Project completed
Figure 1. Photographs of the soil profiles developed from various bedrock.
Figure 2. Graphical presentation of the research topic.
The work was basic research (i.e. experimental and theoretical investigations) carried out to gain new insights into the magnetic and geochemical properties of soils.
The project served to study the variability as well as to compare the magnetic and geochemical properties of soil profiles formed from different geological formations (i.e. sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks and methamorphic rocks). Natural (reference) values of magnetic susceptibility and the content of selected elements were determined for the investigated rocks. Furthermore, the study allowed to obtain magneto-mineralogical characteristics and crucial information on the usefulness of magnetic and geochemical parameters (primary, secondary, elemental and complex) for diversifying the origin (geo-, pedo- and technogenic) of magnetic and geochemical signals in soil profiles.
The results of the project revealed new possibilities for the use of soil magnetometry as an effective tool for environmental analysis. In particular, in areas potentially exposed to pollution and/or contamination (urban-industrial areas) and in sites with differentiated (in terms of magnetic and geochemical properties) bedrock (horizon R). On the other hand, the possible limitations of using environmental magnetism parameters to diversify the origin of the magnetic signal (e.g. due to the masking phenomenon) were highlighted.
