The magnetic characteristics of surface soils in Nanchang City, China, and their responses to heavy metal contamination
摘要
To evaluate the connection between magnetic properties and heavy metals, 100 surface soil samples were collected from Nanchang City, the capital of Jiangxi Province, China, were analyzed in this study, including determination of magnetic parameters, heavy metal contents, SEM/EDS, and XRD. The results indicate that magnetite is the main mineral determining the magnetic properties, with additional contributions from incompletely antiferromagnetic minerals such as hematite. The relationships between χ and χfd% and the results of SEM/EDS indicate that anthropogenic inputs are crucial sources of magnetic particles in these samples. Three areas in Nanchang City characterized by relatively severe heavy metal pollution were identified, located in Honggutan District, Xihu District, and Qingshanhu District, respectively. The main pollutants vary among these three areas, primarily due to variations in human activity patterns. Magnetic concentration-related parameters, such as χ and SIRM, show strong correlations with the Pollution Load Index (PLI) and the concentrations of Cd, Sb, Pb, and Zn, indicating a close association between magnetic minerals and heavy metals. Furthermore, soil samples collected from areas with higher heavy metal pollution levels exhibit higher values of χ, SIRM, and S-ratio, and lower values of χARM/SIRM, χARM/χ, and χfd%. The results of correlation analysis, combined with systematic differences in magnetic properties across different land-use types, confirm that the magnetic characteristics of surface soils in Nanchang City are highly sensitive to anthropogenic impacts. Magnetic techniques thus hold potential as a practical method for tracing heavy metal contamination in Nanchang City.