Extremely high demands for measurement accuracy in precise determination of frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility of rocks and soils

Frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility, which is an important tool for environmental and palaeoclimatologic research, is usually relatively low, mostly less than 15% of the low frequency value and there is a demand for high precision of its measurement. The accuracy required for the susceptibility measurement at individual operating frequencies for precise determination of the parameter characterizing the frequency-dependent susceptibility was investigated theoretically and also experimentally through repeated measurement of artificial specimens and sediments of a loess/palaeosol sequence using the MFK1 Kappabridge. It was found that the variation in the frequency-dependence in the order of 1% is well reproducible and the measurements can be interpreted in terms of magnetic granulometry even in weakly magnetic materials.