Identification of suspended sediment sources by means of magnetic measurements: Some preliminary results

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Abstract
Rapid, nondestructive magnetic measurements of initial low‐field susceptibility x, saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (IRMsat), and coercivity of IRM provide a means of identifying the source of suspended sediments in rivers. Preliminary results derived from the application of these measurements both to suspended sediment and to potential sources within the instrumented catchment of the Jackmoor Brook near Exeter, United Kingdom, demonstrate the value of this approach in an area of Permian sandstone bedrock where the contrast in magnetic properties between parent material and topsoil is easily characterized. High flows are shown to be associated with suspended sediment, the magnetic properties of which are indistinguishable from those of the cultivated soils of the catchment.