Topsoil’s magnetic and electrical properties in a volcanic and tropical region

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2024-02, Vol.196 (2), p.160-160, Article 160
• Main Authors: Kirana, Kartika Hajar, Shalsabila, Meirsya Taulika, Putri, Salsafira Utami, Fitriani, Dini, Agustine, Eleonora, Hamdan, Abd. Mujahid, Tamuntuan, Gerald Hendrik, Rosandi, Yudi, Chaparro, Marcos A. E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Clusters; Dissolved solids; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Electrical conductivity; Electrical properties; Electrical resistivity; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Frequency dependence; Geology; Human influences; Igneous rocks; Magnetic permeability; Magnetic properties; Magnetic signals; Magnetic susceptibility; Minerals; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Soil; Soil properties; Soil types; Topsoil; Total dissolved solids; Tropical environment; Tropical environments; Urban agriculture; Urban areas; Volcanic soils
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12332-8

Environmental monitoring by measuring topsoil’s magnetic and electrical properties is one practical, quick, and low-cost approach. This method has been used worldwide as a proxy for the presence of potentially toxic elements. However, additional research must be conducted on diverse soil types, geology, and climates. We determined the magnetic and electrical properties of urban and agricultural topsoils in a volcanic region and analyzed them as possible proxies of potentially toxic elements for environmental monitoring. To identify topsoil characteristics, we employed the measurements of magnetic susceptibility and hysteresis, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, power of hydrogen (pH), particle morphology, and element contents that were statistically analyzed to identify relevant properties. The result was able to differentiate volcanic soils from urban, industrial, and agricultural areas as well. The value of low-frequency magnetic susceptibility ( χ LF ) in soils from urban areas is higher than 866.0±249.9 ×10 −8 m 3 kg −1 , while the value of χ LF in agricultural areas is 208.0±67.8 ×10 −8 m 3 kg −1 . This is reinforced by the relationship between low-frequency and frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility ( χ LF - χ FD %) in samples from urban areas that fall within the same cluster dominated by coarse-grained magnetic minerals originating from anthropogenic processes. In contrast, the agricultural area forms a separate cluster primarily influenced by pedogenic processes from acid igneous rock minerals. Caution is required for interpreting the magnetic signal due to the high contents of lithogenic magnetic particles inherited from the parent materials of Andisols.