Consistent grain size distribution of pedogenic maghemite of surface soils and Miocene loessic soils on the Chinese Loess Plateau

There is agreement that ultrafine maghemite grains (<100 nm) are responsible for the magnetic enhancement of Chinese loess. Recent studies show that grain size distribution of ultrafine pedogenic maghemite grains within the aeolian sequences on the central Chinese Loess Plateau deposited in the last 8 Ma is consistent. However, whether the observed grain size distribution of ultrafine pedogenic maghemite grains can be observed in the western Chinese Loess Plateau and modern soils is not entirely clear. Here we find that young surface soil samples across the Chinese Loess Plateau and early Neogene loessic soils from the western Chinese Loess Plateau also show consistent grain size distribution with that of ultrafine pedogenic maghemite grains on the central Chinese Loess Plateau. The fact that young surface soil samples show apparent magnetic enhancement suggests that the ultrafine pedogenic maghemite grains derive from oxidation of ultrafine magnetite grains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climatic implications of loess deposits from the Beijing region

Variations in magnetostratigraphy, pedostratigraphy, grain size and magnetic susceptibility of the loess deposits near Beijing have been studied at two sections. The sections are about 400 km east of the main loess deposits in China, have a maximum thickness of 100 m and extend back to 1.1 Ma. The sequence consists of 14 loess–palaeosol couplets (S0‐S14), which correlate well with sequences in the Loess Plateau. Susceptibility records from the sites near Beijing are comparable to the Xifeng, Luochuan and Baoji sections located in the middle part of the Loess Plateau; however, the down‐core variations in the grain size in the Upper Lishi Formation exhibit some differences. The median grain size increases by about 25–30 µm from L4 to L2, with the sandy grains (>63 µm) increasing from 10–20 wt% to 40–50 wt% . This implies that the depositional environment of the dust sources in the Beijing loess section is different in some aspects from the Loess Plateau. The Beijing loess may have had a different dust source than the Loess Plateau. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aeolian origin and palaeoclimatic implications of the ‘red clay’ (north China) as evidenced by grain‐size distribution

The ‘Red Clay’ is an important deposit underlying the Quaternary loess–palaeosol sequence in the Chinese Loess Plateau, being regarded as an excellent record of palaeoclimate changes in the late Tertiary. Several properties of the ‘Red Clay’ have been measured previously in order to derive climatic information. However, the sedimentary processes involved and the origin of the materials remain controversial. Here we present results of grain‐size analyses of the ‘Red Clay’ from four representative sites in the Chinese Loess Plateau. In particular their grain‐size distribution is compared with that of typical Quaternary aeolian loess–palaeosol, as well as lacustrine and fluvial sediments. It appears from the sedimentological evidence that the major part of the ‘Red Clay’ is of aeolian origin. It is rather similar in some of its properties to the Quaternary loessic palaeosols. The dust forming the ‘Red Clay’ was transported by a wind system that was weaker than that involved in the accretion of the Quaternary loess. Furthermore, the ‘Red Clay’ sediment has been modified by post‐depositional weathering. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of particle size characteristics of the Tertiary 'red clay' and Pleistocene loess in the Chinese Loess Plateau: implications for origin and sources of the 'red clay'

The origin of the Tertiary ‘red clay’ underlying the Pleistocene loess in the Chinese Loess Plateau remains controversial, although several lines of evidence have suggested a wind‐blown origin. This study examines the particle‐size parameters of the late Miocene and Pliocene ‘red clay’ by comparing it with those of the late Pleistocene loess. The particle‐size distribution of a total of 15 339 loess and 6394 ‘red clay’ samples taken from 12 loess sections along a north–south transect and two ‘red clay’ sequences at Lingtai and Jingchuan was systematically analysed. The median grain size, skewness and kurtosis of the late Pleistocene loess all show a systematic southward change and are principally influenced by distance from source region. The spatial and temporal differentiation of dust deposits is expressed in a skewness–kurtosis–median grain size ternary diagram, from which the distance to the source region can be inferred. The particle‐size characteristics of the Tertiary ‘red clay’ sediments are very similar to those of the palaeosols within the late Pleistocene loess deposits, suggesting an aeolian origin for the ‘red clay’. Based on the comparison of ‘red clay’ and loess in the ternary diagrams, it is inferred that the source–sink distance was greater in the Neogene than in the last and penultimate interglacials, and that the dust source region in north‐western China underwent a progressive expansion during the period from at least 7·0 Ma to the present.     

Dust supply from river floodplains: the case of the lower Huang He (Yellow River) recorded in a loess–palaeosol sequence from the Mangshan Plateau

The Mangshan Plateau is located on the south bank of the Huang He (Yellow River) just west of the city of Zhengzhou, well outside the Loess Plateau in central China. Mixing models of the grain‐size data indicate that the loess deposits are mixtures of three loess components. Comparison of the mixing model with existing models established for a series of loess–palaeosol sequences from the Loess Plateau indicates that the Mangshan loess has been supplied from a proximal dust source, the Huang He floodplain, during major dust outbreaks. The high accumulation rates, the composition of the loess components, and especially the high proportions of a sandy loess component support this. Owing to the exceptionally high accumulation rates, the Mangshan grain size, magnetic susceptibility and carbonate records provide a high‐resolution archive of environmental and climate change. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Links between bulk sediment particle size and magnetic grain‐size: general observations and implications for Chinese loess studies

Using a combination of particle size analysis, magnetic measurements, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy imaging, this study shows that in a wide range of depositional environments, there is a strong link between particle size classes and magnetic response, especially below the upper limit of stable single domain magnetic behaviour. Ferrimagnetic grain assemblages dominated by stable single domain magnetosomes regularly have peak susceptibility and remanence values in coarser grades than do those containing finer‐grained, viscous and superparamagnetic secondary magnetic minerals formed during pedogenesis. This effect is despite the fact that there is a one to two orders of magnitude size difference between the particle size boundaries (at 1 or 2 μm) and key domain state transitions (mostly below 0·05 μm). The implications of these results are explored using samples spanning 22 Myr of loess accumulation on the Chinese Loess Plateau. The results from the loess sections, complemented by data from low‐temperature magnetic experiments, show that there are subtle distinctions in mean ferrimagnetic grain‐size between the Pleistocene and Miocene parts of the record, thus allowing more refined rock magnetic interpretations of the fine‐grained ferrimagnetic mineral assemblages arising from the effects of weathering, pedogenesis and possibly diagenesis in the sections studied.     

Late Quaternary loess deposition in the southern Chaiwopu Basin of the northern Chinese Tian Shan foreland and its palaeoclimatic implications

The piedmont aeolian sediment in Central Asia is has been widely used for Quaternary palaeoclimatic reconstructions. Here we present detailed sedimentological and rock magnetic investigations on 188 samples from the ~9.4‐m‐thick Urumqi River section (URS) in the southern Chaiwopu Basin of the northern Chinese Tian Shan foreland. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating constrains the time‐span of the URS loess sedimentation from c. 28 to c. 6.8 ka. This chronology implies that the onset of the URS loess sedimentation is approximately synchronous with the Shangwangfeng Glaciation (MIS 2) in the headwaters of the Urumqi River. Analyses of sediment grain size and rock magnetic parameters indicate that sediment grain‐size composition controls magnetic properties of the URS loess, i.e. the wind intensity model, distinct from the pedogenic model interpreting the variations in magnetic properties of the loess in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). Overall, the variations in sediment grain size and magnetic properties throughout the URS indicate that the present study area was dominated by a climate of strengthened wind associated with gradually intensified aridity during the latest Pleistocene. In contrast, the intensity of aridity and coldness during the early Holocene gradually became relatively weakened.     

The origin and sources of loess‐like sediment in the Jinsha River Valley,SW China

The grain size of the loess‐like sediment in the Jinsha River Valley is essentially similar to that of typical loess, and it differs from that of the fluvial sediment in the Jinsha River area. We conclude that the loess‐like sediment is of aeolian origin, as is the loess of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The geochemical characteristics of the loess‐like sediment are similar to those of dammed lake and fluvial sediments in the same area, which is significantly different from those of the typical loess in NW China. The geochemical characteristics show that the loess‐like sediment originated from proximal materials. Combined with the grain‐size distribution pattern of the aeolian deposits, we suggest that the loess‐like sediment of the Jinsha River Valley originated from the dammed lake and fluvial sediments that accumulated in the valley. The local mountain‐valley wind circulation (especially the valley wind in winter and spring) provided the transport force for the loess‐like sediment. The presentation of the loess‐like sediment may indicate the appearance of the grassland and forest steppe and the beginning of the dry‐hot valley phenomenon.     

晚新生代黄土高原风尘序列的粒度和沉积速率与中国北方大气环流演变

文章以风尘沉积的粗粒和细粒组分与季风和西风环流的联系为基础,利用黄土高原中部的洛川剖面、西峰剖面和灵台剖面的粒度和沉积速率记录,讨论了晚新生代中国北方季风环流和西风环流的演变历史,总结了这一时期大气环流演变的基本规律和大气环流演变的动力机制.研究表明,自8～7Ma风尘沉积发育至5Ma左右,西风环流和季风环流都有减弱的趋势;自5Ma以来,西风环流和季风环流的强度都在逐步加强;与此同步,季风环流对风尘沉积的贡献增加,而西风环流对风尘的贡献逐渐减小,这一逐渐发展的大气环流趋势与北半球高纬冰盖的逐步发展有关;大气环流的这种趋势变化在8～7Ma,3.4Ma和1.2～0.9Ma这几个时期存在着突变,可能反映了青藏高原的阶段性隆升对中国北方季风环流演化的决定性作用以及对西风环流结构和强度的重要影响.中国北方大气环流在轨道尺度变化的基本特征是,低空季风环流在冰期加强,在间冰期减弱.西风环流和季风环流在冰期和间冰期的强度和格局可能主要与全球冰量的基本状况和青藏高原原面的性质有关.黄土高原的风尘记录在万年尺度和千年尺度的气候事件上都表现出相当明显的区域差异,可能主要与局部地形的大气环流效应有关.     

Aeolian construction and alluvial dismantling of a fault‐bounded intracontinental aeolian dune field (Teruel Basin,Spain); a continental perspective on Late Pliocene climate change and variability

An aeolian dune field migrating to the east encroached on the toes of alluvial fans in the Teruel Basin (eastern Spain) during a short interval in the Late Pliocene (ca 2·9 to 2·6 Ma), when Northern Hemisphere glaciation and strong glacial–interglacial cycles began. Preservation of the dune field was controlled by syn‐sedimentary activity of a normal fault. Ephemeral water discharge eroded aeolian sands and formed V‐shaped channels in which aeolian sandstone blocks accumulated. The incorporation of loose aeolian sand in wadi waters modified the sediment/water ratio, changing the physical properties of the flows as they penetrated the aeolian dune field. The erosion and cover of aeolian dune foresets by sheetflood deposits suggest that dune‐damming caused the intermittent ponding of water behind the dunes and its flashy release. The arid climate in the Late Pliocene western Mediterranean realm favoured the transport of windblown sediments from northern Africa and western Mediterranean land masses into the Mediterranean. The formation of the studied aeolian dune field (2·9 to 2·6 Ma) and possibly others (for example, the Atacama, Namib and Sahara deserts) correlates with a strong increase of the influence of obliquity, which can be attributed to the combination of a regional expression related to the reduced effect of precession due to a minimum in the long‐period (2·3 Ma) eccentricity cycle and a remote expression of the onset of the Northern Hemisphere glaciation.     

渭河流域典型黄土剖面的环境磁学特征及其古气候意义

对黄土高原南部耀县全新世黄土地层的形成及保存环境进行了研究.结果表明:地层中磁性矿物主要为软磁性矿物,硬磁性矿物对地层的磁学性质贡献小;随着成壤强度的增加,硬磁性矿物的相对含量在减少.本区全新世地层的形成和保存环境为氧化环境,适宜用磁学手段反演全新世古气候.对磁化率和频率磁化率、无磁滞剩磁磁化率的对比分析,可以看出:成壤强度较低时,细粒磁性矿物相对于磁性矿物总量的增加速率相对较快;成壤强度较高时,细粒磁性矿物的相对含量会达到或趋近饱和,相对于磁性矿物总量的增加速率相对较慢.研究表明,在黄土地层中,χfd%和χARM/χ等指示细粒磁性矿物的磁学参数可以显示更细微的气候变化;在古土壤中,χlf的气候指示意义相对更好.     

黄土粒度分布中的超细粒组分及其成因*

多个剖面的粒度测量表明,黄土高原的黄土和古土壤中普遍存在超细粒组分,其平均粒径大致0.4μm,在全样中的含量大致5 ％ ~6 ％。 超细粒组分的含量在黄土中低,在古土壤中高;并且同一地层自西北至东南增加,这些特征都显示超细粒组分的形成与成壤作用强度相关。一般情况下超细粒组分的粒度在黄土中粗,在古土壤中细。黄土高原各季节的现代天然粉尘中同样存在超细粒组分,然而干旱区成壤作用较少的天然降尘中基本不存在超细粒组分。以上特征说明,黄土中的超细粒组分的形成与成壤作用有关,成壤作用中次生矿物的粒度和含量特征也支持这一解释。     

Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China

The Sr and Nd isotopic, rare earth element (REE) and major element compositions, together with mineral and grain‐size proportions, are reported for aeolian loess deposits and desert sands from several Chinese localities. The study was carried out in order to examine regional variations in the isotopic and geochemical features of these aeolian sediments, and to constrain the provenance of Chinese loess. Samples include loesses from the Tarim and Junggar basins and desert sands from the Taklimakan desert in north‐west China, loess from the Ordos area and desert sands from the Tengger and Mu‐us deserts in north‐central China, as well as loess and desert sands from the Naiman area, north‐east China. REE distributions show minimal variation among the Chinese loess deposits, whereas those for the desert sands show regional variations. New isotopic data document a latitudinal variation in Sr and Nd isotopic features for the loesses and desert sands. The Naiman and Junggar loesses have distinctly lower ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios and higher ε_Nd(0) values than the loesses from the Tarim Basin, the Ordos area and the Loess Plateau. Among the desert sands, the Naiman samples have higher ε_Nd(0) values than the Taklimakan, Tengger and Mu‐us samples. Isotopic data suggest that loesses of the Loess Plateau were supplied from the Tarim Basin loesses and Taklimakan Desert sand, and that the Naiman loesses were supplied from the Junggar Basin loesses. The latitudinal variation in the loesses and desert sands may be partly explained by isotopic variations reported previously for moraines from the Tianshan and west Kunlun Mountains, which are possible sources for the loesses and desert sands. These inferences on the provenance of the loesses and desert sands are consistent with the dust transport pattern over East Asia.     

洛川黄土地层学

黄土和古土壤的磁化率与所含磁性矿物的浓度和颗粒大小密切相关。磁化率信号的主要载体是非常细的磁铁矿和(或者)磁赤铁矿。洛川黄土序列的磁化率曲线变化与成壤作用和粉尘堆积作用强弱有关,反映了气候的变化。磁化率值为识别黄土和古土壤层提供了一个工具。文中建议了黄土岩石地层单位命名的原则。洛川黄土-古土壤序列的磁化率曲线记录了最近2.5Ma气候变化的历史,与深海沉积的气候记录可以对比。     

Zr/Rb ratio in the Chinese loess sequences and its implication for changes in the East Asian winter monsoon strength

