CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Asprey, K.W.; and Syvitski, J.P.M.
Date : 1985
Title : Transfer of magnetite from land to sea in Baffin Island fjords
Publication : 14th Arctic Workshop : Arctic land-sea interaction, 6-8 November, 1985, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Issue :
Page(s) : 213-216
Abstract
Determination of the distribution of a single mineral can be a powerful technique to discern sediment sources and transport pathways in closed depositional systems. In 1983, samples were collected from fluvial-deltaic, beach and fjord (water column, prodelta and basin) environments. Details on methodology and primary data are given in Asprey (1984). Magnetite was chosen as a tracer/ indicator mineral because it is ubiquitous to the glacially eroded sediments of Baffin Island and is easily separated from mixtures of other primary minerals. Magnetite is also a heavy mineral (density of 5.18 g/cu cm) and is useful in discerning the placer potential of a particular depositional environment. The magnetic properties of sediment in arctic cores have been determined to provide a temporal component to modern sediment heavy mineral distributions. Magnetic sediment traps were installed at depths of 15 and 35 m in Cambridge and Itirbilung fjords closeto the fjord-head in about 50 m of water. In both cases the flux of magnetite was greatest at depth (001.1 to 002.3 g/day for the deeper traps compared to .00067 to .00092 g/day for the 15 m traps). The flux values are for fall season conditions in 1983 and are expected to be much higher during the spring freshet period. An earlier 1985 field season installation will confirm this hypothesis.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology