Magnetic Susceptibility and Heavy Metals in Guano from South Sulawesi Caves

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering Vol. 335; no. 1; pp. 12001 - 12007
• Main Authors: Rifai, H, Putra, R, Fadila, M R, Erni, E, Wurster, C M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.04.2018
• Subjects: Caves; Dung; Heavy metals; Iron; Magnetic domains; Magnetic methods; Magnetic permeability; Magnetic properties; Magnetism; Minerals; Nondestructive testing; Sulawesi
• ISSN: 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/335/1/012001

Measurement of some magnetic properties have been performed on vertical profile from South Sulawesi caves (Mampu and Bubau) by using low cost, rapid, sensitive and non destructive magnetic method. The aim is to attempt to use magnetic characters as a fingerprint for anthropogenic pollution in the caves. Guano samples were collected every 5 cm at a certain section of Mampu and Bubau cave, South Sulawesi, starting from surface through 300 cm in depth of mampu Cave and 30 cm of Bubau Cave. The magnetic parameters such as magnetic susceptibility and percentage frequency dependence susceptibility were measured using the Bartington MS2-MS2B instruments and supported by X-Ray Fluoroscence (XRF) to know their element composition. The results show that the samples had variations in magnetic susceptibility from 3.5 to 242.6 x 10−8 m3/kg for Mampu Cave and from 8.6 to 106.5 x 10−8 m3/kg for Bubau Cave and also magnetic domain. Then, the XRF results show that the caves contain several heavy metals. Magnetic and heavy metal analyses showing that the magnetic minerals in caves are lithogenic (Fe-bearing minerals) in origin and anthropogenic (Zn content) in the caves.