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Low-field magnetic susceptibility: a proxy method of estimating increased pollution of different environmental systems

Environmental Geology

Abstract

 A need for rapid and inexpensive (proxy) methods of outlining areas exposed to increased pollution by atmospheric particulates of industrial origin caused scientists in various fields to use and validate different non-traditional (or non-chemical) techniques. Among them, soil magnetometry seems to be a suitable tool, at least in some cases. This method is based on the knowledge that ferrimagnetic particles, namely magnetite, are produced from pyrite during combustion of fossil fuel. Besides the combustion processes, magnetic particles can also originate from road traffic, for example, or can be included in various waste-water outlets. Magnetite, Fe3O4, ranks among the main ferrimagnetic minerals and its identification in various ecosystems can contribute to fast and simple outlining of areas and sites exposed to higher pollution impact. Here the method of magnetic mapping of anthropogenic pollution will be introduced using a review of our recent case studies on different ecosystems in the Czech Republic and Germany.

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Received: 20 June 1998 · Accepted: 9 November 1998

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Petrovský, E., Kapička, A., Jordanova, N. et al. Low-field magnetic susceptibility: a proxy method of estimating increased pollution of different environmental systems. Environmental Geology 39, 312–318 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002540050010

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002540050010

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