The hypothesis that the ratio of detrital remanent magnetization to anhysteretic remanent magnetization (DRM/ARM) for sediment samples is a measure of relative geomagnetic paleointensity is critically evaluated by two distinct approaches. One approach is a detailed rock-magnetic examination of the implicit assumptions of the DRM/ARM method and the construction of a selection process by which to identify sediments that conform to requirements satisfying these assumptions. Sediments are ''uniform'' with respect to DRM/ARM ratio if they contain magnetite in the 1-15 μ particle size range as the predominant magnetic mineral and have variations in magnetite content of less than 20--30 timmes the minimum concentration. The DRM/ARM ratios of these sediments should provide estimates of relative geomagnetic paleointensity. Relative particle size variations in magnetite are detected with a plot of anhysteretic susceptibility (&khgr;ARM) versus low-field susceptibility (&khgr;) and the size range ~1-15 μm is approximately identified by high-field hysteresis parameters. A rock-magnetic evaluation of LeBoeuf Lake sediments with these techniques indicates that these sediments are suitable for a relative plaeointensity study. The second approach to evaluating the DRM/ARM ratio as a measure of relative paleointensity is direct comparison with absolute paleintensity data. A comparison between the LeBoeuf Lake estimates and Thellier-Thellier results from the western United States supports the conclusion that suitable sediments can record geomagnetic paleointensity fluctuations.