Does someone have experience measuring magnetic susceptibility in soil samples (in field and lab) from archaeological sites to identify soil variability and remanent magnetic properties? My question will be about repeatability of measurements and influence of small amount of magnetic material in the results.
There was a 2004 study by Neil Linford. It was
aimed at investigating historic grave sites.
The group that conducted the study has
a funny name. In the German article,
hemoglobin traces are mentioned. Remains of
human blood contain iron and thus create a
detectable signature in the soil.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229901782_Magnetic_ghosts_mineral_magnetic_measurements_on_Roman_and_AngloSaxon_graves
http://www.wissenschaft.de/home/-/journal_content/56/12054/1113926/
Regards,
Joachim
Article Magnetic ghosts: Mineral magnetic measurements on Roman and ...
You may contact Dr. Shankar in India. He is an expert in the field of magnetic susceptibility. I worked with him about 20 years ago but at that time the measurements were different and simple. He is up-to-date and can help you. Below is his email
I use to do this on small samples, on grid (paleosoils) or specific places (fireplaces etc.). It's quite simple, you can use 20-100 g samples. I've never tried field mesures.
There is a large amount of references on that topic, old things or not,i'm sure you will find what you want in references around the web like (from scratch) :
English :
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/%28SICI%291520-6548%28199801%2913:1%3C3::AID-GEA2%3E3.0.CO;2-9/full
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1475-4754.1971.tb00043.x/abstract
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440300906459
French :
http://www.cairn.info/resume.php?ID_ARTICLE=ARSC_036_0061
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=169536
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17356027
http://marie.petronille.free.fr/documents/these.pdf
Yes, I've some experience with this. What is target or purpose of your investigation? MS is a great tool. Are you looking at topsoil MS or from excavation surfaces? Most of what I have done has been from vertical excavation surfaces. I have a methodology that that allows me to get volumetric field readings, mass specific lab readings and frequency dependent lab readings with good repeatability. I've used it to identify buried inceptisols, and other young soils that have been buried in semi arid environments, and to identify burned sediments. I have an extensive reference library. If you ask a more specific question I might be able to refer you to a good reference if I can't answer the question myself.
to append my previous statement. The equipment I use is the Bartington MS2 system. I've used the core reader (MS2C), the downhole tool (MS2H), and the dual frequency laboratory sensor (MS2B), and the topsoil tool (MS2D), as well as the "wall reader" (MS2K).
Hi,
directly on field excavation I used this pocket-size magnetic susceptibility meter.
http://www.zhinstruments.com/sm-30.html
It has several programs to measure and save MS. You place the device just on the measured surface and record values. But, there are a lot of aspects that affected the measurement (irregularities in the measured surface, contents of stones – especially limestones etc.). Nevertheless, for comparison directly in the field is OK.
If you can measure MS seriously with higher accuracy you must use another device in the Lab. I collaborate with Aleš Bajer and Lenka Lisá. You find them on Research Gate. They are specialists. In the field excavation I usually take samples from profiles into plastic bags and in the Lab they measure it exactly and they do also susceptibility in frequency domain (I hope the translation is OK) for better understanding of causes that influence values.
Best
Petr
In my book "Khirbet Qumran and 'Ain Feshkha" 2003 ISBN 3-7278-1452-7 you can find in Chapter III, a contribution by K.L. Rasmussen (pp101-104) on "On the Provenance and Firing Temperature of Pottery" where he juxtaposes Magnetic Susceptibility and Thermoluminescence.
Hi Jan, Thank you for you contribution in this question. Is this chapter available in pdf ? Could send a copy to me. I just came back from a field trip where we measured Magnetic Susceptibility, Presence and reaction of carbonates and organic matter (in the soil surface) are main task is to map a old shell mond... what we called here Sambaqui. Im quite optimistic with the results and the maps that will generate quickly and cheaper.
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