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The lockdown in 2020 implemented due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in a significant improvement in air quality at a global scale. Nationwide lockdown also considerably improved air quality at a local scale, especially in cities which were almost completely shut down during the first coronavirus wave, with nearly no activity. We tested the hypothesis that a reduction in the intensity of vehicle traffic causes a drastic decrease in urban air pollution at a local scale. We focused on two urban agglomerations, Warsaw and Cracow, in Poland. Data of the concentrations of traffic-related sources, namely NOx, PM10, and PM2.5, obtained from two air pollution monitoring stations were analyzed for the years 2020 and 2021, during which lockdown and pandemic restrictions were in effect, and for 2019, as a reference. In the years 2020–2021, the average annual concentration of NOx was decreased by ~ 19%, PM2.5 by ~ 19%, and PM10 by ~ 18% in Warsaw, while in Cracow the average annual concentration of NOx was decreased by ~ 16%, PM2.5 by ~ 22%, and PM10 by ~ 2%, compared to 2019. The contribution from traffic-related sources to the overall level of air pollution was estimated. The results indicated that ~ 30 µg/m3 of PM10, ~ 15 µg/m3 of PM2.5, and ~ 120 µg/m3 of NOx in Cracow, and ~ 20 µg/m3 of PM2.5 in Warsaw originate from moving vehicles. The nationwide lockdown allowed us to conduct this study to understand how a reduction in local traffic emissions can decrease ambient air pollution levels.

The Chicxulub impact event at ca. 66 Ma left in its wake the only complex crater on Earth with a preserved peak ring, characterized by a well-developed magnetic anomaly low. To date, little is known about its magnetic properties. The joint Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364 drill core M0077A revealed that the peak ring consists of uplifted and strongly deformed granitoid basement rocks overlain by a 130-m-thick impact melt and suevite layer. Pre- and postimpact hydrothermal systems affected this basement with maximum temperatures up to 450 °C. We used microscopy, mineral chemistry, temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility, and hysteresis properties to characterize the magnetic mineralogy of pre-, syn-, and postimpact rocks. Compared to its amount of pure, stoichiometric shocked magnetite, the granitoid basement shows low magnetic susceptibility, which is in line with earlier experimental studies indicating that shock reduces magnetic susceptibility. Cation-substituted magnetite with varying compositions in the melt rocks carries a higher induced and remanent magnetization compared to the basement. In the granitoid basement, magnetite was partially oxidized to hematite by a pre-impact hydrothermal event, but at lithological contacts with high-temperature impact melt rock, this hematite was locally retransformed back to magnetite. Elsewhere in the granitoid basement, the temperature reached in the hydrothermal system was too low for hematite retransformation. It was also too low to anneal all the lattice defects in the shocked magnetite, which likely occurs above 540 °C. The presence of shocked magnetite in the granitoid basement well explains the magnetic anomaly low due to its unusually low induced magnetization.

SUMMARY Cyclic loading at elevated temperatures occurs either naturally during tectonic or volcanic-induced earthquakes or can be human-induced due to various geological engineering activities. The aim of this study is to test if mechanical fatigue in rocks can be monitored by magnetic methods. For this purpose, the effect of cyclic-mechanical loading (150 ± 30 MPa) on the magnetic susceptibility and its anisotropy of a magnetite-bearing ore with varying temperatures (400 and 500 °C) and environment (air and vacuum) was investigated. Our study shows that magnetic susceptibility decreases significantly (up to 23 per cent) under air conditions and in vacuum (up to 4 per cent) within the first ca. 1000 cycles. Further loading does not significantly affect the magnetic susceptibility which then remains more or less constant. The decrease of susceptibility parameters is stronger at 500 °C compared to 400 °C under both experimental conditions. Magnetic susceptibility was always measured after decompression of the loaded sample at room temperature so that magnetostriction can be excluded as a reason for these changes. The higher the temperature at which samples were loaded the more pronounced is the oxidation of magnetite to haematite. The transformation of magnetite into haematite under ambient conditions is the most important mechanism influencing bulk magnetic properties. The weak changes in magnetic susceptibility after vacuum loadings are probably caused by intragranular microcracks formed on the surface of magnetite grains. These surface deformation structures are accompanied by the refinement of magnetic domains, which is observed by magnetic force microscopy. Bulk magnetic grain size modifications are also confirmed by hysteresis parameters as well as by the increasing Hopkinson peak ratios determined from magnetic susceptibility measurements over Curie point. The degree of magnetic anisotropy and shape factor only change for the air-treated samples and are therefore related to the haematite formation and not to irreversible ductile deformation in magnetite. Our experimental study shows that cyclic loading can change significantly the magnetic properties of a rock due to mineral transformation below

A rock magnetic, mineralogical and Mossbauer spectroscopy study was undertaken on the Lower Triassic sediments from the West Spitsbergen Fold and Thrust Belt (WSFTB) in Svalbard as well as the foreland of this orogen for a thorough recognition of magnetic mineralogy, necessary for a better-constrained interpretation of paleomagnetic results. SEM and Mossbauer spectroscopy indicate the presence of magnetite and pyrrhotite, both most probably of secondary origin but altered clasts of volcanic origin and grains of ilmenite and detrital magnetite are also observed. Thermomagnetic curves of whole-rock samples exhibit paramagnetic behavior whereas ferromagnetic separates indicate the presence of magnetite. IRM component analysis shows three major contributors – magnetite, hematite, and pyrrhotite to the remanence, with ferromagnetic iron oxides the most dominant. Identified ferromagnetic minerals display a wide range of grain-size and magnetic behavior, with the domination of PSD particles. Rock magnetic characteristics of both areas are similar, but sites in the fold belt were most likely remagnetized, whereas those in the foreland carry the primary magnetization. The age of remagnetization was estimated as pre-Eurekan related to rift-controlled Mesozoic extensional phases of the Barents Sea Shelf (Clark et al., 2014) and/or Cretaceous injections of dolerites in the Svalbard Archipelago (Nejbert et al., 2011) as well as early stages of the WSFTB formation. However, Triassic remanence might persist in volcanic lithoclasts and detrital magnetite indicated along the WSFTB. The multicomponent nature of the NRM, displaying a broad range of grain size, might impede the paleomagnetic interpretation of Triassic rocks in Spitsbergen.

Soil contamination by heavy metals has become a severe problem in many parts of the world, affecting people and other living organisms. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) was successfully used to track deformation and flow directions in rocks and unconsolidated sediment, however, it has been very rarely applied to soils. In this study, magnetic susceptibility, electromagnetic (EM) methods and AMS of soils around three historical mining areas at the Sudetes Mountains (Poland) were studied. These sites are diversified in terms of exploitation time and type of ore (Zloty Stok – gold and arsenic, Janowa Gora – iron and Szklary - nickel). They were selected in order to examine the spatial spread of contamination from mine tailings, their potential sources and to test the potential use of the AMS to study migration pathways.Magnetic susceptibility (к), GCM (ground Conductivity Electromagnetic Method) and magnetometric measurements were carried out in situ to get a spatial resolution of the magnetic data. Bartington MS2 magnetic susceptibility meter was used for mapping of к, whereas GCM measurements were made to obtain conductivity distribution from 6 different depth ranges. Magnetometric measurements were conducted with GEM GSM-19T Overhauser Magnetometer integrated with GPS, allowing for measurement of the total magnetic field and its vertical gradient. Moreover, soils samples were taken for further analyses in the laboratory. For AMS measurements, all samples were oriented northward and carefully placed into 8 ccm plastic, non-magnetic cubic boxes to prevent artificial modification of in situ magnetic fabrics. Then, these samples were measured in three mutually perpendicular positions using KLY-5 Kappabridge (Agico).The highest values of magnetic susceptibility (1-5x10-3 SI) are observed around nickel tailings, whereas the lowest values (60-120x10-6 SI) characterise iron mining area. Preliminary results of GCM and magnetometry indicate the occurrence of overlapping anomalies in the studied area. Mapping of in situ magnetic susceptibility shows variability within particular sites. For Szklary, all three methods indicate the presence of the elongated anomaly roughly NE-SW oriented. Although AMS axes of in-phase susceptibility are randomly distributed for all sites, the magnetic fabric created by ferromagnetic minerals (out-of-phase, opAMS) indicate well grouped maximum susceptibility axes mainly oriented NE-SW. There is a clear correlation between mapped anomaly around nickel tailings (Szklary) and opAMS lineation. Outside the anomaly, opAMS directions are oriented SE-NW. For other sites, opAMS is also in line with the results of EM methods. Taking into account these results, as well as landforms and hydrological conditions, it could be concluded that magnetic minerals accompanied with heavy metals, most likely, migrate with subsurface runoff and opAMS is capable of detecting changes in the direction of the pollution spread. However, more study is necessary to fully explain this mechanism.

Magnetic fabric and magnetomineralogy of the Early Triassic sedimentary rocks, collected along the length of the West Spitsbergen Fold-and-Thrust Belt (WSFTB) and from subhorizontal beds on its foreland, is presented with the aim to compare magnetic mineralogy of these areas, determine the carriers of magnetic fabric and identify tectonic deformation reflected in the magnetic fabric. Magnetic mineralogy varies and only in part depends on the lithology. The magnetic fabric at all sampling sites is controlled by paramagnetic minerals (phyllosilicates and Fe-carbonates). In the fold belt, it reflects the low degree of deformation in a compressional setting with magnetic lineation parallel to fold axis (NW-SE). This is consistent with pure orthogonal compression model of the WSFTB formation, but it also agrees with decoupling model. Inverse fabric, observed in few sites, is carried by Fe-rich carbonates. In the WSFTB foreland, magnetic lineation reflects the Triassic paleocurrent direction (NE-SW). The alternation between normal and inverse magnetic fabric within the stratigraphic profile could be related to sedimentary cycles.

Magnetic, petrological and mineralogical data from 13 sites (99 independently oriented samples) of the Lower Triassic rocks located in the SW segment of the West Spitsbergen Fold and Thrust Belt (WSFTB) are presented in order to identify the ferrimagnetic carriers and establish the origin of the natural remanent magnetization (NRM). Volcanic lithoclasts and other detrital resistive grains in which the primary magnetization might endure are present in some samples. On the other hand, petrological studies indicate that sulphide remineralization could have had an important influence on the remagnetization of these rocks. The dominant ferrimagnetic carriers are titanomagnetite and magnetite. While the titanomagnetite may preserve the primary magnetization, the magnetite is a more likely potential carrier of secondary overprints. The complex NRM patterns found in most of the samples may be explained by the coexistence and partial overlapping of components representing different stages of magnetization. Components of both polarities were identified in the investigated material. The reversal test performed on the most stable components that demagnetized above 300°C proved to be negative at the 95% confidence level at any stage of unfolding. They are better grouped, however, after 100% tectonic corrections and the most stable components are clustered in high inclinations (c. 70–80°). This suggests that at least part of the measured palaeomagnetic vectors represent a secondary prefolding magnetic overprint that originated in post-Jurassic time before the WSFTB event. Vitrinite reflectance studies show these rocks have not been subjected to any strong heating (

Fly and bottom ash originating in thermal power stations (TPSs) are industrial wastes containing magnetic minerals, primarily Fe-bearing phases, which are formed during coal combustion. Ash deposited on disposal sites becomes the parent material for technogenic soils (Technosols), in which the transformations of Fe-bearing magnetic minerals accompany the soil-forming processes. This study presents the application of magnetic methods together with mineralogical techniques for the determination of the magnetic properties and mineral composition of (1) fresh (unweathered) fly and bottom ash resulting from bituminous coal and lignite combustion, and (2) two Technosols developed on dry ash disposal site and former ash settling pond. Magnetite with a mean coercivity (B1/2) of 36–47 mT and hematite (B1/2 of 200–900 mT) were found to be the major magnetic minerals of fresh fly and bottom ash. The size of magnetic grains of ash ranged from 1 to 20 µm, which corresponds to the typical pseudo-single-domain grains. The heterogeneity of the parent material (i.e. TPS ash) along the soil profiles significantly affected the magnetic parameters and composition of magnetic minerals. In the soil developed from bituminous coal ash, the magnetic susceptibility ranged from 771 to 2538 × 10-8 m3 kg−1, whereas in the soil developed from lignite ash it was 622–7657 × 10-8 m3 kg−1. The most abundant Fe oxides in Technosols were (i) magnetite with (ii) a few percent of hematite admixture (both minerals mainly inherited from fresh ash and partly neoformed), and (iii) low-coercivity maghemite (B1/2 ~ 15–20 mT) which most likely formed by the surface oxidation of fine magnetite grains inherited from the parent material. Magnetic methods were found to be a valuable research technique in the case of TPS ash-derived Technosols, for the identification of Fe-bearing magnetic minerals that are hardly recognizable by mineralogical methods, and for tracking the transformations of magnetic minerals resulting from soil-forming processes.

We demonstrate the use of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) method to determine the orientation of the principal tectonic strain directions developed during the formation of the West Spitsbergen Fold-and-Thrust Belt (WSFTB). The AMS measurements and extensive rock-magnetic studies of the Lower Triassic rocks reported here were focused on the recognition of the magnetic fabric, the identification of ferromagnetic minerals and an estimation of the influence of ferro- and paramagnetic minerals on magnetic susceptibility. At most sites, the paramagnetic minerals controlled the magnetic susceptibility, and at only one site the impact of ferromagnetic minerals was higher. The AMS technique documented the presence of different types of magnetic fabrics within the sampled sites. At two sites, a normal (Kmin perpendicular to the bedding) magnetic fabric of sedimentary origin was detected. This was associated with a good clustering of the maximum AMS axes imposed by tectonic strain. The Kmax magnetic lineation directions obtained here parallel the general NNW–SSE trend of the WSFTB fold axial traces and thrust fronts. The two other investigated sites possessed mixed and inverted fabrics, the latter of which appear to reflect the presence of iron-bearing carbonates. Keywords: AMS; Eurekan orogeny; tectonic strain; rock-magnetism; Hornsund–Sorkapp area; magnetic fabric. (Published: 16 December 2016) Citation: Polar Research 2016, 35, 31683,http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v35.31683

Studies were carried out in three rock formations: the Vardebukta Formation (Early Triassic) and the Bravaisberget Formation (Middle Triassic) from Spitsbergen and the Botneheia Formation (Middle Triassic) from Edgeoya (Eastern Svalbard). Collected samples are diversified and represent various lithologies with different thermal and tectonic histories. Magnetic properties of the specimens were studied using rock-magnetic methods including: thermal demagnetization of saturated isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), hysteresis loops and analysis of magnetic susceptibility variations at high temperatures. Subsequently anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) and analysis of the structure of natural remanent magnetization (NRM) using thermal and alternating field (AF) demagnetization were investigated. The obtained results show that magnetite represents the main magnetic mineral in all studied rocks, whereas pyrrothite, as a second magnetic information carrier, was noted in some of specimens only. The samples from Edgeoya possess the highest magnetic susceptibility (ca. 240∙10−6 SI) which tends to decrease in sites located further to the west and reaches the minimum value for samples from western Spitsbergen (ca. 30–40∙10−6 SI). AMS studies revealed that the Middle Triassic samples are characterized by inverse magnetic fabric and prolate AMS ellipsoids, whereas the Early Triassic specimens represent normal sedimentary fabric and oblate AMS ellipsoids. Inverse magnetic fabric can be carried by many minerals including: tourmaline, cordierite or goethite (Chadima et al., 2006). For investigated samples two models proposed by Rochette (1988) are highly probable: (1) presence of single-domain elongated magnetite grains or (2) presence of ferroan carbonates whose maximum susceptibility is parallel to the c-axis. Paleomagnetic results of the Botneheia Formation revealed only one characteristic NRM component characterized by steep inclination and maximal unblocking temperatures in range of 425–450°C. In turn, the Early Triassic rocks record several NRM components with partially overlapping unblocking temperatures. We have concluded that different magnetic properties observed in studied rocks might be related to various lithologies but also to distinct tectonic and thermal histories associated with complex tectonic evolution of the Barents Sea Shelf.