Use of mineral magnetic concentration data as a particle size proxy: A case study using marine, estuarine and fluvial sediments in the Carmarthen Bay area, South Wales, U.K.

Abstract

Compositional (non-magnetic) data can correlate strongly with particle size, which deems it appropriate as a particle size proxy and, therefore, a reliable means of normalising analytical data for particle size effects. Previous studies suggest magnetic concentration parameters represent an alternative means of normalising for these effects and, given the speed, low-cost and sensitivity of the measurements may, therefore, offer some advantages over other compositional signals. In this work, contemporary sediments from a range of depositional environments have been analysed with regard to their mineral magnetic concentration and textural characteristics, to observe if the strength and nature of the relationship identified in previous studies is universal. Our data shows magnetic parameters (v LF , v ARM and SIRM) possess contrasting relationships with standard textural parameters for sediment samples collected from marine (Carmarthen Bay), estuarine (Gwendraeth Estuary) and fluvial (Rivers Gwendraeth Fach and Gwendraeth Fawr) settings. Magnetic concentrations of sediments from both the marine and estuarine environments are highly influenced by the magnetic contribution of finer particle sizes; Gwendraeth Fawr River sediments are influenced by the magnetic contribution of coarser particle sizes, while sediments from the Gwendraeth Fach River are not influenced significantly by any variations in textural properties. These results indicate mineral magnetic measurements have considerable potential as a particle size proxy for particular sedimentary environments, which in certain instances could be useful for geochemical, sediment transport, and sediment provenance studies. However, the data also highlight the importance of fully determining the nature of the relationship between sediment particle size and magnetic properties before applying mineral magnetic data as a particle size proxy. D

A pilot investigation into the potential of mineral magnetic measurements as a proxy for urban roadside particulate pollution

“…Zhang et al [16] suggested that both percentage frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility (χ FD% ) and χ ARM can be used as a proxy for clay content. However, more recently, Booth et al [9] suggested χ LF , χ ARM and SIRM have potential as a particle size proxy for particular sedimentary environments, but highlight the importance of fully determining the nature of the relationship between sediment particle size and magnetic properties before applying mineral magnetic data as a size proxy. (r = 0.82), χ ARM (r = 0.94) and SIRM (r = 0.81).…”

“…Firstly, the extent to which particular magnetic concentration parameters can be used as a particle size proxy for urban street dust and, secondly, whether theses data associations follow the predictable trends of other environmental studies [7][8][9].…”

Problems and Potential of Mineral Magnetic Measurements as a Soil Particle Size Proxy/Magnetinių Mineralų Matavimų, Siekiant Jais Pakeisti Granuliometrinės Sudėties Analizę, Problemos Ir Potencialas/ Проблемы И Потенциальные Возможности Применения Магнитных Измерений Минералов Для Замены Анализа Гранулометрического Состава Почвы

“…All samples were subjected to the same textural preparation and analysis procedure (Booth et al 2005a), using sieving followed by laser diffraction analysis. Low Angle Laser Light Scattering (LALLS), using a Malvern (Mal-vern, England) Mastersizer Long-bed X with a MSX17 sample presentation unit, enabled rapid measurement of particle sizes within the 0.1-2000 µm range.…”

“…Based on these investigations, mineral magnetic measurements have been identified as a suitable proxy for geochemical, radioactivity, organic matter content and particle size data (Bonnett et al 1988;Oldfield et al 1993;Hutchinson and Prandle 1994;Clifton et al 1997Clifton et al , 1999Xie et al 1999Xie et al , 2000Zhang et al 2001;Booth et al 2005a;Shilton et al 2005).…”

Environmental magnetism: measuring, monitoring and modelling urban street dust pollution

“…fluvial [4]; lacustrine [5]; desert [6]; glacial [7]; estuarine [8]; coastal [9] and soils [10]). Compared with other analytical methods mineral magnetics provides a compositional tool, which is reliable, rapid, non-destructive, inexpensive and sensitive to low detection levels [11].…”