Magnetic properties of Quaternary deposits, 

Kenai Peninsula, Alaska – Implications for 

aeromagnetic anomalies of upper Cook Inlet 

By R.W. Saltus1 and P.J. Haeussler2 

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not 

imply endorsement by the U.S. Government 

Open-File Report 2004-1202 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

U.S. Geological Survey 

1

U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 

2

U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, Alaska 

i 
Abstract 

We measured magnetic susceptibilities of exposed Quaternary deposits on several beach 

cliffs and river banks on the Kenai Peninsula near Soldotna, Alaska. Data, descriptions, and photos 

from nine sites are included in this report. The mean susceptibility for Quaternary materials in this 

region is approximately 2.5 x 10-3 SI units. This is sufficiently magnetic to produce subtle 

aeromagnetic anomalies such as those observed to correlate with topographic features in the region 

of the measurements. The highest susceptibilities measured (greater than 20 x 10-3 SI units) may 

help, at least in part, to explain moderate amplitude aeromagnetic anomalies observed elsewhere in 

Cook Inlet, particularly those relating to structures showing Quaternary movement. Comparison of 

measured beach cliff susceptibility and susceptibility predicted from idealized formulas and twodimensional cliff models suggests that measured susceptibilies underestimate true bulk 

susceptibility by 20 percent to 50 percent in this region. 

ii 
Contents 

Abstract ............................................................................................................................................... ii 

Contents ............................................................................................................................................. iii 

Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 1 

Magnetic susceptibility data summary................................................................................................ 5 

Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 11 

Conclusions....................................................................................................................................... 17 

References......................................................................................................................................... 17 

Appendix: Site data........................................................................................................................... 18 

Site: 03RS001 ............................................................................................................................... 18 

Site: 03RS002 ............................................................................................................................... 19 

Site: 03RS003 ............................................................................................................................... 20 

Site: 03RS004 ............................................................................................................................... 21 

Site: 03RS005 ............................................................................................................................... 22 

Site: 03RS006 ............................................................................................................................... 23 

Site: 03RS007 ............................................................................................................................... 24 

Site: 03RS008 ............................................................................................................................... 25 

Site: 03RS009 ............................................................................................................................... 26 

iii 
iv
Magnetic properties of Quaternary deposits, 

Kenai Peninsula, Alaska – Implications for 

aeromagnetic anomalies of upper Cook Inlet 

By R.W. Saltus1and P.J. Haeussler2 

Introduction 

Detailed aeromagnetic surveys of the upper Cook Inlet (Saltus and others, 2001) show 

extensive short-wavelength features caused by variations in magnetic properties of surface or nearsurface Earth materials. A previous report (Altstatt and others, 2002) presented measurements of 

magnetic susceptibility for many of the rock units exposed in the upper Cook Inlet. However, 

Quaternary materials were not measured for that report. It is important to characterize the magnetic 

properties of the Quaternary section because it may contribute significantly to the shallow-source 

(high-frequency) aeromagnetic anomalies in the region. In this report we provide and discuss 471 

spot measurements of magnetic susceptibility made on the Quaternary section exposed in the beach 

cliffs near Nikishka and a river bank and gravel bar in the Kenai River near Soldotna, Alaska 

(figures 1-3). The procedures and equipment used are the same as those discussed in a previous 

report (Altstatt and others, 2002). A hand-held susceptibility meter (Kappameter KT-6, produced 

by Geofyzika, a.s.) was used to make the measurements. In general, the Quaternary cliff deposits 

are poorly consolidated and it was possible to push the reading face of the susceptibility meter 

firmly against the sandy material. This reduces the chances that surface roughness produces low 

apparent susceptibility values. In addition to reporting the field measurements, we discuss their 

implications for the interpretation of shallow-source aeromagnetic anomalies in the region. 

1
Figure 1. Field sites near Nikishka and Soldotna, Alaska. Red dots indicate sample 

locations. Base map from USGS 1:250,000 Kenai Quadrangle. 

