Mineral magnetic and pedogenic studies of the paleoclimatic record of the upper part of the loess/paleosol sequence at Jiaodao

Most researchers agree that pedogenesis plays a significant role in determining thevertical distribution of magnetic susceptibility in soils and in the loess/paleosol sequences found inthe People’s Republic of China. Magnetic susceptibility distribution from Jiaodao on the Chinesecentral loess plateau matches other published magnetic susceptibility curves. Using the CBDmethod and a mixing model, the lithogenic and pedogenic components of magnetic susceptibilityfrom Jiaodao were quantified. The estimated lithogenic component showed a long-term decreasewith depth and had short-term periodic fluctuations in tune with the occurrence of paleosol andloess strata. The results of the mixing model suggest that interpretations based only on fluctuationsin total magnetic susceptibility will be in error and that a single estimate of average lithogenicsusceptibility is not an accurate basis for adjustment of the total susceptibility.