www.elsevier.com/locate/jappgeo
Journal of Applied Geophys
Magnetic properties of soils from sites with different geological
and environmental settings
Hana Fialova a,*, Gunter Maier b, Eduard Petrovsky a, Ales Kapicka a,
Tetyana Boyko b, Robert Scholger b
MAGPROX Team
a Geophysical Institute ASCR, Bocnı II/1401, 141 31 Prague 4, Czech Republicb Department of Geophysics, University of Leoben, Peter Tunner Str.25, A-8700 Leoben, Austria
Received 21 March 2005; accepted 26 October 2005
Abstract
Measurements of magnetic susceptibility of soils, reflecting magnetic enhancement of topsoils due to atmospherically deposited
magnetic particles of industrial origin, are used recently in studies dealing with outlining polluted areas, as well as with
approximate determination of soil contamination with heavy metals. One of the natural limitations of this method is magnetic
enhancement of soils caused by weathering magnetically rich parent rock material. In this study we compare magnetic properties of
soils from regions with different geological and environmental settings. Four areas in the Czech Republic and Austria were
investigated, representing both magnetically rich and poor geology, as well as point-like and diffuse pollution sources. Topsoil and
subsoil samples were investigated and the effect of geology and pollution was examined. Magnetic data including mass and volume
magnetic susceptibility, frequency-dependent susceptibility, and main magnetic characteristics such as coercivity (Hc and Hcr) and
magnetization (Ms and Mrs) parameters are compared with heavy metal contents. The aim of the paper is to assess the applicability
of soil magnetometry under different geological-environmental conditions in terms of magnetic discrimination of dominant
lithogenic/anthropogenic contributions to soil magnetic signature. Our results suggest that lithology represents the primary effect
on soil magnetic properties. However, in case of significant atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic particles, this contribution can
be clearly recognized, independent of the type of pollution source (point-like or diffuse), and discriminated from the lithogenic one.
Different soil types apparently play no role. Possible effects of climate were not investigated in this study.
D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Magnetic susceptibility; Heavy metals; Soils; Pollution; Atmospheric deposition; Lithology
1. Introduction
The need for fast and cheap screening and monitor-
ing tools of industrial pollution caused that increased
number of studies deal with magnetic methods as an
0926-9851/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jappgeo.2005.10.006
* Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +420 267 103 332.
E-mail address: [email protected] (H. Fialova).
approximate tool to detect and characterise environ-
mental pollution (e.g., Dearing et al., 1996; Kapicka
et al., 1999, 2001a,b, 2003; Petrovsky and Ellwood,
1999; Hoffmann et al., 1999a,b; Magiera and Strzyszcz,
2000; Petrovsky et al., 2000; Hanesch and Scholger,
2002; Schibler et al., 2002; Veneva et al., 2004, and
others). Measurements of magnetic susceptibility of
soils proved to be suitable, under certain circumstances,
ics 59 (2006) 273–283
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283274
for spatial delineation of polluted and unpolluted
regions. This method is based on the assumption that
industrial processes, such as combustion of fossil fuel,
produce fly ashes with significant portion of magnetic
minerals (Flanders, 1994, 1999). These are transported
through atmospheric pathways and deposited on the
ground. In soils, such particles penetrate downwards
and accumulate in top layers, and their increased con-
centration can be easily detected using surface magnetic
measurements (e.g., Lecoanet et al., 1999).
In several studies, significant correlation between
magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal content in
soils was found (e.g., Heller et al., 1998; Dearing et
al., 2001; Lecoanet et al., 2001; Hanesch et al., 2003;
Jordanova et al., 2003). Using geochemical analysis,
additional data can be obtained, and in combination
with magnetic data, polluted areas can be well out-
lined and geologic/anthropogenic anomalies identified
(Hanesch and Scholger, 2002). Lecoanet et al. (2003)
used magnetic parameters only in order to discriminate
individual sources of soil contamination. Thus, mag-
netic susceptibility can serve as an indicator of soil
contamination.
However, only few studies attempted to solve the
main limitations of the soil magnetometry. Kapicka et
al. (2000, 2001a,b) studied stability of magnetic prop-
erties of fly-ash particles under different soil conditions.
Possibilities of the method to be applied in relatively
clean areas were investigated (Kapicka et al., 2003).
Competition of different contributions to soil popula-
tion of magnetic minerals was studied using statistical
analysis of large datasets (Dearing et al., 1996; Hanesch
et al., 2001; Hanesch and Scholger, 2002).
In practical field measurements, lithogenic and an-
thropogenic contributions can be assessed by in-situ
measurements of vertical distribution of magnetic sus-
Fig. 1. Location of the four investigated areas on the basis of MAGPROX
ceptibility in soil columns using new SM400 instru-
ment (Petrovsky et al., 2004). The effect of lithology
and soil type on magnetic susceptibility of soils was
studied by Hanesch and Scholger (2005). On the other
hand, Magiera et al. (in press) analysed some 600
vertical profiles of soil magnetic susceptibility and
distinguished 7 main classes of profiles, independent
of lithology and soil type.
In this study we examine the applicability of magnetic
measurements of soils to discrimination of anthropogen-
ic and lithogenic contributions in areas characterised by
different geological and environmental settings. It is of
great importance to show that the same set of magnetic
parameters and measurements can be applied under
various circumstances, and to provide certain general
guidelines in interpreting magnetic data in terms of
anthropogenic and lithogenic contributions to magnet-
ic-mineral population in soil columns. In this way we
intend to make further step towards standardization of
magnetic measurements of soils in terms of pollution
studies.
2. Methodology
2.1. Area description, field work and soil sampling
Based on large-scale magnetic mapping (with a
mesh of 10 km) within a 5FP EU RTD Project MAG-
PROX, four areas were selected, characterized by (mag-
netically) different underlying geology and by different
environmental settings (Fig. 1). These areas were
mapped in detail with a mesh of about 500 m. In the
Czech Republic, areas close to towns of Prıbram (Cen-
tral Bohemia) and Ostrava (North of Moravia) were
studied (Fig. 1). In the Prıbram area pollution due to
atmospherically deposited dust is relatively low, but this
topsoil magnetic susceptibility map (10�5 SI units, mesh of 10 km).
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283 275
area is well known for uranium and lead ore mining in
the past. Geology is rich on iron oxides, with basaltic
rocks such as granodiorites and gabbros. The Ostrava
region is well known for intense coal mining and
related heavy industry (e.g. power plants, steel works)
and thus belongs to the most polluted areas in the Czech
Republic. From geological point of view this region is
poor in Fe-bearing rocks; there are only sedimentary
rocks like sandstones. The Prıbram area was 10 by 15
km large and 42 soil profiles were investigated, while
the Ostrava area was 6 by 10 km large and 29 soil
profiles were examined (Fialova, 2004). For the pur-
pose of this paper, 6 and 8 most representative vertical
profiles from the Prıbram and Ostrava regions, respec-
tively, were analysed in detail. From pedological point
of view (according worldwide soil classification system
of FAO/UNESCO), the Prıbram region contains mostly
dystric and euric cambisols, dystric planosols, euric
cambisols and euric gleysols. The Ostrava region con-
tains mostly albogleyic luvisols, euric gleysols and
gleyic fluvisols (Nemecek, 2001).
The studied areas in Austria (Fig. 1) are situated
around Linz and around Breitenau (Maier and Schol-
ger, 2004). The city of Linz (capital of Upper Austria)
is a highly industrialized region, which is known for
steel production and processing, chemical industry,
etc. In addition to that, Linz is an important traffic
junction for cars as well as for railway. As the region
is situated in the lowlands, mixed influence of several
pollution sources can be expected. The main geolog-
ical units of the area are metamorphites (migmatites)
and granitoides. The studied area covers 10 by 15 km.
The area of Breitenau is situated in a narrow mountain
valley in Styria with a suspected point emission source
caused by magnesite production and processing which
plays an important role in the ecological situation of
the climatically nearly closed narrow valley. In this
case it could be expected that the area is nearly
separated from pollution influences outside the valley
and that the pollution impact was dominated by a
strong single source. The two main geological units
of the area are schists, limestones, dolomites, gneisses
and amphibolites. The investigation area stretches over
5 by 12 km. Prevailing soil types in the Linz area are
lime-free cambisols and brown podzols, derived from
crystalline rocks, while soils in the Breitenau area
mostly lime-free cambisols, derived from schists,
weathered para-gneiss, or amphibolites. From the
Linz area, 5 out of 17 vertical soil profiles are exam-
ined. From the Breitenau region, previously studied by
Maier and Scholger (2004), 10 profiles out of 27 are
analysed in detail in this study.
