内蒙古嘎顺诺尔湖泊沉积物磁化率与粒度的古环境意义

湖泊沉积物磁化率和粒度已被广泛地应用于古环境和古气候研究,但在不同地区两者的关系不同,一般与磁性矿物来源、种类和赋存粒级有关。查明磁性矿物来源和赋存状态是利用粒度和磁化率恢复古环境的重要基础。通过测定干旱区嘎顺诺尔GXN剖面湖泊沉积物的磁化率与粒度及两者的相关关系,结合代表性样品的岩石磁学特征,揭示此类地区湖泊沉积物磁性矿物来源和赋存状态,探讨它们在干旱区湖泊沉积物中所反映的环境变化信息。结果显示,剖面下部（200~105 cm）和上部（36~0 cm）沉积物磁化率与粗砂含量呈正相关,中部（105~36 cm）与粉砂含量呈正相关,表明磁性矿物主要富集于粗颗粒和较粗颗粒组分中。剖面下部和中部沉积物以顺磁性矿物为主,含少量亚铁磁性矿物（如磁铁矿+磁赤铁矿）,含少量顺磁性矿物;剖面上部沉积物以亚铁磁性矿物为主（如磁赤铁矿+磁铁矿）,含少量顺磁性矿物。根据嘎顺诺尔晚全新世湖泊沉积物剖面的岩性、磁化率和粒度组合特征,可将其划分为河漫滩相沉积（200~105 cm）、浅湖相沉积（105~36 cm）和滨浅湖相沉积（36~0 cm）3个阶段。该湖粒度组分中<4 μm和4~64 μm颗粒主要反映了湖泊水动力的变化,受碎屑物来源和水动力条件的控制;而河漫滩相中>64 μm粗颗粒组分的峰值是风力作用的结果。河漫滩相及滨浅湖相的磁化率高值则指示了湖面较低,水动力较强,有较多的磁性矿物随粗颗粒入湖;浅湖相的磁化率低值则指示该时期湖面较高,水动力较弱,磁性矿物随入湖粗颗粒含量的减少而降低。     

The environmental significance of magnetic measurements of Late Pleistocene and Holocene sediments from the Grand Lac d'Annecy, eastern France

The results of a series of magnetic measurements on sediment samples are illustrated by means of examples selected from a more specialized parallel publication (Hu & Oldfield, submitted). They are interpreted in terms of magnetic components, notably, 'magnetite' of varying grain size/domain state, haematite, goethite and greigite. Wherever possible, some indication is given of changes in the relative importance of the various magnetic grain size and mineral phases through time. The main components of the magnetic assemblage are described for each of the main lithological units identified in the long core which is considered elsewhere in this volume. These assemblages are related to source areas and to depositional processes, especially in the pre-Holocene parts of the core. In the Holocene sediments, the magnetic properties cannot be interpreted solely in terms of shifts in detrital mineral sources. Evidence is presented for the presence of both biogenic magnetite and authigenic greigite. The most recent sediments point to renewed catchment erosion, probably as a result of human activity during historical times.     

Basis for Paleoenvironmental Interpretation of Magnetic Properties of Sediment from Upper Klamath Lake (Oregon): Effects of Weathering and Mineralogical Sorting

Studies of magnetic properties enable reconstruction of environmental conditions that affected magnetic minerals incorporated in sediments from Upper Klamath Lake. Analyses of stream sediment samples from throughout the catchment of Upper Klamath Lake show that alteration of Fe-oxide minerals during subaerial chemical weathering of basic volcanic rocks has significantly changed magnetic properties of surficial deposits. Titanomagnetite, which is abundant both as phenocrysts and as microcrystals in fresh volcanic rocks, is progressively destroyed during weathering. Because fine-grained magnetite is readily altered due to large surface-to-volume ratios, weathering causes an increase in average magnetic grain size as well as reduction in the quantity of titanomagnetite both absolutely and relative to hematite. Hydrodynamic mineralogical sorting also produces differences in magnetic properties among rock and mineral grains of differing sizes. Importantly, removal of coarse silicate and Fe-oxide grains by sorting concentrated extremely fine-grained magnetite in the resulting sediment. The effects of weathering and sorting of minerals cannot be completely separated. These processes combine to produce the magnetic properties of a non-glacial lithic component of Upper Klamath Lake sediments, which is characterized by relatively low magnetite content and coarse magnetic grain size. Hydrodynamic sorting alone causes significant differences between the magnetic properties of glacial flour in lake sediments and of fresh volcanic rocks in the catchment. In comparison to source volcanic rocks, glacial flour in the lake sediment is highly enriched in extremely fine-grained magnetite.     

