Magnetic morphology and mineralogy in urban soil of Bandung City, Indonesia

Abstract

High numbers of vehicles and its activity in Bandung City resulting in levels of pollution caused by their particulates on the top soils. Since the urban topsoil containing particulates are harmful, thus its mineralogy and morphology need to identified. The samples of topsoil were taken in several locations around Bandung City. Afterwards, the topsoil samples were extracted for mineralogy and morphology analysis using X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) tests. The result of XRD measurement shows that the magnetic mineral dominated by magnetite. The magnetite is iron rich mineral that could be changed in morphology by the oxidation during environmental changing. Furthermore, the morphology of the magnetic mineral by SEM analysis exhibit the shapes of octahedron and spherules. The octahedron shape represents of paedogenic magnetic mineral carrier while the spherule indicate the presence of anthropogenic mineral. EDX analysis show the evidence of heavy metal elements on the magnetic mineral with spherule shape that caused by vehicles particulates.