All four investigated areas were examined using the
same strategy for topsoil magnetic susceptibility mapping
developed in frame of the MAGPROX-project (Schibler
et al., 2002; Boyko et al., 2004). Field measurements of
topsoil volume magnetic susceptibility were performed
with Bartington-MS2D probe. Each measured point repre-
sents a spot of about 4 m2, where about 15–30 measure-
ments were taken and averaged. In case of large data
scatter, more readings were performed. However, our
experience shows that increasing the number of readings
above 20 does not improve standard deviation signifi-
cantly. Geographic positions of all measured soil profiles
were determined by the GPS Total Station 4700.Maps of
topsoil magnetic susceptibility of investigated areas with
surface measurements and soil profile positions of all
regional studies are shown in Fig. 2. These contour plots
were created by Surfer 8.0 (Golden Software).
Vertical distribution of selected typical profiles was
measured by Bartington MS2F stratigrafic sensor in the
field. In addition, soil cores were collected for further
laboratory measurements using MS2C coil sensor. Then
samples from upper and lower part of the cores were
prepared for detailed laboratory investigation. These
samples were selected in order to represent magnetically
enhanced topsoil (top 5 cm) and the bottom-most part of
the core (depth of at least 25 cm). All collected soil
samples are from forest areas, covered mostly by needle
trees (mainly spruce or pines). In this study, soil cores
were measured in laboratory. At present, sensitive and
fast in-situ measurements are available using new de-
vice, described by Petrovsky et al. (2004).
2.2. Laboratory analyses
The low- and high-frequency magnetic susceptibility
(nlf and nhf) was measured by Bartington MS2B probe,
expressed as mass-normalised susceptibility mlf and
mhf, respectively, and the corresponding frequency-de-
pendent susceptibility was calculated as difference per-
centage jfd =(nlf�nhf)/nlf. This parameter enables
assessment of significance of ultrafine superparamag-
netic magnetite grains (Dearing et al., 1996). Coercive
force (Hc), coercivity of remanence (Hcr), saturation
magnetization (Ms) and saturation remanent magneti-
zation (Mrs) were measured using a Princeton Vibrating
Sample Magnetometer VSM MicroMag 2900. Maxi-
mum applied field was 0.5 T. Heavy metal contents was
analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
(AAS) after dissolution in 2 M HNO3. Correlation
between magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals (Fe,
Pb, Mn, Zn, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr) was studied for each
investigated area.
Fig. 2. Contour plots of spatial distribution of topsoil volume magnetic susceptibility (10�5 SI) of the four studied areas. Small dots mark locations of the measured sites, big labeled dots mark
locations where vertical soil profiles were collected (shown in Fig. 4), dashed line delimits the city boundaries.
H.Fialova
etal./JournalofApplied
Geophysics
59(2006)273–283
276
Fig. 3. SEM image of a Fe-rich spherule (top, grain-size of abou
80 Am), found in topsoil layer in the Ostrava region, and cross-sections
of two spherules with elemental analysis (middle: grain-size abou
40 Am, FeO 91%, Al2O3 0.8%, SiO2 0.2%; bottom: about 50 AmFeO 83%, Al2O3 8.4%, SiO2 2,2%, MgO 0.3%).
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283 277
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with wavelength
dispersive spectroscopy (WDS) was performed on mag-
netic concentrates obtained from raw soil samples using
hand-magnet separation in ultrasonic bath.
3. Results and discussion
3.1. Magnetic mapping and vertical profiles
Spatial distribution of surface magnetic suscepti-
bility of the four areas in concern (mesh of about 500
m) is outlined as in Fig. 2. Measured data were collected
only from forest soils, mostly in pine woods. Hand-
magnet separation from topsoil samples (top 5 cm)
revealed clearly Fe-rich spherules, typical for particles
of anthropogenic origin, derived from combustion of
fossil fuel (Flanders, 1994, 1999; Maier and Scholger,
2004; Fialova, 2004). Representative spherules, ob-
served in topsoil from the Ostrava region, are shown
in Fig. 3. Contrary to topsoils, bottom soils were lacking
these spherules. In the Breitenau area, lithogenic crystals
and anthropogenic spherules were found frequently in
both top- and subsoils (Maier and Scholger, 2004).
Typical vertical profiles of magnetic susceptibility
are shown in Fig. 4. In the Prıbram area, dominant
lithogenic contribution is assumed to control the in-
crease of magnetic susceptibility with depth. Contrary
to that, Ostrava and Linz profiles show dominant an-
thropogenic contribution, reflected by significant en-
hancement of magnetic susceptibility in the top 10 cm,
followed by rapid decrease of susceptibility with depth.
The Breitenau area represents a mixture of both types.
Anthropogenic contribution is dominant in profiles col-
lected in the narrow valley of this region, while several
profiles from the upper parts of the valley show signif-
icant lithogenic contribution (Maier and Scholger,
2004). Large set of vertical soil profiles of magnetic
susceptibility was recently collected, discussed and clas-
sified by Magiera et al. (in press).
3.2. Laboratory magnetic measurements
In order to analyse magnetic properties, mass-spe-
cific susceptibility mlf, frequency-dependent suscepti-bility jfd, saturation remanence Mrs, saturation
magnetization Ms, coercivity of remanence Hcr and
coercive force Hc were measured in laboratory on soil
samples prepared from the collected soil cores, and the
data were analysed using box-whisker-plots (Fig. 5).
The box-whisker plots summarize the distribution of a
variable by three components. In this study, we used the
mean/SE/SD mode, where SE stands for standard error
t
t
,
(standard deviation of the mean) and SD denotes stan-
dard deviation of the dataset (Tukey, 1977). Thus, dot
in the plot represents the mean (central tendency), large
box represents the meanFSE and whiskers represent
the meanF standard deviation. Note that different scal-
ing for the value axes is intentionally used in Fig. 5. In
this way, we can compare trends in data distribution
from topsoils and subsoils for each respective area
studied. Absolute values could be compared as well,
but in this case they are less important then the general
tendency/behaviour and relative comparison of the
measured data.
Fig. 4. Magnetic susceptibility of vertical soil profiles collected from the investigated areas. Dominant lithogenic contribution in Prıbram and some
Breitenau profiles is reflected by significant enhancement of magnetic susceptibility with depth. Ostrava, Linz and some Breitenau profiles show
dominant anthropogenic influence in the top 10 cm.
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283278
Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility shows the same
tendency for the Ostrava, Linz and Breitenau areas. Large
box-whisker-plots are typical for topsoil samples and
very narrow ones for subsoils. In the Prıbram area, with
the assumed significant lithogenic contribution, dominat-
ing the soil profile, no significant difference between the
top-and subsoil was observed, both showing box-whis-
kers corresponding to large data scatter. There seems to
Fig. 5. Box-whisker plots of measured magnetic parameters of samples prepared from the top and subsoils from the investigated areas. Dot—Mean,
Box—MeanFSE, h–— MeanFSD, dots outside the box-whiskers represent outliers and are not included in the evaluation. Note that different
scales are used for the value axes in order to compare relative trends rather than absolute values. Left-hand sided and right-hand sided box-whiskers
on each plot represent the topsoil and subsoil samples, respectively. Numbers inside each plot are ratios of the topsoil and subsoil mean values of the
corresponding parameters.
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283 279
be a contradiction between relatively narrow box-whisker
plot for subsoils in the Breitenau area (Fig. 5) as com-
pared to the vertical profiles of magnetic susceptibility,
shown in Fig. 4. This is caused by bincompatibilityQ of
volume magnetic susceptibility, measured by Bartington
MS2C, and mass-specific susceptibility. In the former
case, susceptibility values are much more affected by
variations in density, especially considering the fact, that
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283280
in the case of soil cores with the diameter of 3.5 cm,
small effective volume was measured.
Frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility is sup-
posed to reflect the significance of ultrafine SP parti-
cles. Large grains of magnetite (e.g. produced by
combustion processes) are practically insensitive to
change in the frequency of the applied magnetic field
used. Therefore, such samples exhibit small jfd, usu-ally less than 2%. Our data show, that only in the
Ostrava and Linz topsoil, very narrow box-plots are
observed, suggesting single type of grain-size distribu-
tion rather than SP/SD/MD mixture. Low absolute
(mean) value suggests that presence of SP particles,
resulting mostly from pedogenic processes, can be
practically excluded. One single extreme value, ob-
served in Ostrava bottom-soil sample, can be attributed
to measurement error due to very low susceptibility
value, on the sensitivity limit of the Bartington probe.
In such case, apparently high frequency-dependent sus-
ceptibility may be an artefact, resulting from rounding
off by the instrument. This data point was not included
in our evaluation. This instrument effect is most proba-
bly responsible also for high mean value for the Ostrava
subsoil samples, although in these samples one can
expect also presence of higher portion of smaller parti-
cles, which are able to migrate downwards from the
topsoil. However, since susceptibility values are ex-
tremely low, we assume that the instrument error is
more significant. Relatively high jfd for Breitenau top-
soils (almost 5%), calculated with sufficient reliability
(j values of around 50) may suggest the presence of
relatively more SP magnetite of pedogenic origin, com-
pared to other localities. However, threshold values for
jfd, related to significance of SP magnetite, are not
that clear.
Saturation remanence values of the subsoil samples
from both the Ostrava and Linz areas are very low and
show practically no scatter. Saturation magnetization
shows more or less the same tendency like saturation
of remanence, with a small aberration in the Prıbram
samples and much larger irregularity in the case of
Breitenau samples.
Table 1
Coefficient of determination r2 of linear fit between mass-specific magne
Number of samples Fe Pb
PRIBRAM 6 0.00a 0.02a
OSTRAVA 8 0.01a 0.72a
LINZ 12 0.59 0.29
BREITENAU 16 0.69 0.78
b.d.l.—below detection limit.a 16 samples.
Coercivity of remanence and coercive force do not
show any significant differences between the top and
subsoil samples and even any significant differences
between individual areas. Although the reliability of the
two parameters can be discussed due to low maximum
magnetic field applied, our data suggest that, in terms of
discrimination between the anthropogenic and litho-
genic contributions in soil samples, these parameters
alone can be considered as of negligible importance.
Moreover, ratios of magnetic parameters, which are
used as granulometric indicators for the construction
of the Day plot (Day et al., 1977), seem to be quite
similar for top and subsoils from the four regions, and
are, therefore, less significant for the discrimination of
the lithogenic and anthropogenic contributions. How-
ever, as shown by Fialova (2004), samples dominated
by anthropogenic contribution only (topsoils from the
Ostrava region), are clustered more densely within the
pseudo-single domain area of the Day plot, while the
samples with significant lithogenic contribution span
over much larger interval.
3.3. Correlation with heavy metals
Relationship between magnetic susceptibility and
concentration of heavy metals was evaluated using
the coefficient of determination r2 (Table 1) of linear
fit of bi-plots (examples of such bi-plots are shown in
Fig. 6). Due to availability of AAS geochemical analy-
sis, only samples from representative vertical profiles
were selected and analysed. It seems that significant
correlation is observed between susceptibility and con-
centration of Pb in polluted areas (Ostrava, Breitenau
and Linz topsoils). However, it seems that this relation-
ship strongly depends on the leaching method used.
This effect will be subject of our future study. In case of
Fe, apparently contradictory correlation was found.
While it seems to be missing in the Prıbram and
Ostrava regions, reasonably high values of the r2 coef-
ficient were found for the Linz and Breitenau regions.
This is striking especially for the Ostrava region, where
no lithogenic contribution is assumed, and Fe is sup-
tic susceptibility (m3 kg�1) and heavy metal content (ppm) in soils
Mn Zn Cd Cu Ni Cr
0.14 0.02 0.14 0.02 0.21 0.04
0.22 0.69 0.40 0.64 0.41 0.72
0.10 0.55 b.d.l. 0.29 0.23 0.33
0.02 0.01 0.67 0.14 0.05 0.17
Fig. 6. Examples of bi-plot correlation between selected heavy metals and magnetic susceptibility. Data of Mn concentration are divided by a factor
of 10.
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283 281
posed to be solely in the form of industrially produced
Fe-oxides. Obviously, the leaching agent used (2 M
HNO3) is not effective, especially in the case of large
particles with Fe-oxides embedded in Al–Si matrix.
This effect is subject of our further study and will be
published later on elsewhere. Anthropogenic spherules
could be dissolved by HCl or by total dissolution
(HNO3+HF+H2O2), but with the latter one paramag-
netic minerals can be also dissolved and the data will be
biased.
Our results suggest that, in the areas studied, Pb, Cu
and Cr are elements with significant correlation with
magnetic minerals in anthropogenically affected (pol-
luted) areas, while in the case of Mn and Ni no signifi-
cant correlation was found. Zn is not of typically
lithogenic origin. It can be found in topsoils affected
by specific industrial sources, and is characterised by
high mobility (Karczewska, 1996). In our samples, Zn
correlates well with magnetic susceptibility in the in-
dustrial regions around Ostrava and Linz.
Contrary to that, Ni and Fe can be considered, in the
investigated areas, as elements of typically lithogenic
origin. However, as mentioned above, the anthropo-
genic/lithogenic character of Fe is quite dubious due
to variable efficacy of leaching methods.
Since it is known from linear regression theory that
the ideal number of observations is 20 for one inde-
pendent variable, and the minimum is 5, and that the
number of observations determines the threshold for
the r2 coefficient in terms of significance, we are well
aware of the fact that our data in Table 1 have
different meaning in terms of significance. However,
we do not aim at detailed analysis of relationship
between magnetic properties and geochemistry of the
soils studied. These data are presented only in order to
illustrate basic geochemical meaning of the magnetic
parameters analysed.
4. Conclusions
Top- and bottom-soil samples from four areas, char-
acterised by different geological and environmental
settings, were analysed. The four areas are charac-
terised, in terms of significance of anthropogenic vs.
lithogenic contributions to magnetic-mineral population
in soils, as anthropogenically dominated (Ostrava and
Linz), mixed with dominant lithogenic contribution
(Prıbram) and mixed with sites showing either anthro-
pogenic, or lithogenic prevalence (Breitenau). Although
climatic effects are not a subject of this study, the areas
investigated do not differ practically in terms of climatic
conditions. Regarding possible pedogenic contribution
to population of magnetic minerals in the soils con-
cerned, frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility
indicates practically insignificant portion of ultra-fine
superparamagnetic magnetite. Our data suggest that if
the lithogenic contribution is dominant, this effect is of
primary significance also for topsoil magnetic suscep-
tibility measurements, and the anthropogenic contribu-
tion cannot be that easily assessed. Contrary to that, in
soils from areas with negligible lithogenic contribution
of strongly magnetic minerals, mass specific magnetic
susceptibility alone is reliable in discriminating mag-
netically enhanced topsoils from the unaffected bottom
soils. Data of magnetic susceptibility are in accordance
with concentration-dependent saturation magnetization,
and thermomagnetic analysis of magnetic phases is not
necessary. In areas, where both anthropogenic and
lithogenic contributions are significant, magnetic sus-
ceptibility and saturation magnetization cannot serve
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283282
for reliable discrimination of the two soil layers, and a
combination of more magnetic parameters have to be
used. In this case, comparison with concentration of
heavy metals of presumably anthropogenic origin (e.g.
Pb) can validate magnetic data and enable discrimina-
tion between anthropogenically affected topsoils and
lithologically controlled bottom soils.
Based on our results, and provided that the signifi-
cance of SP magnetite due to pedogenic effect is small
or negligible, the following guidelines for magnetic
discrimination can be proposed:
! Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility and/or satura-
tion magnetization of topsoil is much higher than
that of subsoil, and the latter values show practically
no scatter: soil profile is dominated by anthropo-
genic effect in topsoil layer.
! Frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility of top-
soils is lower and less scattered than that of bottom
soils: soil profile is dominated by anthropogenic
effect in topsoil layer.
! Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility and/or satura-
tion magnetization of topsoils is higher than that of
subsoils, but the latter shows significant data scat-
ter: soil is affected by a combination of both an-
thropogenic and lithogenic effects with variable
dominance.
! Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility and/or satura-
tion magnetization of topsoils is comparable to that
of subsoils, or lower, and both top and subsoil data
show significant data scatter: soil is dominated by
strong lithogenic effect.