阿拉善地区古水下沉积物与风沙沉积物磁学特征及意义

风力搬运过程中存在的物质分选极可能导致沉积区与物源区沉积物性质出现差异,对于研究物源示踪具有重要的意义。选取阿拉善地区古水下沉积物和风沙沉积物,进行磁学参数测定,调查分选作用对沉积物性质的影响,并探讨对中国黄土高原黄土物源研究的启示。结果表明：古水下沉积物与风沙沉积物的细砂组分磁学性质基本一致,但粉砂组分则存在明显差别,古水下沉积物的磁性矿物浓度显著低于风沙沉积物,风力分选作用可能是风沙沉积物粉砂组分磁性强的主要原因;古水下沉积物中高矫顽力矿物浓度较低,受沉积后改造作用微弱,指示古水下沉积物可用于黄土物源示踪研究。阿拉善地区沉积物和黄土高原黄土的磁学性质对比表明：风沙沉积物与黄土高原黄土磁学性质存在明显差别,但古水下沉积物与黄土高原黄土磁学性质却十分相似。这一地质证据支持阿拉善地区是黄土高原黄土沉积物的重要物源区,同时暗示古水下沉积物在黄土物源示踪方面的巨大潜力。     

Unmixing magnetic remanence curves without a priori knowledge

Many of the natural materials studied in rock and environmental magnetism contain a mixed assemblage of mineral grains with a variety of different origins. Mathematical decomposition of the bulk magnetic mineral assemblage into populations with different properties can therefore be a source of useful environmental information. Previous investigations have shown that such unmixing into component parts can provide insights concerning source materials, transport processes, diagenetic alteration, authigenic mineral growth and a number of other processes. A new approach will be presented that performs a linear unmixing of remanence data into coercivity based end-members using only a minimal number of assumptions. A non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) algorithm for unmixing remanence data into constituent end-members is described with case studies to demonstrate the utility of the approach. The shape of the end-members and their abundances obtained by NMF is based solely on the variation in the measured data set and there is no requirement for mathematical functions or type curves to represent individual components. Therefore, in contrast to previous approaches that aimed to unmix curves into components corresponding to individual minerals and domain states, NMF produces a genetically more meaningful decomposition showing how a data set can be represented as a linear sum of invariant parts. It has been found that the NMF algorithm performs well for both absolute and normalized remanence curves, with the capacity to process thousands of measured data points rapidly.     

Rare earth elements of aeolian deposits in Northern China and their implications for determining the provenance of dust storms in Beijing

This paper contributes to a better understanding of the source of dust storms in northern China and the relationship between these sources and other aeolian sediments in this region. Sediment samples in potential source areas were collected from the Hunshandake Sandy Land, Heaven Desert, the loess deposits of the Bashang area, the mountainous basins and valleys north of Beijing and from the Badain Jaran Desert and Hulunbaier Sandy Land (Fig. 1). Dust samples were collected in Beijing during two dust storms in March 2002 and April 2006. The laboratory methods used in this study included measurements of abundance of trace elements, in particular the rare earth elements (REEs), mineral assemblages and grain size. The REE contents, Eu and Ce anomalies show clear differences between various deposits. Provenance is considered to be the key factor influencing REE patterns in the study areas. The REE abundances and patterns indicate that the aeolian sand north of Beijing, such as in the Heaven Desert, is mainly of local origin rather than from desert encroachment from the north. The mineral grains carried in dust storms, however, are highly mixed, and may come partly from local sources but mainly from distant desert regions in western China.     

