Rock magnetic study of Kyiv Polissia sands and sandy soils
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2713.113.05Keywords:
magnetic susceptibility, Adrenosol, Abruptic Retisol, magnetic minerals, paleoclimateAbstract
Background. Late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits in Ukraine have traditionally been studied in detail using magnetic methods; however, sands and sandy soils have not been sufficiently studied. The purpose of this article is to provide rock magnetic characteristics of sands and sandy soils in the Kyiv Polissia region, northern Ukraine.
Methods. Field work involving sampling from mini-pits and standard laboratory rock magnetic studies (Evans, & Heller, 2003; Maxbauer, Feinberg, & Fox, 2016) have been conducted.
Results. The average magnetic susceptibility values of the Demydiv and Ozera sections fluctuate within insignificant limits (1–10·10⁻⁸ m³/kg), with higher values observed in soil horizons compared to sands. High values of frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility of humus horizons of sandy soils (11–13 %) indicate the presence of superparamagnetic magnetite grains formed as a result of pedogenic processes. The S parameter also indicates the dominance of magnetite. The thermomagnetic susceptibility curves are characterized by a Curie point of 675 °C and a typical hematite "tail." The SIRM and χARM values for the pilot samples indicate their dependence rather on the concentration of ferrimagnetic material: increased values are observed in the upper parts of the sections (humus horizons of soils), decreased values – in sands. This behavior of magnetic properties is explained by local geomorphological conditions, weaker influence of pedogenic processes, and significant impact of physical and chemical weathering processes.
Conclusions. Sand deposits of the Polissia Lowland were formed under conditions of a "transitional" model of magnetic record, which is also characteristic of loess-soil deposits of the Volyn Upland. The sensitivity of rock magnetic and mineralogical properties to local climatic conditions, namely the degree of moisture and waterlogging, has been established, which in the case of the "transitional" model correlates inversely with the content of superparamagnetic grains. For the Kyiv region, the classical pedogenic model of magnetic properties (increase in magnetite content with the degree of pedogenesis) is observed only for loess-soil sections of the Dnieper Upland.
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