Based on filed survey

soil samples were collected systematically in the Holocene loess profile in Changcheng tableland

the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.Chemical elements

magnetic susceptibility

particle-size distribution

loss on ignition and the content of calcium carbonate were measured in the laboratory. The results showed that:(1)There was a significant positive correlation between the curves of the heavy metals(Mn

Zn

Ni

Cu

V and Cr)and the curves of magnetic susceptibility

loss on ignition and clay. While a negative correlation was showed between the curves of the heavy metals(Mn

Zn

Ni

Cu

V and Cr)and the curves of the content of calcium carbonate and coarse silt.The contents of these heavy metals in the mid-Holocene Ustic Isohumisol were higher than that in the loess.It indicated that these heavy metals were affected by weathering and pedogenesis along with the Holocene climatic change.(2)The shape of the curve between the Pb was different from that of the heavy metals(Mn

Zn

Ni

Cu

V and Cr).The curve of Pb was uncorrelated with the curve of magnetic susceptibility.The content of Pb was very low in the transitional loess(Lt).The content of Pb was relatively high with very small variability in the Ustic Isohumisol (S0)and in the recent loess and topsoil(L0

TS).It seemed that these elements are not much affected by climatic change in the Holocene.