The long-term dust accumulation sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) provide a valuable opportunity to study the evolution of East Asian winter monsoon strength. Grain size of bulk samples of loess deposits, though widely used, is a modified measure of the strength of winter monsoon wind due to modification by post-depositional weathering and pedogenesis. This study proposes a new and reliable geochemical climate proxy that records the variability of the East Asian winter monsoon on the CLP. Six loess-paleosol sections on the Plateau were selected for measuring concentrations of the trace elements Zr and Rb as well as grain size. Variations of the Zr/Rb ratio in all the sections encompassing the last 130 ka display a generally similar pattern to that of mean grain size of bulk samples (MGSB). Though a positive correlation exists between the Zr/Rb ratio and MGSB, the correlation coefficient decreases in southern and eastern sections where intense pedogenesis occurred in the relatively warm and humid climates. Long-term Zr/Rb variation in the Lingtai section exhibits amplitudes and frequencies similar to those in MGSB and the mean grain size of quartz particles (MGSQ, accepted as a more reliable proxy than MGSB) in the upper loess-paleosol sequence over the past 2.6 Ma. However, for the underlying Red Clay formation, in the interval from about 7-2.6 Ma B.P., the MGSB record is relatively stable, whereas both the Zr/Rb ratio and MGSQ show distinct variability and display amplitudes similar to those observed in the overlying loess-paleosol sequence. These results demonstrate that the Zr/Rb ratio reflects original eolian grain size and may serve as a reliable index of the strength of East Asian winter monsoon winds.     

川西高原甘孜黄土的成因

本文通过对甘孜满地黄土的粒度组分、石英砂的表面结构以及其它地质现象的综合研究,对甘孜黄土的成因进行了探讨。在黄土的概率累计曲线上,跃进组分和悬移组分反映明显,并以悬移组分为主。悬移组分粒径小于2φ~3φ,并以粉砂(4φ~8φ)为主,占悬移总体的94%~99%;对甘孜黄土进行扫描电镜观察表明,石英砂大部分为块状颗粒,少量(10%)呈纺锤形。采用矩阵法计算甘孜黄土的粒度参数:黄土的平均粒径(d₅₀)为5.057φ~5.883φ,明显大于古土壤(6.120φ~6.549φ).古土壤的标准偏差(σφ)为1.513~1.973,大于黄土(1.205~1.778);黄土和古土壤的偏度系数(SKφ)为-0.088~0.248,显示为正偏或近于对称。黄土和古土壤的尖度系数(Kφ)分别为0.123~1.702、0.023~0.059,前者峰形窄,后者峰形较宽。对甘孜黄土扫描电镜观察表明,石英砂大部分为方形或长方形颗粒,少量(10%)呈纺锤形。石英砂有密集的翻卷片、蛇曲脊、圆麻坑,这些结构反映了风成特征。另方面,少量石英砂显示冰川作用结构,例如大大小小的贝壳状断口、平行擦痕等。在甘孜西面、德格以南的金沙江东岸川藏公路980km路碑处,三阶地上部的黄土层中,发现3条冰楔。此外,甘孜黄土中孢粉稀少。根据上述特征推断,甘孜黄土应为冰缘风成黄土。      

黄土古气候变化趋势与青藏高原隆升关系初探

粒度和磁化率是两个研究黄土古气候最常用的古环境变化指示参数,它们随着黄土古土壤地层变化而出现峰和谷的对应已经被证明是反映了天文轨道要素的周期变化。文章试图忽略这些受控于轨道要素的气候周期变化,而主要侧重考察黄土地层这两个参数的平均值(或背景值)所反映的长期变化趋势。对兰州九州台黄土进行了系统采样和测量,发现兰州九州台黄土剖面粒度和磁化率曲线显示出两个明显的趋势,粒度从剖面底部向上有明显逐渐变粗趋势,指示着冬季风增强,与此同时,磁化率自下而上却逐渐增大,指示着夏季风增强的趋势。与黄土高原其他黄土剖面磁化率和粒度曲线对比发现,这是两个普遍存在的趋势。地理位置靠近青藏高原的剖面,这两个增大的趋势更明显。冬、夏季风同时逐渐增强是海陆热力差异增大所引起,反映了青藏高原第四纪时期的逐渐不断的隆升过程。因此,根据粒度和磁化率曲线变化趋势线的变化特点可以帮助分析和反推第四纪以来青藏高原隆升的过程。兰州九州台以及黄土高原各剖面粒度和磁化率曲线的线性变化趋势则可能指示着第四纪以来青藏高原是逐渐均匀缓慢的变化过程。我们对22Ma以来风积地层记录的变化趋势也做了分析。前人过去普遍认识的第四纪以来跳跃式或间歇式剧烈隆升在我们的数据中没有得到反映。黄土高原西部西宁、兰州、靖远等剖面磁化率显著的增长趋势可能与青藏高原隆升到一定高度后高原季风加强所致。     

Combined tectonics and climate forcing for the widespread aeolian dust accumulation in the Chinese Loess Plateau since the early late Miocene

Currently mechanisms for the onset of the widespread aeolian dust accumulation in the Chinese Loess Plateau since 8–7 Ma remain elusive. In this study, we compile 11 records of climate (14–7 Ma) and tectonic activity of the Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent areas (15–6 Ma). The results suggest that strong tectonic activity in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau has produced massive debris and dust, which was deposited in the piedmont basins and reworked by weathering and fluviolacustrine erosion. At the same time, global cooling and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau over the period of 14–7 Ma intensified the East Asian winter monsoon and westerly winds (westerlies) while weakening the Asian summer monsoon, which led to the spread of dry land vegetation and aridification in interior China. Sediments in the piedmont basins were then exposed in the aridity and transported by the westerlies to the Chinese Loess Plateau and the North Pacific. We suggest that tectonic activity in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and shifting global climate together triggered the widespread aeolian dust accumulation in the Chinese Loess Plateau and the North Pacific since 8–7 Ma.     

近13万年来黄土高原干湿气候的时空变迁

第四纪时期，黄土高原粉尘物质的搬运、沉积及其后的成土过程受控于干湿气候的变化。对黄土高原这一特定地区而言，风成沉积序列在地域上的差异主要与东亚地区的季风环流在时间和空间上的变化有关。本文的研究揭示出，近１３万年里，最为显著的成壤期有６期，与这６个成壤期对应的时段也应当是夏季风环流加强、气候温湿的时期；在空间上，全新世适宜期及末次间冰期中与深海氧同位素阶段５ａ，５ｃ，５ｅ对应的时期，夏季风足可以深入到毛乌素沙漠腹地，并具有占优势的环境效应。在阶段３的早、晚期及５ｂ时期夏季风虽然也能深入沙漠－黄土边界带，但其环境效应在黄土高原北部及毛乌素沙漠南缘已不再显著。在阶段２、阶段４及阶段３的中期夏季风已不能深入沙漠－黄土边界带。     

Particle size characteristics of aeolian ripple crests and troughs

Ripples are prevalent in aeolian landscapes. Many researchers have focused on the shape and formation of sand ripples, but few have studied the differences in the particle size of sand on crests and in troughs along bed, especially the variations caused by changes in friction velocity and the wind‐blowing duration. A particle size of 158 μm (d ) was used to create aeolian ripples in a wind tunnel under four friction velocities (u *) with different wind duration times (t ). Samples were collected from the surfaces of ripple crests and troughs, respectively, at seven sites, and particle sizes were measured using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000. The main results were: (i) The particle size distributions of sand in troughs are unimodal with slight variations of particle size parameters, including mean particle size, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis, etc., under different conditions, while these particle size parameters of sand on crests change with friction velocity and deflation time. Moreover, some of the particle distribution curves for the sand on crests do not follow typical unimodal curves. (ii) With increasing friction velocity or deflation duration, the sand on the crests shows a coarsening process relative to those on the bed surface. The particle size of sand on crests at a 1 m bed increases linearly with friction velocity (d  =  344·27 + 34·54 u *) at a given wind‐blowing duration. The particle sizes of sand on crests at 1 m, 2 m and 4 m beds increase with a power‐law relationship (d  = a + t ^b, where a and b are fitting parameters) with deflation time at a given friction velocity. (iii) The probability cumulative curves of sand showed a three‐section pattern in troughs and on most of the crests but a four‐section pattern at crest locations due to increased influence by friction velocity and deflation time. The proportions of the sediment moved by suspension, saltation and creep in the three‐section pattern were within the ranges of 0·2% to 2·0%, 97·0% to 98·9%, and 0·8% to 3·0%, respectively. For the four‐section pattern, suspension accounted for 0·3% and 3·0%, and the proportion of creep increased with friction velocity and deflation time, while saltation decreased accordingly. Although these results require additional validation, they help to advance current understanding of the grain‐size characteristics of aeolian ripples.