SpringerLink
Log in

Variations of geochemical compositions and the paleoclimatic significance of a loess-soil sequence from Garzê County of western Sichuan Province, China

  • Articles / Geology
  • Published:
Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

The West Sichuan Plateau is located in the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau, where the climate is mainly influenced by the Indian southwest summer monsoon and the Tibetan Plateau monsoon. In this study, detailed geochemical analysis has been carried out on Ganzisi loess-paleosol sequence in Ganzê County of western Sichuan Province. The results indicate that Ganzê loess and paleosol have experienced the incipient stage of chemical weathering in dust source regions, characterized by the decomposition of plagioclase which caused the depletion of mobile elements Na and Ca. The post-depositional chemical weathering is characterized by carbonate dissolution and oxidation of Fe2+. The variations of some geochemical indexes (such as CIA values, Na/K and Fe2+/ Fe3+ ratios) in Ganzisi loess-paleosol sequence indicate a gradually decreased chemical weathering intensity in the dust source regions and deposition areas since 1.15 Ma BP consistent with the general increase of global ice volume, reflecting that the arid trend since 1.15 Ma BP in the southeast Tibetan Plateau is a regional response to the global climate change. The geochemical indexes in this section also reveal an obvious drying step occurred at about 250 ka BP in this region. We interpret this drying step as a result of decreased influence of the Indian southwest summer monsoon. This decrease in monsoon moisture is probably attributable to the uplift of the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau at about 250 ka BP.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Jiang F C, Wu X H, **ao H G, et al. The Ganzi loess stratigraphy in the West Sichuan Plateau (in Chinese). Acta Geos Sin, 1997, 18: 413–420

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pan B T, Wang J M. Loess record of Qinghai-**zang Plateau Monsoon variations in the eastern part of the plateau since the last interglacial (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 1999, 4: 330–335

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chen S Y, Fang X M, Wang S M. Relation between the loess stratigraphy on the eastern Tibetan Plateau and Indian monsoon (in Chinese). Mar Geol Quat Geol, 2002, 22: 41–46

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chen F B, Gao S H, Chen J L, et al. A preliminary study on Ganzi loess magnetostratigraphy (in Chinese). Chinese Sci Bull, 1990, 35: 1600

    Google Scholar 

  5. Fang X M, Chen F B, Shi Y F, et al. Ganzi loess and maximum glaciation on the Qinghai-**zang (Tibetan) Plateau (in Chinese). Chinese Sci Bull, 1996, 41: 1865–1867

    Google Scholar 

  6. Qiao Y S, Zhao Z Z, Wang Y, et al. Magnetostratigraphy and its paleoclimatic significance of a loess-soil sequence from Ganzi area, west Sichuan plateau (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 2006, 26: 250–256

    Google Scholar 

  7. Qiao Y S, Liu D Y, Li C Z, et al. Magnetostratigraphy of a loess-soil sequence in the garze area, western Sichuan (in Chinese). J Geomechan, 2007, 13: 289–295

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fang X M. The origin and provenance of Malan loess along eastern margin of Qinghai-**zang (Tibetan) Pleteau and its adjacent area (in Chinese). Sci China Ser B, 1995, 38: 876–887

    Google Scholar 

  9. Yan M D, Fang X M, Chen S Y, et al. Pleistocene magnetic susceptibility and paleomagnetism of the Tibetan loess and its implication on large climatic change events. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2001, 44(Suppl): 227–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Liu T S. Loess and the Environment (in Chinese). Bei**g: Science Press, 1985. 238–255

    Google Scholar 

  11. Wen Q Z. Geochemistry of the Chinese Loess (in Chinese). Bei**g: Science Press, 1989. 23–63

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chen J, An Z S, Liu L W, et al. Variations in chemical compositions of the eolian dust in Chinese Loess Plateau over past 2.5 Ma and chemical weathering in the Asian inland. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2001, 31: 136–145

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gu Z Y, Lal D, Liu T S, et al. Five million year 10Be record in Chinese loess and red-clay: Climate and weathering relationships. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 1996, 12: 701–709

    Google Scholar 

  14. Guo Z T, Liu T S, Fedoroff N, et al. Climate extremes in loess of China coupled with the strength of deep-water formation in the North Atlantic. Glob Planet Chang, 1998, 18: 113–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Gallet S, Jahn B M, Torii M. Geochemical characterization of the Luochuan loess-paleosol sequence, China, and paleoclimatic implications. Chem Geol, 1996, 133: 67–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gu Z Y, Ding Z L, **ong S F, et al. A seven million geochemical record from Chinese red-clay and loess-paleosol sequence: Weathering and erosion in northwestern China (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 1999, 4: 357–363

