Magnetic properties derived from a loess section at the northern piedmont of Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China, and their paleoenvironmental significance

A loess section in Xinjiang, China, reveals that magnetic properties are primarily influenced by paleowind intensity and pedogenesis, with ferrimagnetic components dominating the magnetic signal. Unlike the Chinese Loess Plateau, superparamagnetic fractions linked to pedogenesis are limited here, indicating caution when using magnetic susceptibility for paleoclimatic assessments. Instead, the χARM/SIRM ratio shows potential as an alternative index for weakly pedogenic degrees in this arid region.

Li, G., Xia, D., Jia, J., Zhao, S., Gao, F., Wang, Y., Lu, H., & Chen, F. (2015). Magnetic properties derived from a loess section at the northern piedmont of Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang, China, and their paleoenvironmental significance. Geophysical Journal International, 203(2), 828–839. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggv313