Laboratory and field studies in the use of the isotope59 fe for tracing soil particle movement

Radioactive ⁵⁹Fe is considered to be one of the most satisfactory isotopes for tracing soil particle movement. Laboratory techniques of labelling and their success are investigated along with the scintillation technique of radiation detection. Following the completion of a field pilot study ⁵⁹Fe-labelled soils were exposed on both vegetated and burnt heather moorland on the North York Moors to monitor relative soil movement.