) are presented. These results indicate complex along-section SMC behavior distinguished by alternating larger and smaller values of the parameters. The magnetic minerals of the section are mainly represented by pseudo-single-domain magnetite grains. The size of the magnetite grains in the pseudo-single-domain range varies along the section, increasing in its lower half. The SMCs values plotted on different scales for the upper and lower halves of the section clearly revealed 12 magnetic zones (MZs). Comparison of the MZs with palynological zones obtained in a parallel section showed, on the whole, a convergence of data: MZs with larger (smaller) SMC values correlate with thermomers (cryomers). Comparison of along-section SMC variations with the GRIP (Greenland Ice Core Project) curve of the time dependence of paleotemperatures confirmed or refined the ages of lithologic horizons. As a result, it is established that constraints on paleoclimatic changes in the rock formation time can be gained from SMC variations if the main carriers of magnetization in rocks are pseudo-single-domain magnetite grains even with magnetic grain size varying along the section.     

Loess magnetic properties in the Ili Basin and their correlation with the Chinese Loess Plateau

Over the past two decades, magnetoclimatological studies of loess-paleosol sequences in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) have made outstanding achievements, which greatly promote the understanding of East Asian paleomonsoon evolution, inland aridification of Asia, and past global climate changes. Loess magnetic properties of the CLP have been well studied. In contrast, loess magnetic properties from outside the CLP in China have not been fully understood. We have little knowledge about the magnetic properties of loess in the Ili Basin, an intermontane depression of the Tianshan (or Tien Shan) Mountains. Here, we present the results of rock magnetic measurements of the Ili loess including mass magnetic susceptibility (χ) and anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM), high/low temperature dependence of susceptibility (TDS) and hysteresis, as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) for mineral analysis. Based on the comparison with loess-paleosol sequences in the CLP (hereafter referred to as the Chinese loess), we discuss the possible magnetic susceptibility enhancement mechanism of the Ili loess. The results show that 1) the total magnetic mineral concentration of the Ili loess is far lower than that of the Chinese loess, though they have similar magnetic mineral compositions. The ferrimagnetic minerals in the Ili loess are magnetite and maghemite, and the antiferromagnetic mineral is hematite; XRD analysis also identifies the presence of ilmenite. The ratio of maghemite is lower in the Ili loess than in the Chinese loess, but the ratios of magnetite and hematite are higher in the Ili loess than in the Chinese loess. 2) The granularity of magnetic minerals in the Ili loess, dominated by pseudo-single domain (PSD) and multi-domain (MD) grains, is generally much coarser than that of the Chinese loess. Ultrafine pedogenically-produced magnetic grains have a very limited contribution to the susceptibility enhancement. Rather, PSD and MD particles of magnetite and maghemite are the main contributors to the enhancement of susceptibility in the Ili loess. 3) The susceptibility enhancement mechanism for the Ili loess is complicated and superimposes both a wind velocity/vigor model (Alaskan or Siberian model) and the in situ ultrafine grain pedogenic model; the former might play an important role in the Ili loess. 4) Magnetic susceptibility enhancements of the Ili loess are related not only to the eolian input of the source area, but also to the local climate, landform, and geological background. Therefore, great care should be taken when reconstructing paleoclimate using magnetic susceptibility data from the Ili loess.