    Google Scholar 

  17. Han J T, Fyfe W S, Longstaffe F T. Climatic implications of S5 paleosol complex on the southermost Chinese Loess Plateau. Quat Res, 1998, 50: 21–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Chen J, Ji J F, Qiu G, et al. Geochemical studies on the intensity of chemical weathering in Luochuan loess-paleosol sequence, China. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 1998, 41: 235–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Diao G Y, Wen Q Z. The migration series of major elements during loess pedogenesis (in Chinese). Geol Geochem, 1999, 27: 21–25

    Google Scholar 

  20. Wen Q Z, Diao G Y, Jia R F, et al. Geochemical records of paleoclimate change in loess sections (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 1995, 3: 223–231

    Google Scholar 

  21. Taylor S R, Mclennan S M, McCulloch M T. Geochemistry of loess, continental crustal composition and crustal model ages. Geochem Cosmochim Acta, 1983, 47: 1897–1905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Wen Q Z, Diao G Y, Pan J Y, et al. Comparison of average chemical composition of loess in Loess Plateau with clark values of crust (in Chinese). Acta Pedol Sin, 1996, 33: 225–231

    Google Scholar 

  23. Taylor S R, Mclennan S M. The Continental Crust: Its Composition and Evolution. London: Blackwell, 1985. 277

    Google Scholar 

  24. Nesbitt H W, Young G M. Early Proterozoic climates and plate motions inferred from major chemistry of lutites. Nature, 1982, 299: 19–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Mclennan S M. Weathering and global denudation. J Geol, 1993, 101: 295–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Nesbitt H W, Markovices G, Price R C. Chemical processes affecting alkalis and alkaline earths during continental weathering. Geochem Cosmochim Acta, 1980, 44: 1659–1666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Sun F Q, Wen Q Z, Diao G Y, et al. On the geochemical characteristics of paleosol the change of chemical elements in loess during weathering process (in Chinese). Acta Pedol Sin, 1983, 20: 101–111

    Google Scholar 

  28. Shackleton N J, Hall M A, Plate D. Pliocene stable isotope strategraphy of Site 846. Proc ODP Sci Res, 1995, 138: 337–355

    Google Scholar 

  29. Wu H B, Guo Z T, Fang X M, et al. Extension of drylands in northern China around 250 ka B.P. linked with uplift of the southeast margin of Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Sci Bull, 2002, 47: 1739–1745

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Clemens S C, Prell W L. One million year record of summer monsoon winds and continental aridity from the Owen ridge (Site 722), northwest Arabian Sea. Proc ODP Sci Results, 1991, 117: 365–388

    Google Scholar 

  31. Guo Z T, Yao X F, Zhao X T, et al. A tropical paleosol at high elevation in the Yulong Mountains and its implication on the uplift of Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Sci Bull, 2000, 45: 1671–1676

    Google Scholar 

  32. Guo Z T, Wu H B, Wei J J, et al. Tentative estimate of the the southeast margin uplift of Qinghai-**zang Pleteau using organic carbon isotope composition of paleosols (in Chinese). Quat Sci, 2001, 21: 392–398

    Google Scholar 

  33. Qian F, Zhou G X. Quaternary Geology and Paleoanthropology of Yuanmou (in Chinese). Bei**g: Science Press, 1991. 155–157

    Google Scholar 

  34. Lü H Y, Wang S M, Wu N Q. A new pollen record of the last 2.8 Ma from the Co Ngoin. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2001, 44(Suppl): 292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Xu X H, Pei J X. Study on thermoluminescence age and the geological history of formation of the quaternary system and neotectonic activity in Dukou-**chang area (in Chinese). Chin J Geol, 1987, 4: 374–383

    Google Scholar 

  36. Liu Y, Zhao Z J, Li C L, et al. Formation of the Zagunao River terraces in Western Sichuan Plateau, China (in Chinese). Acta Geogr Sin, 2006, 61: 249–254

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Bei**g, 100081, China

    YanSong Qiao, ZhiZhong Zhao, Yan Wang, JianLi Fu, ShuBing Wang & FuChu Jiang

  2. Key Laboratory of Neotectonic Movement & Geohazard, Bei**g, 100081, China

    YanSong Qiao & FuChu Jiang

Authors
  1. YanSong Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. ZhiZhong Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. JianLi Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. ShuBing Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. FuChu Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to YanSong Qiao.

Additional information

Supported by the Geological Survey Program (Grant Nos. 1212010741403 and 1212010541401), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 404720 88) and Basic Research Foundation of Institute of Geomechanics (Grant No. DZLXJK200711)

About this article

Cite this article

Qiao, Y., Zhao, Z., Wang, Y. et al. Variations of geochemical compositions and the paleoclimatic significance of a loess-soil sequence from Garzê County of western Sichuan Province, China. Chin. Sci. Bull. 54, 4697–4703 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-009-0544-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-009-0544-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation