Research Methods Paper A Quick and Inexpensive Sample Preparation Method for AMS Microfabric Analysis in Fine-Grained Sediment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Unless disturbed by postdepositional processes, sedimentary grain fabric reflects the physical conditions at the time of sediment deposition. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility, or AMS, is a sophisticated yet simple method for measuring grain fabric. In most cases this technique requires a self-supporting, right-cylindrical sample, and as a result unlithified sediment needs first to be lithified. Generally this is done with expensive, time-consuming resin impregnation procedures. In consolidated, mud-rich, clast-poor sediment, however, a new technique of cyclical steaming and (steam) soaking proved to be highly effective in softening the sediment sample enough so that it could be cored for AMS-sample preparation. Using this new method, samples were prepared in about 90% less time and for only 10% of the cost of standard impregnation techniques.