Geochemical elements composition of surface sediment and its implications around Badain Jaran Desert

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00148

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (6): 239-248.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00148

Geochemical elements composition of surface sediment and its implications around Badain Jaran Desert

Meng Wang¹(), Junfeng Lu²(), Peng Fu¹, Zhibao Dong³, Fang Wang²

^1.Xuchang University，Xuchang 461000，Henan，China
^2.Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Lanzhou 730000，China
^3.Shaanxi Normal University，Xi'an 710062，China

Received:2025-09-03 Revised:2025-09-28 Online:2025-11-20 Published:2025-11-26
Contact: Junfeng Lu

Abstract

Abstract:

The geochemical element characteristics of the sediments record rich regional environmental changes， which have important significance for material sources and sedimentary environment. In this paper， the geochemical element composition of surface sediments in the surrounding area of Badain Jaran Desert were analyzed to reveal the characteristics of sedimentary environment and chemical weathering degree. The results showed that SiO₂ was the main major element， and Ba， Zr， Sr and Co were the main trace elements in the surface sediments of the Badain Jaran Desert. Compared with the average chemical element composition of the upper continental crust， the major elements SiO₂ and trace elements Co， As and Ce in the study area were enriched， while other elements were locally enriched or completely depleted to varying degrees. The correlation of major element oxides showed that SiO₂ affected the chemical composition and properties of sediments. The degree of chemical weathering of sediments in the surrounding areas of Badain Jaran Desert was generally low， and it was in the early stage of continental weathering. The influence factors of different chemical weathering indexes were different. The CIA index showed that there were significant differences in the degree of chemical weathering among regions. The provenance of the surrounding area of Badain Jaran Desert was similar， but it was also affected by the surrounding landform and local climate change during the long-term weathering process.

Key words: sediment, geochemical element, chemical weathering, Badain Jaran Desert

CLC Number:

P595

Meng Wang, Junfeng Lu, Peng Fu, Zhibao Dong, Fang Wang. Geochemical elements composition of surface sediment and its implications around Badain Jaran Desert[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2025, 45(6): 239-248.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1 The geographic position of study areas

Fig.2 Boxplot of major element oxides contents in surface sediments of the study areas

Fig.3 Boxplot of trace element contents in surface sediments of the study areas

Fig.4 UCC-normalized pattern of geochemical elements in surface sediments of the study areas

Fig.5 The correlation of major element oxides in surface sediments of the study areas

Fig.6 Trace element Ba-Sr component diagram in surface sediments of the study areas

Table 1 Characteristic value of chemical weathering index in surface sediments of the study areas

指数	研究区域
指数	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Rb/Sr	0.38±0.009^a	0.40±0.016^a	0.37±0.007^a	0.39±0.036^a	0.42±0.100^a	0.37±0.005^a	0.38±0.016^a	0.39±0.006^a
CIA	46.25±0.646^ab	47.57±0. 974^a	44.76±0.438^b	37.40±2.280^d	44.49±4.417^b	42.85±0.303^bc	42.71±0.588^bc	43.80±0.350^b

Fig.7 Scatter plot of Rb/Sr with CIA， Rb and Sr in surface sediments of the study areas

Fig.8 A-CN-K（A） and A-CNK-FM（B） ternary plots in surface sediments of the study areas

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Geochemical elements composition of surface sediment and its implications around Badain Jaran Desert

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