2
Figure 2. Red dots indicate field sites 1-7 near Nikishka, Alaska. Base map is from Kenai 

(C-4) NW at 1:25,000. Note that site 1 is located south of the map area. 

3 
Figure 3. Red dots indicate field sites 8 and 9 near Soldotna, Alaska. Base map is from 

USGS 1:25,000 map Kenai (C3) SW. At time of measurement, site 8 was adjacent to an 

active branch of the Kenai River. Site 9 is on a gravel bar adjacent to an island. 

4 
Magnetic susceptibility data summary 

Details of the magnetic susceptibility measurements conducted at nine field sites (figures 1­

3) are given in the Appendix. Sites 1-7 are along the Salamatof Beach near Nikishka, Alaska. 

Sites 8 and 9 are along the Kenai River near Soldotna, Alaska. A summary plot (figure 4) depicts 

the data distribution. A non-parametric statistical comparison of the susceptibility measurements 

from these nine sites (Tukey multiple comparison based on Kruskal-Wallis H values – table 1) 

suggests that data from all sites except 5 and 9 are probably part of the same statistical distribution. 

In other words, there is no reason statistically to consider any of these sites to be unique – they all 

represent samples of the same materials. Based on this result, data from all sites except 5 and 9 

were analyzed together to characterize the Quaternary section as given in table 2, summarized and 

displayed in figure 5. 

5
Figure 4. Box and whisker plot of measured susceptibilities from nine data sites. 

6
Table 1. Kruskal-Wallis test of data populations. 

WINKS 4.62 November 10,2003 

Non-Parametric Independent Group Comparison 

KENAI03.DBF 

 Results of Non-Parametric analysis: 

Group variable = SITE Observation variable = LOGK 

Kruskal-Wallis H = 102.63 

 P-value for H estimated by Chi-Square with 8 degrees of freedom. 

 Chi-Square = 102.6 with 8 D.F. p < 0.001 

 Rank sum group 1 = 8777.5 N = 34 Mean Rank = 258.16

 Rank sum group 2 = 32330.5 N = 141 Mean Rank = 229.29

 Rank sum group 3 = 5095.5 N = 21 Mean Rank = 242.64

 Rank sum group 4 = 3026.5 N = 10 Mean Rank = 302.65

 Rank sum group 5 = 9214.5 N = 23 Mean Rank = 400.63

 Rank sum group 6 = 6051.5 N = 27 Mean Rank = 224.13

 Rank sum group 7 = 7718. N = 31 Mean Rank = 248.97

 Rank sum group 8 = 25814.5 N = 118 Mean Rank = 218.77

 Rank sum group 9 = 3897.5 N = 46 Mean Rank = 84.73 

7
 Critical q 

Tukey Multiple Comp. Difference Q (.05) 

 Rank(5)-Rank(9) = 315.9022 9.491 3.197 * 

(SE used = 33.2842) 

 Rank(5)-Rank(8) = 181.8635 6.122 3.197 * 

(SE used = 29.7072) 

 Rank(5)-Rank(6) = 176.5008 4.773 3.197 * 

(SE used = 36.9824) 

 Rank(5)-Rank(2) = 171.3361 5.846 3.197 * 

(SE used = 29.3093) 

 Rank(5)-Rank(3) = 157.9876 4.016 3.197 * 

(SE used = 39.3377) 

 Rank(5)-Rank(7) = 151.6627 4.228 3.197 * 

(SE used = 35.8681) 

 Rank(5)-Rank(1) = 142.4687 4.049 3.197 * 

(SE used = 35.1877) 

 Rank(5)-Rank(4) = 97.9804 1.985 3.197 

(SE used = 49.3685) 

 Rank(4)-Rank(9) = 217.9217 4.792 3.197 * 

(SE used = 45.4749) 

