Magnetic Susceptibility and Heavy Metal Content of Sediments in the Upstream Citarik River Kartika Hajar Kirana(1,2)*, Rifky Darmawan(1), Mileani Shafaria(1), Dini Fitriani(1,2), Eleonora Agustine(1,2), Yudi Rosandi(1)
(1)Department of Geophysics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Ir. Soekarno Km. 21, Jatinangor 45363, Indonesia
(2)Centre of Citarum Research, Jl. Dipatiukur No. 46 Bandung, Indonesia
Abstract
The Citarik River is one of the Citarum sub-watersheds that originates in the Kareumbi Masigit Forest Conservation Area, Sumedang Regency. The number of human activities around the upstream Citarik River can affect the quality of water and sediment. To identify the anthropogenic effect, we conducted measurements of common parameters to determine water and sediment quality, namely EC (Electrical Conductivity), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), and pH. Thus, to analyze the characteristics of sediment, we used magnetic susceptibility measurements, heavy metal content tests, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X Ray Spectroscopy (EDS) tests. The results showed that the hydrological parameter values of sediment were still at a predetermined threshold except for pH at several locations. The results of low frequency magnetic susceptibility around (1308.696 to 3071.020) x 10-8 m3/kg while the frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility values around (0.955 to 2.405)%. Those values have a negative correlation which indicates that the sediment sample has been affected by anthropogenic materials. This is supported by heavy metal test results where almost all elements pass the specified threshold. Furthermore, there is a positive correlation between magnetic susceptibility and heavy metals originating from human activities and the results of the SEM and EDS test indicate the presence of a mineral with a spherule shape where the mineral with that shape is a mineral from anthropogenic activity.
Keywords: Citarik River- magnetic susceptibility- heavy metal- anthropogenic
