Exploration of pedogenic nano-grains in aeolian dust

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26610162
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Geology
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Hyodo Masayuki 神戸大学, 内海域環境教育研究センター, 教授 (60183919)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: レス / 土壌化 / 二次生成磁性粒子 / ナノ粒子 / 超常磁性 / 帯磁率 / 中国黄土高原

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Magnetic susceptibility of loess-paleosol sediments of the Chinese Loess Plateau reflects the degree of pedogenesis, so that it is often used as a proxy of paleo-rainfall. The magnetic enhancement is caused by pedogenic fine magnetic grains of SP or SD size. This study revealed that SP magnetic grains are concentrated in clastics ranging in size from 1 to 10 μm. Magnetically separated grains consist of abundant silicate minerals that are dominated by muscovite and quite small amount of magnetite grains. We conclude that pedogenic SP magnetic grains exist in silicate minerals as inclusions.

Free Research Field

古環境学・古地磁気学