Saleh Sanjari

Magnetic susceptibility (χ) measurements are widely used to study soil-forming processes. This study was conducted to determine the role of lithology, geomorphology, and soil processes in soil magnetic properties in an arid region of Southern Iran. For this purpose, ten representative pedons (in 3 zones, based on lithology) on different geomorphic positions, were studied. In addition, 82 topsoil samples were collected to investigate spatial distribution maps using GIS software. The χlf range of soils was from 74 to 1495 × 10−8 m3 kg−1. The average amounts of χlf in the soils of the three zones were 1082, 245, and 153 × 10−8 m3 kg−1, respectively. While the highest value of χlf of the soils of zone 1 (with metamorphic parent material), was observed at the bottomprofile, the highest value of χlf of the other zones (with fine-grained evaporates and coarse-grained sandstone parent materials, respectively) was observed at the profile-top. Spatial distribution of χlf and total Fe values exhibited the highest amount in the soils of zone 1, which were attributed to adjacent iron-rich metamorphic formations. Higher values of χfd were observed in the soils of zones 2 and 3, suggesting a higher proportion of pedogenic ultrafine grains. The maximum value of pedogenic susceptibility (χp) was observed in the soils of zones 2 and 3, indicating higher proportions of pedogenic secondary iron oxides; however, the negative value of χp in the soils of zone 1, support this hypothesis that most of the χlf signal is carried by bedrock magnetic minerals.