Chemical weathering history of the southern Tajikistan loess and paloclimate implications

Major chemical elements and Rb, Sr, Ba abundances were measured for loess samples from Chashmanigar loess-soil sequence in southern Tajikistan. And the degree of element loss and intensity of weathering of the samples were calculated. From these calculations we found that the paleosol horizons of the Chashmanigar section were chemically weathered to some extent and the weathering intensity of the soils is stronger than that of loess horizons, indicating that paleosols in southern Tajikistan were deposited in relatively warm and humid interglacial ages. In addition, the southern Tajikistan loess deposited before 0.9Ma BP was more intensely weathered than that deposited after 0.9Ma BP, which may imply the intensification of aridity in this area since 0.9Ma BP.     

The loess record in southern Tajikistan and correlation with Chinese loess

In the present study, the Chashmanigar loess–soil sequence in southern Tajikistan is studied; this loess section has a paleomagnetic basal age of about 1.77 Myr. Magnetic susceptibility, color reflectance and grain size were systematically measured for closely spaced samples from the section. Paleosols consistently have a finer grain size distribution, higher magnetic susceptibility, redder color reflectance and lower dust sedimentation rate than loess horizons, suggesting a colder, drier and dustier environment during glacial periods than in interglacial periods. The grain size record was tuned to variations in obliquity and precession of the Earth’s orbit. The resulting magnetic susceptibility, grain size and color reflectance time series all show well-expressed astronomical periodicities during the Pleistocene. The mid-Pleistocene climate transition, characterized by a shift of dominant climatic periods from 41 kyr to 100 kyr at about 1.0–0.8 Myr, is clearly documented in these proxy records. Comparison of the Chashmanigar loess record with the Lingtai loess section in China and the ODP site 677 δ¹⁸O record shows that during the entire Pleistocene, the climate cycles recorded by the Central Asian loess can be well correlated to the Chinese loess and deep-sea oxygen isotope records. It is suggested that alternations of loess and soil horizons both in Central Asia and China could be basically forced by global ice volume variations, although different wind systems have controlled the Pleistocene loess transport and sedimentation in the two areas.     

An analysis of the components of the luminescence signals of selected polymineral and quartz samples from loess in western China and southern Tajikistan,and their suitability for optical dating

Previous luminescence dating studies on loess from China and Tajikistan have focused on the establishment of the regional chronology of the loess sequences. In order to improve the precision and accuracy of optical ages derived from the loess of the last glacial period in these regions, we have examined the components of luminescence signals in three loess samples from western China and southern Tajikistan. Our results show that the polymineral IRSL and post-IR OSL, and quartz OSL signals from loess of the two regions are represented by three components, which display different bleaching and growth characteristics. While the composition of the polymineral IRSL signals is similar between samples with the same age from the two regions, in the case of quartz there is significant discrepancy in the proportion of the fast and medium components of the OSL signals. Greater difference is observed in the composition of the polymineral post-IR OSL signals for the loess from the two regions. The three components of polymineral IRSL signals yield almost identical equivalent dose values as that derived from the total IRSL signal. An apparent agreement in equivalent dose is observed between the fast component of the polymineral post-IR OSL and the quartz OSL for the loess of western China but not in the loess of the same age from southern Tajikistan. The fast component of the quartz OSL yields an equivalent dose 25% higher than that based on the total signal for the sample from the base of the Late Pleistocene loess in southern Tajikistan. This demonstrates the importance of signal selection for an accurate luminescence dating of Central Asian loess.     

Stratigraphy,geochemistry, and thermoluminescence ages of lower Mississippi Valley loess

