Analyzing magnetic susceptibility and elemental composition of rocks and soil around Danau Diatas, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

The rocks on the surface of the earth have different formation process, beginning with the lava of volcanic activity that flow on the surface of the earth and then cool down forming igneous rocks. Rocks derived by volcanic eruptions contain different types of minerals than those formed by sedimentary or metamorphic processes. The aim of study was to evaluate the relation of magnetic susceptibility with the elemental composition of rock and soil around the Danau Diatas. Magnetic susceptibility was measured using Bartington susceptibility meter MS2B and the element composition has been measured by X-Ray Fluorescence. The values of magnetic susceptibility of low frequency (χlf) obtained for rock are 2332×10-8 m3/Kg, 2161,7×10-8 m3/Kg, and 2791,6×10-8 m3/Kg, while the values of magnetic susceptibility of low frequency (χlf) obtained for soils are 802,4×10-8 m3/Kg, 779,8×10-8 m3/Kg, and 58,4×10-8 m3/Kg. Rock and soil samples contain several elements such as Fe, Mn and Ti, with Fe having the highest concentration and thus the highest potential influence on their magnetic susceptibility.