Comparative analysis of the magnetism between Chinese and Serbian loess deposits

In this study, a systematic comparison of the magnetic properties of the Xifeng loess in northern China and the Titel loess in northern Serbia was conducted. This comparison was performed to identify the causes of the different ranges of magnetic susceptibility (chi(lf)) enhancements from loess units to paleosol units between the two regions. Ultimately, four differences in the contents and domain states of the magnetic minerals were detected. First, the different concentration of magnetic minerals, especially fine-grained ferrimagnetic minerals between the Xifeng and Titel paleosols is the leading cause. Although the factor of pedogenesis dominated the variations in magnetic properties for each of the loess profiles, the different degrees of pedogenesis between them seemingly cannot fully explain the different contents in magnetic minerals. We consider the difference in source distances of aeolian dust or the related factors played a significant role in the contents of the included magnetic minerals. Second, the lower content of thermally unstable maghemite in the Titel paleosols is an important cause of the lower chi(lf). This difference can be attributed to the varying levels of effective moisture during the pedogenesis periods, which were caused by the precipitation-evaporation difference. Third, the higher content of single-domain particles in Titel paleosols is one of the causes of the lower chi(lf). This is an attractive point for promoting our understanding of the pedogenic mechanism under different geographical and climatic backgrounds; however, its origin remains unclear. Finally, the higher proportion of antiferromagnetic hematite/goethite in the Titel paleosols is an element that causes the lower chi(lf), despite its weak effect. Different water and heat conditions during pedogenesis may be responsible for this difference, and the possibility of the influence of the contemporaneous Mediterranean-like climate in the Pannonian Basin should not be excluded.

Automated summary

A systematic comparison of the magnetic properties of loess in northern China and northern Serbia was conducted, revealing differences in the contents and domain states of magnetic minerals between the two regions. Factors such as source distances of aeolian dust, pedogenesis, and climatic conditions contribute to the variations in magnetic properties and magnetic mineral contents.