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Chemical variations of loess from the Chinese Loess Plateau and its implications

Xiao, Yuanyuan; Huang, Zihang; Sui, Peishan; Niu, Yaoling; Sun, Weidong; Wang, Guodong; Kong, Juanjuan; Shao, Fengli; Wang, Xiaohong; Gong, Hongmei; Duan, Meng

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Authors

Yuanyuan Xiao

Zihang Huang

Peishan Sui

Yaoling Niu

Weidong Sun

Guodong Wang

Juanjuan Kong

Fengli Shao

Xiaohong Wang

Hongmei Gong

Meng Duan



Abstract

The Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) is the largest loess deposit on Earth with expansive surface-exposed source rocks of varying origins, ages, and history. Here, we present abundances of elements on representative loess and palaeosol samples from seven classic sections of the CLP. Most elements, including soluble elements (e.g. Rb and Cs), show significant correlations with La or Al2O3. These correlations indicate that these elements are hosted or absorbed in particle minerals during weathering, transport, and deposition (e.g. mica, K-feldspar, and clay minerals). These new observations allow the use of La/X (‘X’ being the element of interest) and the estimated La abundance of 31 ppm in the model upper continental crust (UCC) to estimate the abundances of other elements. The results show higher Cs (Cs = 6.7 ± 1.2 ppm), lower transition metals, Ba, and Ga. Given the high CaO and presence of carbonate in UCC rocks of both vast western China (the primary source for the CLP) and eastern China, we propose that these updates on the element abundances represent a refined model for the carbonate-bearing UCC.

Citation

Xiao, Y., Huang, Z., Sui, P., Niu, Y., Sun, W., Wang, G., …Duan, M. (2023). Chemical variations of loess from the Chinese Loess Plateau and its implications. International Geology Review, 65(8), 1372-1387. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2022.2087110

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 4, 2022
Online Publication Date Jun 10, 2022
Publication Date 2023
Deposit Date Jun 7, 2022
Publicly Available Date Jun 10, 2023
Journal International Geology Review
Print ISSN 0020-6814
Electronic ISSN 1938-2839
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 65
Issue 8
Pages 1372-1387
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2022.2087110

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