Quantitative approach to sediment source identification by using magnetic diagnosis model

A sequential quantitative approach to sediment source ascription is presented based on mineral magnetic measurements. Rhode River catchment (USA) and Isabel II reservoir catchment (Spain) were taken as the examples for developing the magnetic diagnosis model. The multi-parameter cluster analysis was used to classify the sediment source with respect to their magnetic properties, multi-variable mixing model to link magnetic measurement of mixtures with their source component proportions, and linear programming to determine the sediment source components. It has been shown by these two experiments that the magnetic diagnosis model is successful for the quantitative sediment source ascription. The results correspond well with the relative environmental change proxy.