Production and Transport of Soil and Sediments, Determined by Cosmogenic Radionuclides and Noble Gases

Basic questions concerning Australia's soil and regolith resources are addressed through measurement of nuclides produced by cosmic rays in near-surface minerals. Cosmogenic Be-10, Ne-21 and Al-26 are used to (i) quantify the sustainable levels of soil loss, (ii) assess long-term mixing rates, (iii) quantify dispersion and flux of regolith materials from hill-slopes to rivers, and (iv) determine the rates of sediment movement through Australian rivers and floodplains, including sediment-adsorbed pollutants. The research has strong implications for the usage and conservation of soil, sediments and weathered deposits for agriculture, mineral resources, and sedimentary waste disposal.