Magnetic Properties of the Continental Shelf Sediments of the South Sea, Korea, and its Implication for Sediment Provenance

Abstract

The mud deposit on the continental shelf of the South Sea of Korea are considered to originate from both Chinese and Korean rivers, mainly based on geochemical tracers, but the provenance is still debated. Magnetic properties of sediments are dominated by fine-grained particles, keeping characteristics of provenance of long-transported sediments. To obtain magnetic proxy parameters and trace provenances, surface sediments of the South Sea were subjected to magnetic measurements. Spatially, sediments showing higher concentration and coarser grain-size of magnetic minerals are distributed west and offshore of the South Sea, while sediments from east and inner shore have magnetic minerals of lower concentration and finer grain-size.re dominated by fine-grained particles, keeping characteristics of provenance of long-transported sediments. To obtain magnetic proxy parameters and trace provenances, surface sediments of the South Sea were subjected to magnetic measurements. Spatially, sediments showing higher concentration and coarser grain-size of magnetic minerals are distributed west and offshore of the South Sea, while sediments from east and inner shore have magnetic minerals of lower concentration and finer grain-size.