 Rank(4)-Rank(8) = 83.883 1.954 3.197 

(SE used = 42.926) 

 Rank(4)-Rank(6) = 78.5204 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 48.2476) 

 Rank(4)-Rank(2) = 73.3557 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 42.6516) 

 Rank(4)-Rank(3) = 60.0071 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 50.0758) 

 Rank(4)-Rank(7) = 53.6823 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 47.3988) 

 Rank(4)-Rank(1) = 44.4882 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 46.886) 

 Rank(1)-Rank(9) = 173.4335 5.884 3.197 * 

(SE used = 29.477) 

 Rank(1)-Rank(8) = 39.3948 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 25.3687) 

 Rank(1)-Rank(6) = 34.0322 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 33.597) 

 Rank(1)-Rank(2) = 28.8674 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 24.9016) 

 Rank(1)-Rank(3) = 15.5189 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 36.1733) 

 Rank(1)-Rank(7) = 9.194 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 32.3663) 

 Rank(7)-Rank(9) = 164.2395 5.423 3.197 * 

(SE used = 30.286) 

 Rank(7)-Rank(8) = 30.2008 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 26.3044) 

 Rank(7)-Rank(6) = 24.8381 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 34.309) 

 Rank(7)-Rank(2) = 19.6734 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 25.8542) 

 Rank(7)-Rank(3) = 6.3249 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 36.8356) 

 Rank(3)-Rank(9) = 157.9146 4.601 3.197 * 

(SE used = 34.3246) 

 Rank(3)-Rank(8) = 23.8759 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 30.8683) 8 Rank(3)-Rank(6) = 18.5132 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 37.9215) 

 Rank(3)-Rank(2) = 13.3485 (Do not test) 

(SE used = 30 4856) 
------

--------------------- 

--- 

Homogeneous Populations, groups ranked 

Gp Gp Gp Gp Gp Gp Gp Gp Gp 

9 8 6 2 3 7 1 4 5 

 This is a graphical representation of the Tukey multiple comparisons 

 test. At the 0.05 significance level, the means of any two groups 

underscored by the same line are not significantly different. 

Table 2. Detailed statistics on susceptibility measurements from sites 1-4 and 6-8. 

Descriptive Statistics 

Variable Name is K 

N = 382 Missing or Deleted = 0 

 Mean = 2.52872 St. Dev (n-1) = 4.76264 

 Median = 1.40 St. Dev (n) = 4.7564 

 Minimum = 0.00 S.E.M. = 0.24368 

 Maximum = 39.70 Variance = 22.68272 

 Sum = 965.97 Coef. Var. = 1.88342 

 Percentiles: Tukey Five Number Summary: 

0.0% = 0.00 Minimum Minimum = 0.00 

0.5% = 0.02745 Fourth = 0.41 

2.5% = 0.12 Median = 1.40 

10.0% = 0.193 Fourth = 2.35 

25.0% = 0.4075 Quartile Maximum = 39.70 

50.0% = 1.40 Median 

75.0% = 2.3525 Quartile 

90.0% = 4.31 

97.5% = 15.6275 

99.5% = 36.77201 Test for normality results: 

100.0% = 39.70 Maximum D = .298 p <= 0.001 

 Confidence Intervals about the mean: 

80 % C.I. based on a t critical value of 1.2816 is (2.21642, 2.84101) 

90 % C.I. based on a t critical value of 1.6449 is (2.12789, 2.92954) 

95 % C.I. based on a t critical value of 1.96 is (2.05111, 3.00633) 

98 % C.I. based on a t critical value of 2.3263 is (1.96185, 3.09558) 

99 % C.I. based on a t critical value of 2.5758 is (1.90105, 3.15638)

 The normality test suggests that the data are not normally distributed. 

9 
Figure 5. Data distribution display for measured susceptibility values at sites 1-4 and 6-8. 

Site 5 has mean and median susceptibility values that are significantly higher than the 

combined data from sites 1-4 and 6-8 (see Appendix, site 5 mean = 8.82 x 10-3 SI, median = 4.69 x 

10-3 SI). At this field location significant orange staining was observed and orange-stained sand 

yielded measured susceptibilities to 15 x 10-3 SI. Several serpentinite boulders (susceptibilities to 

greater than 50 x 10-3 SI) were also present at this location. It appears that some form of 

geochemical alteration may be concentrating magnetic minerals at this site. 

Site 9 has mean and median susceptibility values that are significantly lower than the 

combined data from sites 1-4 and 6-8 (see Appendix, site 9 mean = 0.75 x 10-3 SI, median = 0.20 x 

10-3 SI). This field site is geologically distinct from the other sites. The susceptibilities are 

10
measured on river cobbles rather than sandy cliffs or riverbank. The river cobbles are 

predominantly non-magnetic greywacke eroded from the Chugach accretionary complex to the east 

of the study area. Five high value outliers (see figure 4) of the 46 measurements appeared to be 

plutonic rocks. The low measured susceptibility of Chugach accretionary rocks indicates that the 

magnetic Quaternary section is not primarily derived from those rocks. 

Discussion 

Numerous short-wavelength, linear magnetic anomalies are observed in the detailed 

aeromagnetic surveys over the upper Cook Inlet (Saltus and others, 2001). In particular, some 

short-wavelength aeromagnetic low/high pairs correlate with topographic features such as beach 

cliffs (figure 6). In the Salamatof Beach area, these anomalies have total amplitudes (trough to 

peak) of 4 to 21 nT and wavelengths of about 500 m (figures 6 and 7, table 3). Using an 

approximate formula for calculating the magnetic effect of a thin sheet (Nettleton, 1976), we can 

say that the total magnetic anomaly (V) is related to the magnetic intensity of the cliff (I), the 

height of the cliff (t), and the height of measurement (flight height above the center of the cliff, z) 

by 

V = 2It/z 

The magnetic intensity of the cliff is a product of the amplitude of the Earth’s magnetic 

field (about 55,250 nT in this part of Alaska) and the magnetic susceptibility of the cliff. Using 

these relations, we can estimate the apparent susceptibility of the cliff from the anomalies observed 

on aeromagnetic profiles crossing the cliff (table 3). Only the labeled anomalies were used for 

these calculations. The high amplitude features on the intervening profiles are probably caused by 

11
man-made objects, such as the dock and industrial facilities, that are located between profiles e and 

f (figure 6). 

The calculated apparent susceptibilities range from 1.46 x 10-3 to 9.9 x 10-3 SI for these 

cliff-crossing profiles, with a mean value of 4.77 x 10-3 SI. This mean value is about twice the 

mean value for the Quaternary section as measured in situ (2.53 x 10-3 SI, figure 5), but is well 

within the standard deviation of ±4.72 x 10-3 SI for this overall Quaternary section mean (figure 5). 

From this comparison, it appears that, in general, measured susceptibilities are systematically lower 

than values required to explain the cliff anomalies by up to 50 percent. 

12
Figure 6. Aeromagnetic data profiles crossing the beach cliffs near Nikishka, Alaska. 

Magenta lines: aeromagnetic flight path; black lines: filtered aeromagnetic amplitude 

profiles. Numbered circles are susceptibility measurement sites. 

13 
Figure 7. Residual aeromagnetic anomalies surrounding the Nikishka, Alaska, region. 

Black lines outline coasts. Brown lines are roadways. Circles show susceptibility 

measurement sites. 

 Aeromagnetic profile “a” (figure 6) crosses the beach cliff at susceptibility measurement 

site 2. A detailed, two-dimensional model (figure 8) compares two calculated anomalies with the 

observed magnetic profile. A model susceptibility of 3.7 x 10-3 SI provides the best match to the 

anomaly amplitude. If we use the mean measured susceptibility for this site (3.0 x 10-3 SI), then we 

only predict about 80 percent of the full anomaly. For this detailed comparison we find, therefore, 

that measured susceptibilities are about 20 percent too low to explain the observed anomaly. The 

14
detailed model susceptibility of 3.7 x 10-3 SI agrees well with the idealized model susceptibility 

calculation for this profile (table 3). 

Table 3. Apparent susceptibilities from aeromagnetic profiles that cross over beach cliffs 

in the Salamatof to East Foreland region, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. 

Observed anomaly vs cliff height, Salamatof to East Foreland, Kenai Peninsula, 

Alaska 

Profile Anomaly (nT) Cliff (m) Flight Height (ft) Calc K (SIx10-3) 

L41590 (a) 8.9 30 413 3.74 

L41580 (b) 8.2 30 503 4.30 

L41560 (c) 4.04 35 422 1.46 

L41550 (d) 8.03 30 478 3.98 

L41540 (e) 18.67 30 508 9.90 

L41490 (f) 12.73 25 536 8.74 

L41480 (g) 17.42 45 473 5.36 

L41470 (h) 20.81 60 440 4.11 

L41460 (I) 5.7 50 488 1.60 

L41450 (j) 15.52 55 553 4.53 

15
Figure 8. Detailed, two-dimensional anomaly calculation model along cliff profile “a”. 

Taken together, the field and profile evidence is consistent with bulk susceptibilities of the 

Quaternary section, at least locally, reaching and possibly exceeding 5 x 10-3 SI. Particularly for 

shallow-sourced (generally short-wavelength) aeromagnetic anomalies, materials with these 

susceptibilities could represent a significant source of observed anomalies of amplitudes up to 

about 20 nT on low-level aeromagnetic profiles collected in the upper Cook Inlet. According to 

Glass (1996), the proglacial lake and fluvial deposits in this region reach a maximum thickness of 

about 230 m along the coast north of East Foreland. If we use this value as the maximum thickness 

of an edge feature (a channel cut, for example), deposits with this susceptibility could produce short 

wavelength (less than 1 km) aeromagnetic anomalies of up to about 40 nT (assuming a bulk 

susceptibility of 5 x 10-3 SI for the material juxtaposed against non-magnetic material). 

16
Conclusions 

Magnetic susceptibilities were measured on Quaternary deposits exposed at nine sites near 

Nikishka and Soldotna on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. The overall mean measured susceptibility 

for these Quaternary deposits was 2.53 x 10-3 SI. At one measurement site, the mean susceptibility 

was 8.82 x 10-3 SI. However, this mean included some very high measurements from serpentinite 

boulders and orange staining suggests that geochemical alteration affects the site; the median 

susceptibility at the same site was 4.69 x 10-3 SI. Analysis of low-level aeromagnetic profiles that 

traverse the beach cliffs between Salamatof and East Foreland yields calculated model 

susceptibilities that range from 1.46 to 9.9 x 10-3 SI with a mean of 4.77 x 10-3 SI. The 

measurements and analyses in this report show that, at least locally, Quaternary deposits in the 

upper Cook Inlet are sufficiently magnetic to produce low-level, short-wavelength (generally 

shorter than 1 km) aeromagnetic anomalies with amplitudes up to 10s of nT. Comparison of 

measured and modeled susceptibility values for the beach cliffs suggest that measured 

susceptibilities may underestimate the true bulk susceptibility values by 20 percent to 50 percent. 

References 

Altstatt, A.A., Saltus, R.W., Bruhn, R.L., and Haeussler, P.J., 2002, Magnetic susceptibilities 

measured on rocks of the upper Cook Inlet, Alaska: USGS Open-File Report 02-0139 

[http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/ofr-02-0139/]. 

Glass, R.L., 1996, Ground-water conditions and quality in the western part of Kenai Peninsula, 

southcentral Alaska: USGS Open-file report 96-466, 66 pp. 

