Characteristics and formation mechanism of pedogenic hematite in Quaternary Chinese loess and paleosols

Abstract

Abstract Hematite is an important iron oxide mineral in loess–paleosol sequences in northwest China. Samples containing hematite and related minerals in the loess and paleosol units from Chinese Loess Plateau were investigated using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM). The results show that there are at least three genetic types of hematite in Quaternary loess–paleosol sequences of northern China: (1) Weathering products of Fe-bearing silicate minerals, such as chlorite and biotite, that precipitated as aggregates of hematite nano-crystals on mineral surfaces; (2) oxidation products of eolian magnetite grains with hematite nano-crystals closely associated with magnetite; (3) coarse (silt-sized) hematite grains present in the fresh loess. Hematite with a nanoporous texture indicates that dehydration of iron hydroxide ferrihydrite is the main mechanism for the formation of hematite coating during chemical weathering of Fe-bearing silicates. It is proposed that nano-phase hematite is primarily responsible for the red color of the paleosol units. Paleosol layers are also characterized by higher magnetic susceptibility and increased oxidation of eolian magnetite. It is proposed that the major contribution to magnetic susceptibility is from the nano-phase magnetite that may be related to microbial activity. This research demonstrates that the study of mineral characteristics, formation mechanisms and the relationship between hematite, other iron oxides, and Fe-bearing silicate minerals helps to understand better the geochemical process in loess, both before and after dust deposition. In addition our study helps to explain the correlation between magnetic susceptibility and paleoclimate in northern China during the Quaternary.