环境磁学及其在地理环境研究中的应用

环境磁学兴起于20世纪70年代，是一门介于地球科学、环境科学和磁学之间的边缘学科。其原理是测量土壤、岩石和沉积物等自然物质和人类活动产生的物质在人为磁场中的磁性响应，提取地理环境的信息。由于系统磁性测量技术本身的优点，高灵敏度测试仪器，以及计算机处理磁测数据，使环境磁学广泛应用于湖泊及流域古地理研究、土壤形成和分类、黄土－古土壤研究和环境污染研究等许多研究领域。近年来环境磁学有一些新的发展趋势。     

A mineral magnetic and scaled-chrysophyte paleolimnological study of two northeastern Pennsylvania lakes: records of fly ash deposition, land-use change, and paleorainfall variation

A combined mineral magnetic and scaled chrysophyte study of lake sediments from Lake Lacawac and Lake Giles in northeastern Pennsylvania was conducted to determine the effects of land-use and sediment source changes on the variation of pH, conductivity, and alkalinity inferred from biotic changes. Ten 30–40 cm long gravity cores were collected from Lake Lacawac and three from Lake Giles. Isothermal remanent magnetizations (IRMs) were given to the lake sediments in a 1.3 T magnetic field to measure magnetic mineral concentration variations. IRM acquisition experiments were conducted to identify magnetic mineralogy. The bedrock, soils and a peat bog on the shores of Lake Lacawac were also sampled for magnetic analysis to determine possible lake sediment sources. The top 10 cm of sediment collected from Lakes Lacawac and Giles was two to four times more magnetic than deeper sediment. ²¹⁰Pb dating suggests that this intensity increase commenced circa 1900. SEM images of magnetic extracts from the highly magnetic sediments indicates the presence of magnetic fly ash microspheres from fossil fuel burning electric power generation plants. The similarity in magnetic coercivity in the top 8 cm lake sediments and in the peat bog supports an atmospheric source for some of the magnetic minerals in the youngest lake sediments. The highly magnetic sediments also contain an antiferromagnetic mineral in two cores closest to Lake Lacawacs southeastern shore. This magnetic mineral is only present deep in the soil profile and would suggest erosion and significant land-use changes in the Lacawac watershed as another cause for the high magnetic intensities (concentrations) in the top 10 cm of the lake sediments. The most significant changes in the scaled chrysophyte flora occurred immediately above the 10 cm level and were used to infer a doubling of the specific conductivity between circa 1910 and 1929. These variations also support land-use changes in the Lacawac catchment at this time. A similar shift in the scaled chrysophte flora was not observed in the top of Lake Giles, however, distinct changes were found in the deeper sections of the core coupled with a smaller peak in magnetic concentration. Fourier analysis of the ²¹⁰Pb-dated lake sediment magnetics indicates the presence of a 50 year period, low amplitude variation in the Lake Lacawac, Lake Giles, and Lake Waynewood (Lott et al., 1994) magnetic concentration records. After removal of the land-use/fly ash magnetic concentration peak by Gaussian filtering, the 50 year variation correlates strongly from lake to lake even though the lakes are in different watersheds separated by up to 30 km. When this magnetic variation is compared with Gaussian-filtered rainfall variations observed in New York City and Philadelphia over the past 120–250 years there is a strong correlation suggesting that magnetic concentration variations can record regional rainfall variations with an approximately 50 year period. This result indicates that magnetics could be used to document regional variations in climatic change.     

Mineral magnetic record of Holocene environmental changes in Sägistalsee, Switzerland

The Holocene magnetic signature due to environmental change has been investigated in sediments from Sägistalsee, a small alpine lake in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland. The environmental signal in the mineral magnetic parameters of the sediments was compared with palynological and geochemical data. The types of magnetic minerals and their grain size reflect changes in the lake catchment, vegetation, and degree of erosional input. The concentration of the magnetic minerals, as expressed by isothermal and anhysteretic remanent magnetizations also reflect changes in vegetation, but may also be related to redox conditions during sedimentation. Climate influence on the mineral magnetic record has been recognized and interpreted as a consequence of the production of an authigenic mineral with particularly uniform magnetic properties during warmer stages and the influx of heterogeneous detrital magnetic mineral during cooler stages and under increased human activity.     

Magnetic characteristics of lake sediments in Qiangyong Co Lake,southern Tibetan Plateau and their application to the evaluation of mercury deposition

