Environmental magnetism as a stream sediment tracer: an interpretation of the methodology and some case studies

Abstract

A comprehensive sediment sampling program was undertaken in the upper Molonglo catchment in south-eastern New South Wales to determine if mineral magnetics could be used to estimate sidestream contribution at river confluences in this environment. Some 12 confluences were examined over 1400 km 2 in 2 major basins and over 2 contrasting geological types. Sediment samples were divided into 7 size classes and the following magnetic properties measured: magnetic susceptibility at 2 frequencies, isothermal remanent magnetisation at 3 flux densities, and anhysteristic remanent magnetisation. The sidestream inputs were calculated for each particle size class from the range of magnetic parameters. Significant discrepancies and differences appeared in the resultant sidestream inputs, and this paper outlines the conclusions as to the reliability of the different analytical procedures. It is shown that both the concentration and magnetic grain size of ferrimagnetic minerals in the sediments must be taken into account. Where the difference in magnetic grain size between the upstream and sidestream sediments is small, the use of parameter crossplots or bulked magnetic ratios is generally not appropriate. The use of mass (concentration) magnetic values may be better. The difference in the demands of the crossplots and mass values methods is that crossplots require a wide range of mass magnetic concentrations in each branch, with the upstream and sidestream sediments having different magnetic grain sizes, whereas the mass values procedure does best with a very limited (but different) range of concentrations at the upstream and sidestream branches, but similar magnetic grain sizes. This paper provides an extensive discussion of the estimation technique using different parameter combinations, and uses 3 contrasting confluences as case studies.