Especially in the latest case, detailed analysis of
vertical profiles of magnetic susceptibility, accompa-
nied by correlation with selected heavy metals (of
presumably anthropogenic origin) has to be carried
out in order to identify soil layer affected by anthropo-
genic contribution.
Acknowledgments
This study was carried out within the framework of
MAGPROX project (5FP EU Project EVK2-CT-1999-
00019), and the Acad. Sci. Czech Rep. Project No.
S3012354. Financial support from the Styrian Govern-
ment is gratefully acknowledged. Our thanks are due to
the CEREGE (University Aix-Marseille III, France)
laboratory staff (Prof. P. Rochette and Ms. F. Vade-
boine) and Ms. Z. Korbelova from the Geological
Inst., Acad Sci. Czech Republic, for their assistance
with the SEM observations, Dr. T. Grygar from the Inst.
Anorg. Chemistry, Acad. Sci. Czech Rep., for fruitful
discussion and help with chemical analysis, and to Ms.
T. Doleckova from the Geophysical Inst., Acad, Sci.
Czech Republic, for great help with laboratory mea-
surements. The authors also thank Dr. W. Krainer from
the Styrian Agricultural Laboratory for his help and
advice.
References
Boyko, T., Scholger, R., Stanjek, H., 2004. Topsoil magnetic suscep-
tibility mapping as a tool for pollution monitoring: repeatability of
in situ measurements. J. Appl. Geophys. 55, 249–259.
Day, R., Fuller, M.D., Schmidt, V.A., 1977. Hysteresi properties of
titanomagnetites: grain size and composition dependence. Phys.
Earth Planet. Inter. 13, 260–267.
Dearing, J.A., Hay, K.L., Baban, S.M.J., Huddleston, A.S., Welling-
ton, E.M.H., Loveland, P.J., 1996. Magnetic susceptibility of soil:
an evaluation of conflicting theories using a national data set.
Geophys. J. Int. 127, 728–734.
Dearing, J.A., Hannam, J.A., Anderson, A.S., Wellington, E.M.H.,
2001. Magnetic, geochemical and DNA properties of highly-
magnetic soils in England. Geophys. J. Int. 144, 183–196.
Fialova, H. 2004. Magnetic discrimination of lithogenic and an-
thropogenic minerals in soils. PhD Thesis, Czech Technical
University, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Prague, Czech Repub-
lic (in Czech).
Flanders, P.J., 1994. Collection, measurement and analysis of airborne
magnetic particulates from pollution in the environment. J. Appl.
Phys. 75, 5931–5936.
Flanders, P.J., 1999. Identifying fly ash at a distance from fossil fuel
power stations. Environ. Sci. Technol. 33, 528–532.
Hanesch, M., Scholger, R., 2002. Mapping of heavy metal loadings in
soils by means of magnetic susceptibility measurements. Environ.
Geol. 42, 857–870.
Hanesch, M., Scholger, R., 2005. The influence of soil type on the
magnetic susceptibility measured throughout soil profiles. Geo-
phys. J. Int. 161, 50–56.
Hanesch, M., Scholger, R., Dekkers, M., 2001. The application of
fuzzy c-means cluster analysis and non-linear mapping to a soil
data set for the detection of polluted sites. Phys. Chem. Earth 26,
885–891.
Hanesch, M., Maier, G., Scholger, R., 2003. Mapping heavy metal
distribution by measuring the magnetic susceptibility of soils.
J. Geophys. IV 107, 605–608 (Part 1.).
Heller, F., Strzyszcz, Z., Magiera, T., 1998. Magnetic record of
industrial pollution in forest soils of Upper Silesia, Poland.
J. Geophys. Res. 103/B8, 767–774.
Hoffmann, V., Knab, M., Appel, E., 1999a. Magnetic susceptibility
mapping of roadside pollution. J. Geochem. Explor. 66, 313–326.
Hoffmann, G., Knab, M., Appel, E., 1999b. Magnetic susceptibility
mapping of road side pollution. L. Geochem. Expl. 66, 313–326.
Jordanova, N.V., Jordanova, D.V., Veneva, L., Yorova, K., Pet-
rovsky, E., 2003. Magnetic response of soils and vegetation to
heavy metal pollution—A case study. Environ. Sci. Technol. 37,
4417–4424.