Heavy metals,one of the most toxic classes of pollutants,are resistant to degradation and harmful to the biological environment.The lakes that have developed on the Tibetan Plateau are ideal regions to investigate historic heavy metal pollution,particularly through the use of the reliable 210 Pb dating technique.Environmental magnetism has been successfully applied to estimate heavy metal pollution in different environmental systems due to its characteristics of simple processing steps,good sensitivity,and non-destructibility.However,it has not yet been applied to assess heavy metal pollution in lake sediments on the Tibetan Plateau.A series of environmental magnetic investigations of Qiangyong Co Lake sediments(southern Tibetan Plateau) was therefore conducted to explore the relationship between magnetic minerals and mercury(Hg) concentrations.The results showed that the magnetic mineral species in lake sediments remained stable,with similar levels of four different components from 1899 to 2011.However,the proportion of component 1(C1,hematite) increased continuously with the corresponding decrease in the proportion of C2(goethite),while the proportions of C3 and C4(magnetite) did not change significantly.As a result,the bulk magnetic signals(e.g.,SIRM and clf) were unsuitable for the evaluation of the Hg concentration;however,the proportion of hematite had a strong positive correlation with the Hg concentration.It is possible that the Qiangyong Glacier(the main water supply for Qiangyong Co Lake) has experienced faster melting with global and local warming,and the Hg trapped in cryoconite and ice was released.Hematite,with a large specific surface area,has a strong capacity for absorbing Hg,and both materials are ultimately transported to Qiangyong Co Lake.The proportion of hematite in a sample is therefore a suitable semi-quantitative proxy that can be used to evaluate the Hg concentration in Qiangyong Co Lake sediments.This study confirmed that the variation of magnetic minerals can provide a new method to estimate the variation of Hg concentrations and to study the process of Hg deposition in lakes in the southern Tibetan Plateau on the basis of a detailed environmental magnetic analysis.     

Mineral magnetic and geochemical records of late Glacial climatic change from two northwest European carbonate lakes

We present the results of mineral magnetic measurements and geochemical analyses of late Glacial sediments from two marl-precipitating lakes in the Northwest of England. Mineral magnetic assemblages dominated by detrital and/or authigenic ferrimagnetic minerals, and enhanced delivery of metal elements, characterise a lower (Oldest Dryas) and an upper (Younger Dryas) phase of catchment instability, with detrital clay and silt sedimentation. Magnetic mineral assemblages with lower concentrations of finer ferrimagnetic grains characterise the authigenic carbonate sediments (marls). The marls indicate both enhanced lake productivity and catchment stability in response to prevailing warm conditions during the Bølling - Allerød Interstadial. The Bølling - Allerød marl phase contains two short-term, low amplitude shifts characterised by changes in the concentration and the size of ferrimagnetic grains. These shifts may represent the Older Dryas and the Amphi-Atlantic Oscillation, short-lived Northern hemisphere climatic deteriorations. Overall, the results suggest that marl lakes are sensitive indicators of Lateglacial climatic change, and that these changes are readily identifiable through the use of mineral magnetic measurements.     

山东章丘黄土粒度指示的粉尘堆积过程及古气候意义

山东黄土堆积过程记录了中国东部季风区大气环流的变化信息,对揭示东亚季风变化规律与古气候环境演变具有重要价值。本文采用参数化粒度端元分析方法探讨山东章丘剖面沉积物的沉积特征、沉积动力及其环境意义。结果表明：① 章丘剖面光释光年代（OSL）介于42.24—0.26 ka之间,为晚更新世以来的沉积物。② 章丘剖面沉积物粒度组分分为5个端元,EM1代表成壤作用产生和携带搬运的粘土组分;EM2代表高空西风远距离搬运的细粉砂组分;EM3代表以浮尘形式存在的沉降组分;EM4是该剖面的主要粉尘来源,代表地方风系作用下低空悬浮搬运的粉砂组分;EM5代表以尘暴形式近地悬移搬运的砂粒组分。EM5组分含量变化对冬季风强度变化具有较好的指示意义,并记录了晚更新世以来的气候波动事件。③ 根据各端元组分含量、低频磁化率（χ_lf）、土壤颜色（a^*）等指标,结合OSL结果,有效指示了晚更新世以来章丘剖面沉积环境的阶段性变化,体现了全球气候环境变化的区域响应,但也存在差异性。     