Four periods of loess deposition in the Lower Mississippi Valley can be identified on the basis of geochemical and mineralogical criteria, radiocarbon dating, and thermoluminescence dating. These are designated Loess Units 1,2,3, and 4 in order of increasing age. Carbonate-rich Unit 1 loess comprises more than 70 per cent of the thickness of the loess profiles. ¹⁴C and TL dates indicate this loess was deposited between 9 000 and 20 000 years ago. A maximum sedimentation rate of 2.17 mm yr^?1 has been recorded near Vicksburg just after the last Laurentide glacial maximum, between 17 190 and 15 580 years ago. The Unit 2 loess, which is thin and partly decalcified, was deposited slowly between about 25 000 and 20 000 years ago. The Unit 3 and Unit 4 loess formations, which are both highly weathered, have yielded TL ages of 76 000–85 000 years and 119 000- > 132 000 years, suggesting they were deposited during the Altonian Substage of the early Wisconsinan and the Illinoian glacial stage respectively. The four loess units are stratigraphically equivalent to the Peoria, Farmdale, Roxana, and Loveland loess formations previously recognized in Illinois. The source of dust in both areas was glacial outwash in the Mississippi Valley. During interglacials and interstadials, when the supply of glacial debris was reduced and the Mississippi River changed from a braided to a meandering regime, dust sedimentation in southern Mississippi virtually ceased, allowing weathering and pedogenesis to proceed.     

Onset of Xiashu loess deposition in southern China by 0.9 Ma and its implications for regional aridification

The Xiashu loess is a typical Quaternary eolian deposit in southern China and represents an important terrestrial paleoclimate archive in this low-latitude monsoon region. However, the chronological framework of Xiashu loess deposition has yet to be established. Determining the timing of the onset of Xiashu loess deposition will allow researchers to better understand late Quaternary aridification across the Asian continent, the evolution of the East Asian monsoon and regional environmental changes in subtropical regions. Therefore, in this study, a systematic chronological study of the Xiashu loess is conducted to answer this question. For the first time, magnetostratigraphic classification reveals that the Matuyama/Brunhes (M/B) reversal is present in the Xiashu loess at two sites in Jiangsu Province, the Qingshan profile at Yizheng and the Dagang core in Zhenjiang. Based on the results of magnetostratigraphy and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, the age of the lower boundary of the Xiashu loess is estimated to be approximately 0.9 Ma. Consequently, this Xiashu loess deposit is the oldest reported to date and is comparable in age to the red soil deposit in Xuancheng, Anhui Province. The onset of Xiashu loess deposition by 0.9 Ma represents the further expansion of arid range in Asia in the late Quaternary in response to significant aridification and winter monsoon strengthening in this subtropical region. We suggest that these climate changes were primarily driven by global cooling and an increase in high-latitude ice volume in the Northern Hemisphere and that the initiation of Xiashu loess accumulation was a regional response of southern China to the 0.9 Ma global cooling event.     

Gauss-Matuyama极性转换期间地球磁场方向和强度变化特征

粒度分析和风化强度研究表明 ,黄土高原渭南阳郭剖面黄土层L33沉积期间成壤化作用相对较弱 .在此基础上 ,为研究极性转换期间地球磁场变化特征 ,本文对黄土层L33进行了详细的岩石磁学和古地磁学研究 ,其结果表明黄土层L33的主要载磁矿物为磁铁矿和磁赤铁矿 ,并以沉积剩磁为主 ;由逐步热退磁确定的特征剩磁 （ChRM ）揭示了G M（Gauss Matuyama）极性转换过程的持续时间为 9 43± 0 64ka;在G M极性转换之前 ,地球磁场曾发生过持续时间为 2 2± 0 1 3ka的短极性漂移事件 ;相对强度研究表明 ,G M极性转换期间地球磁场强度减弱 .     

Quantitative measurements on the paleo-weathering intensity of the loess-soil sequences and implication on paleomonsoon

The loess-soil sequences in northern China provide a near continuous record of Quaternary paleoclimate. The pedogenetic intensity of the sequences is closely linked with the variations of the East Asian summer monsoon. In this study, 2181 samples from the Changwu and Xifeng loess sections are analyzed and two high-resolution paleo-weathering timeseries of the last 1.2 Ma are generated, using the ratio of CBD extractable free Fe₂O₃ (FeD) versus the total iron (FeT). This new index is compared with micromorphological features, low-frequency magnetic susceptibility, frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility, and the Rb/Sr ratio^[5,6]. The results suggest that the FeD/FeT ratio is able to better reflect the degree of soil development. Since the chemical weathering of loess in the Loess Plateau region mainly depends upon the summer precipitation and temperature under modern climate condition, which are closely associated with strength of summer monsoon, and the chemical weathering intensity of loess primarily reflects the variations of the summer monsoon circulation.     

Climate and soil moisture environment during development of the fifth palaeosol in Guanzhong Plain

Based on weathering characteristics of the fifth palaeosol layer (S5) of four sections in Guanzhong Plain, the thickness of the weathered profile of the paleosol is determined to be greater than the ordi- nary soil, a weathered and leached loess layer thicker than 2 m. The distribution depth of the red argil- lans, the weathered and leached loess layer, Fe2O3, CaCO3 and Sr content under the S5 all indicate that the precipitation in Guanzhong Plain was over 900 mm at that time. The distribution depth of gravity water zone reached 4.2 m at least, and the soil moisture content was generally more than 20% within the range of 4.2 m. At that time there was sufficient soil moisture and no dried earth layer developed in Guanzhong Plain, suitable for the forest to develop. When this soil developed, the mean annual pre- cipitation was more than the annual soil moisture evaporation. The value of soil moisture balance was positive and the atmospheric precipitation could supply the underground water normally. Soil water was weak acidic in the middle and late stages when S5 developed in Guanzhong Plain. It was a kind of subtropical climate and even more humid and warmer than the northern edge of the subtropical climate zone in Guanzhong Plain when the S5 developed. At that time the subtropical climate was prevailing over the northern side and southern side of Qingling Mountains, showing the Mountains no longer to be the boundary between the subtropical zone and the temperate zone in China. The summer monsoon acted intensely and could go over Qingling Mountains frequently bring abundant precipitation.     

Strong variation in weathering of layered rock maintains hillslope‐scale strength under high precipitation

The evolution of volcanic landscapes and their landslide potential are both dependent upon the weathering of layered volcanic rock sequences. We characterize critical zone structure using shallow seismic V_p and V_s profiles and vertical exposures of rock across a basaltic climosequence on Kohala peninsula, Hawai’i, and exploit the dramatic gradient in mean annual precipitation (MAP) across the peninsula as a proxy for weathering intensity. Seismic velocity increases rapidly with depth and the velocity–depth gradient is uniform across three sites with 500–600 mm/yr MAP, where the transition to unaltered bedrock occurs at a depth of 4 to 10 m. In contrast, velocity increases with depth less rapidly at wetter sites, but this gradient remains constant across increasing MAP from 1000 to 3000 mm/yr and the transition to unaltered bedrock is near the maximum depth of investigation (15–25 m). In detail, the profiles of seismic velocity and of weathering at wet sites are nowhere monotonic functions of depth. The uniform average velocity gradient and the greater depths of low velocities may be explained by the averaging of velocities over intercalated highly weathered sites with less weathered layers at sites where MAP > 1000 mm/yr. Hence, the main effect of climate is not the progressive deepening of a near‐surface altered layer, but rather the rapid weathering of high permeability zones within rock subjected to precipitation greater than ~1000 mm/yr. Although weathering suggests mechanical weakening, the nearly horizontal orientation of alternating weathered and unweathered horizons with respect to topography also plays a role in the slope stability of these heterogeneous rock masses. We speculate that where steep, rapidly evolving hillslopes exist, the sub‐horizontal orientation of weak/strong horizons allows such sites to remain nearly as strong as their less weathered counterparts at drier sites, as is exemplified by the 50°–60° slopes maintained in the amphitheater canyons on the northwest flank of the island. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonlinear coupling between 100 ka periodicity of the paleoclimate records in loess and periodicities of precession and semiprecession

It is apparent that there are three periods in various Quaternary paleoclimate records, the pe-riod of the Earth抯 orbital eccentricity cycles, ~100 ka, the period of the Earth抯 obliquity cycles, 41 ka, and the periods of the precession cycles, 23 ka and…     

Mineral composition and particle size distribution of river sediment and loess in the middle and lower Yellow River

