Abstract: | Potential magnetic susceptibility (χMAX) and, hence, fractional conversion (χCONV) are shown to be critical in interpreting low‐frequency mass‐specific magnetic susceptibility (χLF) data. Results presented from 29 sites in the UK and one in Hungary encompass six types of investigation: Quaternary sedimentary stratigraphies, archaeological contexts, surveys of old ground surfaces, topsoil surveys of lithic scatter sites, topsoil prospection surveys and ‘natural’ topsoils. The findings highlight the wide range of χMAX values that may be encountered; identify factors affecting χMAX; demonstrate that χCONV provides a measure of enhancement resulting from burning; and identify environments in which χLF analysis is likely to be problematic. |