Can Moessbauer Spectroscopy Reveal the Origin of Magnetic Soil in Denmark?

The rare occurrence of magnetic soil in Denmark is normally explained by the hypothesis that the site has been burned. However, at some sites formation by means of organic processes has been suggested. In this contribution we present results of combined Moessbauer transmission and conversion electron spectroscopies in order to seek an answer to the question of the origin of magnetic soil in Denmark. It turns out that the sample preparation is of extreme importance, and we will document what precautions have to be taken in order to get meaningful results. When these issues are understood, and taken into consideration, Moessbauer spectroscopy seems to be a promising tool to gain insight in soil forming processes.