Hyperconcentrated flows often occur in the middle and lower Yellow River(MLYR)and its tributaries,within which the main sediment source originates from the Loess Plateau of China due to serious water erosion.Little is known about the properties of river sediment that is transported by hyperconcentrated flows,particularly with respect to the mineral composition and size distribution.Samples of sediment and loess were collected in the northern,middle,and southern Loess Plateau and the mainstream and tributaries of the MLYR.A total of 18 loess samples and 24 river sediment samples were analyzed to determine their sediment size distribution and mineral composition.The bottom loess samples reflected the original sedimentary features of the Loess Plateau,and the median particle size reduced,and the clay content increased from the north to the south of the study region.The surface loess has been weathered under the action of wind and rainfall,and the clay particle content in the surface loess samples was higher than that in the undisturbed bottom loess.Erosion of the surface soil due to rainfall and surface runoff means that fine particles(mostly clay)have been washed away.The median diameter of surface loess particles was a little larger than that of the bottom loess particles where water erosion dominates.The particle size became coarser with increasing distance from the estuary in the MLYR,which reflects depositional sorting in the river channel.Significant logarithmic relations were found between the median diameter of the sediment particles and the i)non-clay mineral content and ii)clay mineral content.Thus,clay and non-clay mineral compositions can be conveniently estimated from the particle size distribution.     

Element geochemistry of weathering profile of dolomitite and its implications for the average chemical composition of the upper-continental crust--Case studies from the Xinpu profile,northern Guizhou Province,China

Geochemical behavior of chemical elements is studied in a dolomitite weathering profile in upland of karst terrain in northern Guizhou.Two stages can be recognized during the process of in situ weathering of dolomitite:the stage of sedentary accumulation of leaching residue of dolomitite and the stage of chemical weathering evolution of sedentary soil.Ni,Cr,Mo,W and Ti are the least mobile elements with reference to Al.The geochemical behavior of REE is similar to that observed in weathering of other types of rocks.Fractionation of REE is noticed during weathering,and the two layers of REE enrichments are thought to result from downward movement of the weathering front in response to changes in the environment.It is considered that the chemistry of the upper part of the profile,which was more intensively weathered,is representative of the mobile components of the upper curst at the time the dolomitite was formed,while the less weathered lower profile is chemically representative of the immobile constitution.Like glacial till and loess,the "insoluble" materials in carbonate rocks originating from chemical sedimentation may also provide valuable information about the average chemical composition of the upper continental crust.     

Quartz luminescence sensitivity from sediment versus bedrock in highly weathered soils of the Piedmont of North Carolina,south-eastern USA

Deeply weathered soils cover most of the Piedmont physiographic province of the south-eastern United States of America (USA). These soils have traditionally been inferred to derive from weathered bedrock, but recent work (e.g. Ferguson et al., 2019) suggests that deposited sediments are more prevalent than recognized. Distinguishing sediment from weathered bedrock is integral to understanding critical-zone processes and overall Quaternary landscape evolution, yet the well-developed, red, clay-dominated Ultisols of this temperate and humid region mask differences between transported from non-transported material. Our goal is to determine if optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) methods can distinguish quartz sand from allochthonous (e.g. transported sediment) versus autochthonous (e.g. in situ weathered bedrock) material in soil-profile and core samples from the Redlair Observatory in southwestern North Carolina, USA. Here, we turn to OSL sensitivity and linear-modulated OSL (LM-OSL) to observe the intensity or lack thereof of the fast-decay luminescence component (most light-sensitive signal) in quartz grains from soil horizons and crystalline bedrock-derived saprolite. We find that quartz grains sampled from in situ weathered bedrock as well as from saprolotized clasts of rock have weak luminescence properties and are not dominated by a fast-decay luminescence component. In contrast, quartz grains from transported sediment (e.g. mobile regolith; colluvium; alluvium) contain sensitive grains with more dominant fast components. These results suggest that quartz luminescence sensitivity can be a tool to differentiate between in situ weathered bedrock and similar looking mobile regolith and colluvium over-printed by soil development.     

Element geochemistry of weathering profile of dolomitite and its implications for the average chemical composition of the upper-continental crust

Geochemical behavior of chemical elements is studied in a dolomitite weathering profile in upland of karst terrain in northern Guizhou. Two stages can be recognized during the process ofin situ weathering of dolomitite: the stage of sedentary accumulation of leaching residue of dolomitite and the stage of chemical weathering evolution of sedentary soil. Ni, Cr, Mo, W and Ti are the least mobile elements with reference to Al. The geochemical behavior of REE is similar to that observed in weathering of other types of rocks. Fractionation of REE is noticed during weathering, and the two layers of REE enrichments are thought to result from downward movement of the weathering front in response to changes in the environment. It is considered that the chemistry of the upper part of the profile, which was more intensively weathered, is representative of the mobile components of the upper curst at the time the dolomitite was formed, while the less weathered lower profile is chemically representative of the immobile constitution. Like glacial till and loess, the “insoluble” materials in carbonate rocks originating from chemical sedimentation may also provide valuable information about the average chemical composition of the upper continental crust.     

Differences of granitic weathering at the northern and southern feet of Dabie Mountains,Central China: Implication for tectonic and climatic environments

Previous studies of weathering generally started with geochemistry[1—8] and mineralogy[9—12], and have been focused on chemical weathering rates[1—3], removability-enrichment of elements[3—6] during chemical weathering, and the age of weathering profi…     

Weathering effects on the magnetic properties of the Milledgeville granite,Georgia

One of the major problems in paleomagnetic sampling of granites in the southeastern United States is finding fresh outcrop. Since most outcrops are weathered to some extent, it is important to quantify the effect of weathering on the magnetic properties of individual samples. The Lake Sinclair dam site near Milledgeville, Georgia, was chosen for this study, where a very fresh, stable granite outcrops in the excavated spillway. Lying immediately above is the weathered equivalent. Drilled samples were obtained from fresh and weathered portions at one outcrop, and the remanent and induced magnetizations measured. With AF demagnetization, it was possible to obtain the stable remanent directions, exhibited by fresh samples, from all weathered samples. The induced and remanent magnetic behavior can be explained by maghemitization during weathering and the development of a secondary low oxidation magnetic phase and the reduction in domain size of primary magnetite.     

Geochemical study of boron isotopes in the process of loess weathering

Different types of sedimentary rocks and magmatic rocks show significant variations in their boron isotopic composition, with d 11B values usually within the range of -40? 30塠1]. The boron content of the continental crust is approximately 10?0-6, with …     

Properties of soils in Grove Mountains,East Antarctica

~~Properties of soils in Grove Mountains,East Antarctica@李潇丽$Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences!Beijing 100029,China @刘小汉$Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences!Beijing 100029,China @琚     

Classification of rock weathering at writing-on-stone Provincial Park,Alberta, Canada: A study in applied geomorphology

At Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park in southern Alberta, Canada, weathering is causing deterioration and loss of archaeologically important Indian rock art. A procedure devised for the use of park personnel identified four classes of weathering ranging from largely unweathered rock to severely weathered. The technique employed simple visual, qualitative assessment and photo interpretation of 50 sample sections of sandstone cliff face covering a total area of 354 m². Schmidt hammer tests indicated large variations in rock strength and provided a numerical basis for the visual assessment. About 43 per cent of the cliffs are severely to completely weathered, 41 per cent show moderate weathering.     

Identification of aeolian loess deposits on the Indo-Gangetic Plain(India) and their significance

Aeolian loess deposits contain abundant information about the evolution of the paleoenvironment.For example,paleoclimate changes recorded in Chinese loess area obtained significant achievement in the past few decades.Compared to Chinese loess,research on Indian loess is lacking.Currently,most studies focus on the Kashmir area located in the southern Himalayas,and studies on other areas are rare.However,field observations demonstrate that the sediments around the New Delhi-Agra-Jaipur Plain are similar to Chinese loess-paleosol sequences.For example,the boundary between two strata is transitional and without horizontal bedding.Moreover,obvious pedogenic horizons developed among sediment sequences,probably indicating unrecognised aeolian deposits in the Indo-Gangetic Plain(IGP).To confirm this,pilot samples were obtained from the IGP and detailed indoor measurements conducted.The results indicate that the distribution patterns of particle size and rare earth elements(REE) of the pilot samples are similar to Chinese loess.Furthermore,the scanning electronic microscopy(SEM) images of pilot samples show obvious conchoidal fractures,dash-shaped concavities,and abundant small pits that usually form through mechanical impact.These are typical characteristics of aeolian particles.In addition,environmental and rock magnetic measurements indicate that the dominant magnetic minerals in the pilot samples are magnetite and maghemite,and that they likely contain small amounts of hematite.Furthermore,conventional magnetic parameters are comparable with Chinese loess.Based on this,aeolian loess deposits are widely distributed in the IGP,which may have promoted the development of Indian farming and contributed towards the prosperity of ancient Indian civilisation.This study also provides a new and valuable record for the research on paleoclimate changes in the study area in the future.