1899—2011年青藏高原南部枪勇错沉积物磁性矿物的环境意义

重金属污染物因具有持久性和难降解性,严重影响生态系统健康。青藏高原湖泊远离人类污染区,是研究人类污染物远端效应的理想区域。基于定年数据,湖泊沉积物可以追踪近百年内的人类污染物变化趋势。环境磁学具有经济、快捷和无损耗的特点,被广泛证实可以有效指示重金属污染;但目前还缺乏对青藏高原湖泊沉积物中的相关环境磁学研究。为此,选取青藏高原南部枪勇错1899—2011年的沉积物,进行系统的环境磁学分析,探讨磁性矿物与重金属Hg的相关关系及环境指示意义。结果表明：1899—2011年磁性矿物的类型没有发生变化,可分为4类组分,其中：组分C1（赤铁矿）占比不断增多,C2（针铁矿）占比相应减少,C3和C4（磁铁矿）的占比基本保持不变。样品的饱和等温剩磁和低频磁化率与Hg含量相关性较低。然而C1组分与Hg含量呈现良好的正相关关系。本文认为在近百年全球和青藏高原气温不断增高的趋势下,枪勇错的主要补给——枪勇冰川融化加速,导致原来被冰川或冰尘封存的人类污染产生的Hg重新释放。在这个过程中,C1（赤铁矿）组分因表面积大而易于富集Hg,最终二者一同随融水进入到枪勇错。本研究表明,环境磁学可以应用于青藏高原南部湖泊的重金属研究,并为揭示Hg在青藏高原南部湖泊中的富集过程提供新的视角。     

准噶尔盆地沙漠沙矿物组成的多源性

对准噶尔盆地87件沙漠沙矿物分析结果进行了研究。通过对比各样区沙丘沙和丘间地下伏沙重矿物组合特征、矿物成分离散度和轻矿物组合中石英/长石比值,查明沙漠沙物源多样性主要表现是:各小区沙物质矿物组合特征因地而异;沙丘沙虽主要由下伏沙经风力改造而成,但二者的上述各参数存在着一定差异,风力"搀杂"的结果使前者比后者具有更广泛的物源。     

Independent measurement of biogenic silica in sediments by FTIR spectroscopy and PLS regression

We present an independent calibration model for the determination of biogenic silica (BSi) in sediments, developed from analysis of synthetic sediment mixtures and application of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRS) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) modeling. In contrast to current FTIRS applications for quantifying BSi, this new calibration is independent from conventional wet-chemical techniques and their associated measurement uncertainties. This approach also removes the need for developing internal calibrations between the two methods for individual sediments records. For the independent calibration, we produced six series of different synthetic sediment mixtures using two purified diatom extracts, with one extract mixed with quartz sand, calcite, 60/40 quartz/calcite and two different natural sediments, and a second extract mixed with one of the natural sediments. A total of 306 samples—51 samples per series—yielded BSi contents ranging from 0 to 100 %. The resulting PLSR calibration model between the FTIR spectral information and the defined BSi concentration of the synthetic sediment mixtures exhibits a strong cross-validated correlation ( \( {\text{R}}^{ 2}_{\text{cv}} \)  = 0.97) and a low root-mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV = 4.7 %). Application of the independent calibration to natural lacustrine and marine sediments yields robust BSi reconstructions. At present, the synthetic mixtures do not include the variation in organic matter that occurs in natural samples, which may explain the somewhat lower prediction accuracy of the calibration model for organic-rich samples.     

长江河口最大浑浊带研究

本文在以前一系列研究的基础上,把长江河口最大浑浊带视作一个系统,对它形成的环境背景、时空变化规律、泥沙来源、絮凝作用对悬沙落淤的影响、浮泥的特性与分布、悬沙的富集机制等进行了较系统的综合分析,并指出了需要深入研究的问题。     

Environmental magnetic and magnetic fabric studies in LakeWaynewood, northeastern Pennsylvania, USA: Evidence for changes inwatershed dynamics

An environmental magnetic and magnetic fabric study of sedimentscollected from Lake Waynewood, a post-glacial lake in the PoconoMountains of Pennsylvania, USA, provided a history of the lake's watersheddynamics over the past 3500 years. Two 5 m long, Mackereth coresof lake sediments and three watershed soil profiles were analyzed magnetically.Paleosecular variation and ¹⁴C measurements allowed timing ofchanges in the lake's watershed which are documented by changes in ARM,SIRM,, S-ratio, SIRM/, ARM/ and ARM/SIRMdowncore. Prior to 2900 years BP, there is little evidence for allogenicinflux. Dramatic changes in mineral magnetic properties and a strong AARmagnetic fabric appear approximately 2900 years BP, suggesting major changes inwatershed conditions, either in the hydrologic regime or in vegetative cover.Between 2900 and 1800 yrs BP, large variations in magnetic mineralogy areapparent, whereas about 1800 years BP, a single sediment source began todominate the magnetic mineralogy. About 100–200 years ago, conditionsagain changed, probably due to clearcutting and settlement of the watershed.Topsoil erosion appears to have dominated the magnetic signal. S and Mnconcentration downcore indicate that there is little evidence for reductiondiagenesis having caused the changes observed in magnetic mineral type andconcentration, except in the top 10 centimeters of the sediment column.     

