Abstract

BAUTISTA, Francisco; CEJUDO-RUIZ, Rubén; AGUILAR-REYES, Bertha  and  GOGICHAISHVILI, Avto. The potential of magnetism as a means for the classification of soils: a review. Bol. Soc. Geol. Mex [online]. 2014, vol.66, n.2, pp.365-376. ISSN 1405-3322.

Soils contain variable amounts of Fe oxides, which may be used as indicators of pedogenic processes and the environments related to soil formation. Also, their presence affects soil properties and functions, because it influences the color, aggregation, cation exchange capacity, and phosphorus retention in soils. Since Fe oxides are ferrimagnetic minerals, pedogenetic processes may be revealed using magnetic techniques. The aim of this study was to describe the magnetic properties of soils and their potential applications as proxy parameters in the classification of soils. We describe and discuss here the main magnetic carriers, their properties, forms of analysis and applications. The magnetic properties of soils may be used to identify and quantify the magnetic minerals. The magnetic measurements are easy, fast and inexpensive, which allows the analysis of a large number of samples, thereby allowing mapping of soils, identification of pedogenic processes and improvements in soil classification.

Keywords : soil genesis; soil cartography; soil process; magnetism.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )