Grain size， mineral composition， and wind erosion resistance of typical dry playas in the arid region of Northwestern China

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00192

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (2): 233-241.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00192

Grain size， mineral composition， and wind erosion resistance of typical dry playas in the arid region of Northwestern China

Yanbing Jiang¹^,²(), Lihai Tan¹(), Hongtao Wang¹, Qian Zhou¹^,², Zhishan An¹

^1.State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands / Dunhuang Gobi and Desert Ecology and Environment Research Station，Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Lanzhou 730000，China
^2.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences，Beijing 100049，China

Received:2025-10-22 Revised:2025-11-28 Online:2026-03-20 Published:2026-04-13
Contact: Lihai Tan

Abstract

Abstract:

Dry playas are significant dust emission sources in arid regions. Their surface grain size and mineral composition critically influence their resistance to wind erosion. This study investigates five typical dry playa surfaces located in the lower reaches of the Tarim River， Shule River， and Beida River inland waterways， as well as in the Beishan and Suhongtu inland basins within the arid northwestern China. We analyzed characteristics of surface grain size， mineral composition， and surface mechanical properties. The results indicate that：（1） The surface particles of dry playas are dominated by silt， with contents ranging from 62.94% to 97.44%， the average grain size ranges from 6.77 Φ to 5.86 Φ （from 9.15 μm to 17.22 μm）， and sorting characteristics fall within the poorly sorted to very poorly sorted range. （2） The mineral composition across all regions is primarily dominated by anorthite， quartz， and various amphibole and feldspar minerals. Notably， the quartz and feldspar content in the inland basin dry playa surfaces is higher than those of the inland river basins. （3） The shear strength of the dry playa surfaces ranges between 57.16 kPa and 168.42 kPa， and the hardness ranges between 25.34 MPa and 39.59 MPa. The shear strength and hardness of the dry playa in inland basins are significantly higher than those in the lower reaches of inland rivers， demonstrating relatively good wind erosion resistance. This study provides fundamental data and a scientific basis for elucidating the dust emission mechanisms and developing emission models for different dry playa surfaces.

Key words: grain size, mineral composition, shear strength, wind erosion, dry playa

CLC Number:

P931.3

Yanbing Jiang, Lihai Tan, Hongtao Wang, Qian Zhou, Zhishan An. Grain size， mineral composition， and wind erosion resistance of typical dry playas in the arid region of Northwestern China[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(2): 233-241.

Figures/Tables 9

References 53

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颗粒类型	粒径/Φ	粒径/μm
砾石	<-1	>2 000
极粗砂	0~-1	1 000~2 000
粗砂	1~0	500~1 000
中砂	2~1	250~500
细砂	3.32~2	100~250
极细砂	4.32~3.32	50 ~100
粉砂	8.96~4.32	2~50
黏土	>8.96	<2

颗粒类型	粒径/Φ	粒径/μm
砾石	<-1	>2 000
极粗砂	0~-1	1 000~2 000
粗砂	1~0	500~1 000
中砂	2~1	250~500
细砂	3.32~2	100~250
极细砂	4.32~3.32	50 ~100
粉砂	8.96~4.32	2~50
黏土	>8.96	<2

区域	平均粒径(M_z)/Φ	分选系数(σ)	偏度(SK)	峰度(K_g)
塔里木河	6.75±0.50	1.82±0.42	-0.12±0.11	1.11±0.26
疏勒河	6.21±0.59	2.16±0.59	-0.42±0.16	0.96±0.23
北大河	6.77±0.11	1.12±0.17	-0.06±0.14	0.91±0.07
北山	6.15±0.43	2.42±0.99	-0.37±0.21	0.86±0.23
苏宏图	5.86±0.78	2.31±0.24	-0.17±0.50	0.81±0.32

区域	平均粒径(M_z)/Φ	分选系数(σ)	偏度(SK)	峰度(K_g)
塔里木河	6.75±0.50	1.82±0.42	-0.12±0.11	1.11±0.26
疏勒河	6.21±0.59	2.16±0.59	-0.42±0.16	0.96±0.23
北大河	6.77±0.11	1.12±0.17	-0.06±0.14	0.91±0.07
北山	6.15±0.43	2.42±0.99	-0.37±0.21	0.86±0.23
苏宏图	5.86±0.78	2.31±0.24	-0.17±0.50	0.81±0.32

矿物	区域
矿物	塔里木河	疏勒河	北大河	北山	苏宏图
氯硅铝钙石	36.63	7.89	12.61	10.82	6.91
石英	10.29	10.19	4.68	19.44	10.40
铁闪石	8.06	10.21	22.37	8.31	1.05
钠长石	6.17	2.66	2.76	8.85	6.03
方解石	5.38	2.72	1.13	2.30	0.67
文石	4.58	2.97	1.59	0.79	0.99
大隅石	3.33	5.61	4.62	5.30	8.39
韭闪石	2.72	3.04	9.03	9.06	4.88
白云母	2.46	4.88	6.49	2.57	5.95
黑云母	2.32	2.45	8.01	6.05	7.09
透长石	2.15	3.92	6.41	7.00	13.23
正长石	2.07	1.27	1.12	4.00	1.54
葡萄石	1.62	7.10	1.39	0.54	0.28
白云石	1.32	3.92	1.35	0.44	0.26
斜长石	1.19	2.24	0.38	1.28	0.24
硬玉	1.19	0.38	0.74	2.30	10.30
镁铝榴石	0.37	1.57	2.00	0.75	0.34
有机质	0.35	7.27	0.71	0.03	0.38
石膏	0.03	0.03	1.01	0.40	10.54

Grain size， mineral composition， and wind erosion resistance of typical dry playas in the arid region of Northwestern China

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区域	抗剪强度/kPa	硬度/MPa
塔里木河	58.97±31.07	30.05±4.61
疏勒河	61.89±25.19	30.82±4.19
北大河	57.16±18.00	25.34±7.65
北山	168.42±65.90	39.59±3.94
苏宏图	102.26±38.00	35.61±3.90

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