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Changes in mineralogy of loess–paleosol sections across the Chinese Loess Plateau

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Gi Young Jeong ,
Stephen Hillier  and
Rob A. Kemp
Gi Young Jeong*
Affiliation:
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Andong National University, Andong 760-749, Republic of Korea
Stephen Hillier
Affiliation:
Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK
Rob A. Kemp
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
*
⁎Corresponding author. Fax: +82 54 823 1627.
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Abstract

Quantitative mineralogical analysis of bulk samples and single particles was carried out on three loess sections of different local climate settings on the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). Mineralogy, geochemistry, and single-particle petrography of loess and paleosols are relatively uniform over the CLP. However, in detail, there are mineralogical changes related to eolian process and chemical weathering. Particle-size sorting eastward from western sources led to an eastward increase of the total phyllosilicate contents enriched in fine illitic clay minerals. After deposition, detrital minerals susceptible to chemical weathering were sequentially altered in a progressive fashion with increasing precipitation in the order of calcite, dolomite, biotite, illite, chlorite, amphibole, and plagioclase. The weathering of biotite, chlorite, and illite resulted in a significant increase of expandable phyllosilicate contents. The sequential weathering of the minerals is reflected chemically in the decrease of Na and Mg and the increase of iron oxidation. Mineralogy of the Chinese loess at individual sites reflects the effects of size fractionation during eolian transportation and progressive sequential weathering along the climatic gradient, and it is essential to consider both effects when using mineralogical and dependent chemical data in the paleoclimatic reconstruction of the CLP.

Keywords

LoessPaleosolMineralogyGeochemistryPetrographyMonsoonSortingWeatheringPaleoclimate
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 75 , Issue 1 , January 2011 , pp. 245 - 255
Copyright
University of Washington

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