Kapicka, A., Petrovsky, E., Ustjak, U., Machackova, K., 1999. Proxy
mapping of fly ash pollution of soils around a coal-burning power
plant, a case study in the Czech Republic. J. Geochem. Int. 66,
291–297.
H. Fialova et al. / Journal of Applied Geophysics 59 (2006) 273–283 283
Kapicka, A., Jordanova, N., Petrovsky, E., Ustjak, S., 2000. Magnetic
stability of power-plant fly ash in different soil solutions. Phys.
Chem. Earth 25, 431–436.
Kapicka, A., Petrovsky, E., Jordanova, N., Podrazsky, V., 2001.
Magnetic parameters of forest top soils in Krkonose Mountains,
Czech Republic. Phys. Chem. Earth 26, 917–922.
Kapicka, A., Jordanova, N., Petrovsky, E., Podrazsky, V., 2001. Effect
of different soil conditions on magnetic parameters of power-plant
fly ashes. J. Appl. Geophys. 48, 93–102.
Kapicka, A., Jordanova, N., Petrovsky, E., Podrazsky, V., 2003.
Magnetic study of weakly contaminated forest soils. Water Air
Soil Pollut. 148, 31–44.
Karczewska, A., 1996. Metal species distribution in top-and sub-soil
in an area affected by copper smelter emissions. Appl. Geochem.
11, 35–42.
Lecoanet, H., Leveque, F., Segura, S., 1999. Magnetic susceptibility
in environmental applications: comparison of field probes. Phys.
Earth Planet. Inter. 115, 191–204.
Lecoanet, H., Leveque, F., Ambrosi, J.P., 2001. Magnetic properties
of salt-marsh soils contaminated by iron industry emissions
(southeast France). J. Appl. Geophys. 48, 67–81.
Lecoanet, H., Leveque, F., Ambrosi, J.P., 2003. Combination
of magnetic parameters: an efficient way to discriminate soil-
contamination sources (south France). Environ. Pollut. 122,
229–234.
Magiera, T., Strzyszcz, Z., 2000. Ferrimagnetic minerals of anthro-
pogenic origin in soils of some polish national parks. Water Air
Soil Pollut. 124, 37–48.
Magiera, T., Strzyszcz, Z., Kapicka, A., Petrovsky, E., in press.
Discrimination of lithogenic and anthropogenic influences on
topsoil magnetic susceptibility in Central Europe. Geoderma.
Maier, G., Scholger, R., 2004. Demonstration of connection between
pollutant dispersal and atmospheric boundary layers by use of
magnetic susceptibility mapping, St. Jacob (Austria). Phys. Chem.
Earth 29, 997–1009.
Nemecek J., 2001. Digital map of soils of Czech Republic 1 :200000.
Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic.
Petrovsky, E., Ellwood, B.B., 1999. Magnetic monitoring of pollution
of air, land and waters. In: Maher, B.A., Thompson, R. (Eds.),
Quaternary Climates, Environments and Magnetism. Cambridge
Univ. Press, UK, pp. 279–322.
Petrovsky, E., Kapicka, A., Jordanova, N., Knab, M., Hoffmann, V.,
2000. Low-field magnetic susceptibility: a proxy method of esti-
mating increased pollution of different environmental systems.
Environ. Geol. 39, 312–318.
Petrovsky, E., Hllka, Z., MAGPROX Team, 2004. A new tool for in-
situ measurements of the vertical distribution of magnetic suscep-
tibility in soils as basis for mapping deposited dust. Environ.
Technol. 25, 1021–1029.
Schibler, L., Boyko, T., Ferdyn, M., Gajda, B., Holl, S., Jordanova,
N., Magprox Team, 2002. Topsoil magnetic susceptibility map-
ping: data reproducibility and compatibility, measurement strate-
gy. Stud. Geophys. Geod. 46, 43–57.
Tukey, J., 1977. Exploratory Data Analysis. Addison-Wesley, Boston,
USA.
Veneva, L., Hoffmann, V., Jordanova, D., Jordanova, N., Fehr, T.,
2004. Rock magnetic, mineralogical and microstructural charac-
terization of fly ashes from Bulgarian power plants and the nearby
anthropogenic soils. Phys. Chem. Earth 29, 1011–1023.