Models of frequency-dependent susceptibility of rocks and soils revisited and broadened

SUMMARY Mathematical models of the frequency-dependent susceptibility in rocks, soils and environmental materials have been adapted to measurements performed with multiple operating frequencies (465, 976, 3904, 4650, 15 616, 100 000 and 250 000 Hz) on the basis of log-normal volume distribution of magnetic particles. The XFD parameter depends, in addition to the amount of SP particles, also on the operating frequencies, whose values should be therefore also presented. The model curves of the XFD parameter versus arithmetical mean (μ) of the logarithms of grain volume are roughly bell-like shaped. The width and peak position of these curves is controlled by mean and standard deviation of the logarithmic volume distribution. Magnetic susceptibility contributions from paramagnetic minerals, and from ferrimagnetic particles not belonging to a unimodal SP/SD volume distribution, tend to decrease the XFD parameter. Therefore, low XFD values do not therefore necessarily indicate low amount of SP particles, but can also be indicative of the presence of the paramagnetic fraction. A new parameter XR is introduced based on susceptibility measurements at three operating frequencies; it is insensitive to dia- and paramagnetic fractions and helps us to differentiate between wide and narrow size distributions of ferromagnetic particles. A new XFB parameter is introduced that originates through normalizing the XFD parameter by the difference of natural logarithms of operating frequencies and related to the decade difference between the frequencies. It is convenient for comparison of the Bartington MS-2 Susceptibility Meter data with the MFK1-FA Kappabridge data.