Mineral magnetic characteristics of podzolic soils developed on sand dunes in the Lake Gosciaz catchment, central Poland

A number of samples from the A₀, A₂, B and C horizons have been collected from podzolic soils in the Lake Gosciaz catchment in central Poland. The catchment is very uniform consisting of 2–6-m-high sand dunes with sparse stands of pine and a grass undervegetation. Radiocarbon dates of fossil soils covered by dune sand, within the same type of environment as the Lake Gosciaz catchment, indicate that the main dune-forming phase is of Older Dryas age. Magnetic measurements have been carried out on bulk samples and on particle size fractions from the different soil horizons. With respect to our mineral magnetic study it can be concluded that the soils are very uniform over the entire catchment. Relatively high concentrations of magnetic grains are found in the humus layer, particularly in the <4 μm size fraction, as indicated by the highest X, X_fd, SIRM and HIRM values. The most likely mechanism for the magnetic enhancement in these podzolic top soils is continued burning processes. Low magnetic concentrations in the A₂ horizon are due to eluviation and chelation. Local conditions can lead to a range of magnetic minerals precipitating in the B horizon.