Summary Rock‐magnetic properties, including anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, were investigated in detail for two loess/palaeosol sections in south‐western Siberia (Bachat and Kurtak). The results obtained agree with the ‘Alaskan’ type of susceptibility variations for the Kurtak section, showing maximum susceptibility values in loess horizons and minima in palaeosols. For the Bachat section the palaeoenvironmental record, expressed through susceptibility, is not clear, in spite of the geographical proximity of the two sections. Instead, frequency‐dependent magnetic susceptibility (FD%) discriminates well between loess and palaeosol units, showing maxima in pedocomplexes and minima in loess units. This suggests certain pedogenic formation of fine ferrimagnetic grains in soils. Studies of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) reveal a well‐defined sedimentary magnetic fabric for both sections. Different origins of loess deposition, pure aeolian at Bachat and aeolian affected by secondary processes at Kurtak are reflected in the AMS patterns. The two sections also show different high‐temperature behaviour of magnetic susceptibility. While for the Bachat section only one type of thermomagnetic curve was found, the Kurtak section shows different behaviour for loess and palaeosol units. Magnetic properties of samples from the two sections are discussed in terms of palaeoclimatic and depositional conditions.

SUMMARY Detailed rock magnetic investigations, grain size determination and X‐ray diffraction were carried out on loess and buried soils of the last glacial–interglacial cycle from Kurtak, southern Siberia. The susceptibility and the sand fraction of >63 μm fluctuate in parallel, suggesting that the higher susceptibility values in the loess horizons are mainly associated with the coarse size fraction. The frequency dependence of the magnetic susceptibility of the loess and buried soils is very low and uniform, indicating the absence of superparamagnetic grains and negligible pedogenically induced enhancement of magnetic susceptibility. The magnetic assemblage is dominated by multidomain‐like magnetite grains. Maghemite and haematite are also present in the buried soils and loess horizons. Goethite may have been formed from gleying or waterlogging processes under a cooler and more humid climate. The coarse magnetite grains, which contribute significantly to magnetic susceptibility, are probably carried by valley winds and derived from local sources. Thus, the coarser magnetite grains with higher susceptibility values in the loess horizons could mainly reflect stronger wind intensity during cold and semi‐arid conditions, and the consequent ease with which dense magnetite particles can be transported. The lower susceptibility values in the buried soil horizons are mainly caused by weaker wind intensity during interglacial and interstadial periods, although post‐depositional processes associated with gleying modifications are also partially responsible for the observations.

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