Characteristics of surface sediments at the tops of climbing dunes in northwestern arid region of China

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00146

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 95-103.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00146

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Characteristics of surface sediments at the tops of climbing dunes in northwestern arid region of China

Huagang Zhao(), Xiaoxu Wang, Jiaqi Chu, Yating Gao, Wenjie Yuan, Ping Yan()

Faculty of Geographical Science，Beijing Normal University，Beijing 100875，China

Received:2025-03-17 Revised:2025-05-19 Online:2026-03-20 Published:2026-04-13
Contact: Ping Yan

Abstract

Abstract:

Climbing dunes represent a unique and significant landform in aeolian geomorphology research. This study focused on the surface deposits at the tops of typical climbing dunes in the Yabrai Mountains and Mazar Tagh Mountains in China's Northwestern arid region. Through analysis of grain size characteristics， geochemical elemental composition， and chemical weathering indices， this research reveals the spatial differentiation patterns and formation mechanisms of surface sediments. Results indicate：（1） Surface sedimentary characteristics at the tops of climbing dunes in the two regions show significant differences. In the Yabrai region， surface sediments are dominated by medium and fine sand， exhibiting a distribution pattern that coarsens from the windward slope to the crest and then fines toward the leeward slope. In contrast， the Mazar Tagh region's surface sediments are primarily very fine sand， displaying a pattern that first fines and then coarsens from the windward slope through the crest to the leeward slope. These differences are mainly controlled by local topographic modifications to airflow structure. （2） The contact morphology between climbing dune tops and mountain bodies is closely related to local airflow structure. （3） Geochemical analysis shows relative enrichment of SiO₂ and Na₂O in the Yabrai region， while CaO is significantly enriched in the Mazar Tagh region. The differential enrichment of trace elements further confirms significant differences in sediment sources between the two regions. Chemical weathering indices indicate both regions are in a low weathering stage， with Na/K and Rb/Sr ratios suggesting stronger weathering processes in the Yabrai region， potentially reflecting a more complex environmental history in its sand source or transport pathway.

Key words: climbing dunes, grain size characteristics, geochemical elements, chemical weathering indices

CLC Number:

S288

Huagang Zhao, Xiaoxu Wang, Jiaqi Chu, Yating Gao, Wenjie Yuan, Ping Yan. Characteristics of surface sediments at the tops of climbing dunes in northwestern arid region of China[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(2): 95-103.

Figures/Tables 8

References 45

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沙丘编号	含量/%
沙丘编号	黏粒（<0.002 mm）	粉砂（0.002~0.063 mm）	极细砂（0.063~0.125 mm）	细砂（0.125~0.25 mm）	中砂（0.25~0.5 mm）	粗砂（0.5~1 mm）	极粗砂（1~2 mm）
YBL-1	0.00	0.18	3.81	47.36	46.70	1.96	0.00
YBL-2	0.00	0.47	4.31	34.22	57.41	3.59	0.00
MZTG-1	0.01	5.23	45.47	42.54	6.76	0.00	0.00

沙丘编号	含量/%
沙丘编号	黏粒（<0.002 mm）	粉砂（0.002~0.063 mm）	极细砂（0.063~0.125 mm）	细砂（0.125~0.25 mm）	中砂（0.25~0.5 mm）	粗砂（0.5~1 mm）	极粗砂（1~2 mm）
YBL-1	0.00	0.18	3.81	47.36	46.70	1.96	0.00
YBL-2	0.00	0.47	4.31	34.22	57.41	3.59	0.00
MZTG-1	0.01	5.23	45.47	42.54	6.76	0.00	0.00

沙丘编号	参数	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	Fe₂O₃	MgO	CaO	Na₂O	K₂O
YBL-1	变化范围	80.14~87.18	6.52~9.18	1.26~2.92	0.65~1.40	0.80~2.07	1.82~2.42	1.66~2.17
YBL-1	均值	83.53	8.04	2.08	0.99	1.30	2.11	1.94
YBL-2	变化范围	82.06~87.12	6.43~8.76	1.30~2.46	0.61~1.20	0.80~1.35	1.79~2.14	1.62~2.09
YBL-2	均值	85.46	7.25	1.65	0.82	1.03	1.93	1.85
MZTG-1	变化范围	65.55~74.87	10.17~11.40	2.32~3.78	1.56~2.78	5.34~11.74	2.66~3.11	2.25~2.68
MZTG-1	均值	70.20	10.83	3.05	2.07	8.55	2.82	2.48
黄土	均值	66.40	14.20	4.81	2.29	1.02	1.66	3.01
古土壤	均值	65.18	14.79	5.12	2.21	0.83	1.41	3.15
UCC	均值	66.00	15.20	5.00	2.20	4.20	3.90	3.40
PAAS	均值	62.80	18.90	7.22	2.20	1.30	1.20	3.70

沙丘编号	参数	SiO₂	Al₂O₃	Fe₂O₃	MgO	CaO	Na₂O	K₂O
YBL-1	变化范围	80.14~87.18	6.52~9.18	1.26~2.92	0.65~1.40	0.80~2.07	1.82~2.42	1.66~2.17
YBL-1	均值	83.53	8.04	2.08	0.99	1.30	2.11	1.94
YBL-2	变化范围	82.06~87.12	6.43~8.76	1.30~2.46	0.61~1.20	0.80~1.35	1.79~2.14	1.62~2.09
YBL-2	均值	85.46	7.25	1.65	0.82	1.03	1.93	1.85
MZTG-1	变化范围	65.55~74.87	10.17~11.40	2.32~3.78	1.56~2.78	5.34~11.74	2.66~3.11	2.25~2.68
MZTG-1	均值	70.20	10.83	3.05	2.07	8.55	2.82	2.48
黄土	均值	66.40	14.20	4.81	2.29	1.02	1.66	3.01
古土壤	均值	65.18	14.79	5.12	2.21	0.83	1.41	3.15
UCC	均值	66.00	15.20	5.00	2.20	4.20	3.90	3.40
PAAS	均值	62.80	18.90	7.22	2.20	1.30	1.20	3.70

沙丘编号	Na/K	Rb/Sr	淋溶系数β	CIA	ICV	CPA
YBL-1	1.65	0.40	13.41	50.34	1.23	79.13
YBL-2	1.59	0.42	15.28	50.64	1.20	78.91
MZTG-1	1.73	0.33	4.54	47.5	1.34	79.33
UCC	1.03	0.32	4.82	48.00	1.50	70.32
PAAS	0.29	0.80	7.48	70.40	0.80	90.54

Characteristics of surface sediments at the tops of climbing dunes in northwestern arid region of China

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