Forward modelling of direct current and low-frequency electromagnetic fields using integral equations

We present a semi-analytical, unifying approach for modelling the electromagnetic response of 3-D bodies excited by low-frequency electric and magnetic sources. We write the electric and magnetic fields in terms of power series of angular frequency, and show that to obey Maxwell's equations, the fields must be real when the exponent is even, and imaginary when it is odd. This leads to the result that the scattering equations for direct current fields and for fields proportional to frequency can both be explicitly formulated using a single, real dyadic Green's function. Although the underground current flow in each case is due to different physical phenomena, the interaction of the scattering currents is of the same type in both cases. This implies that direct current resistivity, magnetometric resistivity and electric and magnetic measurements at low induction numbers can all be modelled in parallel using basically the same algorithm. We make a systematic derivation of the quantities required and show that for these cases they can all be expressed analytically. The problem is finally formulated as the solution of a system of linear equations. The matrix of the system is real and does not depend on the type of source or receiver. We present modelling results for different arrays and apply the algorithm to the interpretation of field data. We assume the standard dipoledipole resistivity array for the direct current case, and vertical and horizontal magnetic dipoles for induction measurements. In the case of magnetometric resistivity we introduce a moving array composed of an electric dipole and a directional magnetometer. The array has multiple separations for depth discrimination and can operate in two modes. The mode where the predominant current flow runs along the profile is called MMR-TM. This mode is more sensitive to lateral variations in resistivity than its counterpart, MMR-TE, where the mode of conduction is predominantly perpendicular to the profile.     

Origin and significance of diagenetic concretions in sediments of Laguna Potrok Aike, southern Argentina

Authigenic minerals can form in the water column and sediments of lakes, either abiotically or mediated by biological activity. Such minerals have been used as paleosalinity and paleoproductivity indicators and reflect trophic state and early diagenetic conditions. They are also considered potential indicators of past and perhaps ongoing microbial activity within sediments. Authigenic concretions, including vivianite, were described in late glacial sediments of Laguna Potrok Aike, a maar lake in southernmost Argentina. Occurrence of iron phosphate implies specific phosphorus sorption behavior and a reducing environment, with methane present. Because organic matter content in these sediments was generally low during glacial times, there must have been alternative sources of phosphorus and biogenic methane. Identifying these sources can help define past trophic state of the lake and diagenetic processes in the sediments. We used scanning electron microscopy, phosphorus speciation in bulk sediment, pore water analyses, in situ ATP measurements, microbial cell counts, and measurements of methane content and its carbon isotope composition (δ¹³C_CH4) to identify components of and processes in the sediment. The multiple approaches indicated that volcanic materials in the catchment are important suppliers of iron, sulfur and phosphorus. These elements influence primary productivity and play a role in microbial metabolism during early diagenesis. Authigenic processes led to the formation of pyrite framboids and revealed sulfate reduction. Anaerobic oxidation of methane and shifts in pore water ion concentration indicated microbial influence with depth. This study documents the presence of active microbes within the sediments and their relationship to changing environmental conditions. It also illustrates the substantial role played by microbes in the formation of Laguna Potrok Aike concretions. Thus, authigenic minerals can be used as biosignatures in these late Pleistocene maar sediments.     

A partial susceptibility approach to analysing the magnetic properties of environmental materials: a case study

An approach to expressing the magnetic properties of environmental materials in terms of the contributions of the magnetic susceptibilities of specific magnetic components is reported. The approach links the partial susceptibilities of discrete particles, domains or mineral fractions with the concentration-dependent parameters by means of multiple linear regression methods. The case study, using the Liverpool street dust data set, demonstrates that the technique is able to model the contributions of the main magnetic components satisfactorily. Several factors may have a significant impact on the regression results. These include the validity of the linear proportional relationships between partial susceptibilities and the relevant concentration-dependent parameters, the adequacy of the variable selection procedure and the regression model, and the suitability of certain magnetic parameters.