Saltus, R.W., Haeussler, P.J., Bracken, R.E., Doucette, J.P., and Jachens, R.C., 2001, Anchorage 

Urban Region Aeromagnetics (AURA) Project – Preliminary Geophysical Results: USGS OpenFile Report 01-0085 [http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2001/ofr-01-0085//] 

17
Appendix: Site data 

Site: 03RS001 

Date: 9 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 37’ 05.8” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 20’ 32.3” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Poorly consolidated beach cliff exposed along Salamatof Beach near Nikishka, Alaska. Beach access just north of 

LNG plant. Measurements 1-20 are in relatively competent layer 3⁄4 way up cliff face made up of gray to orange sand 

with many dark grains (magnetite?). Organic layers (charcoal?) are also present. Pebble layers are also present. 

Measurements 22 to 27 are from a pebbly layer at the top of the cliff that includes granite and slate-gray pebbles to 2”. 

Finally, some measurements were made of the beach sand at the base of the cliff. 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS001 N = 34 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 1.72 0.15 1.43 

MEDIAN 1.77 0.25 1.76 

STD 0.92 0.30 1.99 

MIN 0.23 

MAX 4.04 

Photos:

P8090055 P8090056 P8090057 P8090058 P8090059 P8090060

18 
Site: 03RS002 

Date: 9 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 37’ 42.6” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 20’ 40.1” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Poorly consolidated beach cliff exposed along Salamatof Beach near Nikishka, Alaska. Beach access just north of 

LNG plant. Good exposure of cobbly and fine-grained portion of section. Site is just south of “Crotch Creek” (labeled 

as such in Haeussler unpublished field notes). Lower part of exposed section has cobbles (34 measurements – clast 

sample 03RS002A). Section becomes more fine-grained moving up the cliff (sand/clay – dirt sample 03RS002B). The 

upper cliff is very fine grained with small pebbles and distinct stratification. Measurements were taken on rocks 

exposed on the beach (float) below the cliff site. Lots of big float observed on the beach including bathtub size to fist 

sized rocks including some coarse grained and granitic (sample 03RS002C). 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS002 N = 141 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 2.98 0.04 1.10 

MEDIAN 1.40 0.15 1.40 

STD 6.10 0.61 4.06 

MIN 0.04 

MAX 39.7 

Photos: 

P8090061 P8090062 P8090063 P8090064 P8090065 P8090066 P8090067 P8090068 P8090069 P8090070 P8090071 

P8090072 P8090073 P8090074 

19
Site: 03RS003 

Date: 9 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 38’ 35.6” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 21’ 07.6” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Poorly consolidated beach cliff exposed along Salamatof Beach near Nikishka, Alaska. Beach access just north of 

LNG plant. At “Crotch Creek” – see field notes of Peter Haeussler (1996) for cross-section description. Lower part of 

the section has rounded cobbles with orange staining (highest susceptibilities in black matrix, not on cobbles). Upper 

part of section is very fine, chalky, gray/white material (which has essentially zero susceptibility). 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS003 N = 21 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 1.92 -0.08 0.83 

MEDIAN 1.40 0.15 1.40 

STD 1.63 0.89 7.82 

MIN 0.001 

MAX 5.15 

Photos:

P8090075 P8090076 P8090077 P8090078 P8090079 P8090080 P8090081

20
Site: 03RS004 

Date: 9 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 38’ 44.7” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 21’ 13.9” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Poorly consolidated beach cliff exposed along Salamatof Beach near Nikishka, Alaska. Beach access just north of 

LNG plant. This site is near hanging foundation slab at top of cliff from house undercut by erosion. Part of exposure is 

chalky white layer beneath a cobbly zone. 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS004 N = 10 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 2.05 0.31 2.03 

MEDIAN 2.03 0.31 2.03 

STD 0.28 0.06 1.14 

MIN 1.61 

MAX 2.67 

Photos:

P8090082 P8090083 P8090084 P8090085 P8090086 P8090087

21
Site: 03RS005 

Date: 9 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 38’ 57.3” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 21’ 22.1” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Poorly consolidated beach cliff exposed along Salamatof Beach near Nikishka, Alaska. Beach access just north of 

LNG plant. Dark sand layer and orange-stained sand leaching from bottom of the cliff. Sample taken of magnetic sand 

with in situ susceptibilities up to 15 x 10-3 SI (very magnetic for sand). Serpentinite boulder with susceptibility over 50 

x 10-3 SI measured in the area as well. Susceptibilities at this site statistically higher and distinct from other Q sites 

measured. 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS005 N = 23 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 8.82 0.74 5.43 

MEDIAN 4.69 0.67 4.69 

STD 14.41 0.33 2.14 

MIN 3.08 

MAX 57.6 

Photos:

P8090088 P8090089

22
Site: 03RS006 

Date: 9 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 39’ 08.2” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 21’ 28.9” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Poorly consolidated beach cliff exposed along Salamatof Beach near Nikishka, Alaska. Beach access just north of 

LNG plant. Orange-stained seep and eroded amphitheater. Mixture of cobbly, sandy, and ashy layers. 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS006 N = 27 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 1.43 0.00 1.00 

MEDIAN 1.39 0.14 1.39 

STD 1.12 0.39 2.46 

MIN 0.24 

MAX 3.67 

Photos:

P8090090 P8090091 P8090092 P8090093

23
Site: 03RS007 

Date: 9 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 40’ 15.1” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 22’ 45.8” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Poorly consolidated beach cliff exposed along Salamatof Beach near Nikishka, Alaska. Beach access just north of 

LNG plant. Cliff here is very different from cliff further south. Section is dirt rather than sand/silt/clay. Is this a lake 

deposit? However, it still is as magnetic as the other sites. Also took measurements on beach gravels at site – they are 

less magnetic than the dirt and sand layers. 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS007 N = 31 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 1.63 0.14 1.37 

MEDIAN 1.59 0.20 1.59 

STD 0.81 0.29 1.96 

MIN 0.16 

MAX 3.27 

Photos:

P8090094 P8090095

24
Site: 03RS008 

Date: 10 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 30’ 53.4” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 07’ 23.6” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Poorly consolidated beach cliff exposed along Kenai River near Soldotna. Cliff here is remarkably similar to beach 

cliff at Salamatof Beach. Susceptibility measurements are statistically indistinguishable from most of the Nikishka 

sites. Measurements include cobbles at river’s edge, lower cobbly layer in cliff face, orange-brown to gray sandy 

layers above, cross-bedded sandy layer, an upper sandy layer, and cobbles and rocks at the top of the cliff. 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS008 N = 118 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 2.86 0.03 1.08 

MEDIAN 1.13 0.05 1.13 

STD 5.20 0.59 3.90 

MIN 0.1 

MAX 35 

Photos:

P8100134 P8100135 P8100136 P8100137 P8100138 P8100139 P8100140

25
Site: 03RS009 

Date: 10 August 2003 

Field Programme: Kenai 2003 

Latitude: 60 ̊ 30’ 23.0” 

Longitude: -151 ̊ 06’ 59.5” 

Equipment used: Kappameter K-6 

Observer: Saltus 

Description: 

Gravel bar along Kenai River near Soldotna. Mostly greywacke stones and cobbles with occasional coarse-grained 

igneous rock. 

Geologic Unit: 

Quaternary fluvial and glacial deposits

Measured Susceptibility: 

LINK TO DATA TABLE 

Statistics: 

03RS009 N = 46 

STATS K LOGK 10^LOGK 

MEAN 0.75 -0.64 0.23 

MEDIAN 0.20 -0.70 0.20 

STD 2.07 0.51 3.22 

MIN 0.03 

MAX 11.4 

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