img

Wechat

Adv search

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 105-117.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2020.00078

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Elemental compositions of the late Quaternary loess-paleosol on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and their implications for provenance

Fangming Zeng1(), Hongpan Xue1,2   

  1. 1.Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Lake Resources / Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Geology and Environment of Salt Lakes,Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Xining 810008,China
    2.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
  • Received:2020-05-08 Revised:2020-07-24 Online:2020-12-09 Published:2020-12-09

Abstract:

Late Quaternary loess-paleosol deposits on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (NE QTP) recorded information of environmental changes in this area. Previous studies have been carried out on their source area. However, due to the insufficient space coverage of samples in previous studies, this issue still needs further study. We collected samples of loess-paleosol, eolian sands, fluvial sediments and lacustrine deposits on the NE QTP. Chemical compositions of these samples (less than 75 μm fraction) were determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. The results show that: (1) The chemical composition of the late Quaternary loess-paleosol on the NE QTP is mainly composed of SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and CaO; compared with the composition of UCC (upper continental crust), the late Quaternary loess-paleosol on the NE QTP has higher CaO and MgO content, lower Na2O and K2O content. (2) K2O/Al2O3 (molar ratio), TiO2/Al2O3 (molar ratio), Zr/Nb and Zr/Ti ratios show that the source area of the late Quaternary loess-paleosol in the Qinghai Lake area on the NE QTP is different from that of the fluvial sediments and lacustrine sediments in this area, indicating that the loess-paleosol in the Qinghai Lake area is probably from a region far away from the Qinghai Lake area. (3) K2O/Al2O3 (molar ratio), TiO2/Al2O3 (molar ratio), Zr/Nb and Zr/Ti ratios show that the late Quaternary loess-paleosol on the NE QTP and the eolian sand, fluvial sediments and lacustrine deposits in the Qaidam Basin cannot be distinguished, indicating that the weathered detrital material in the Qaidam Basin is likely to provide substantial material for loess-paleosol on the NE QTP under the influence of the near-surface northwest wind and the Westerly circulation.

Key words: loess, paleosol, elemental geochemistry, provenance, northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

CLC Number: