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Sr-Nd isotopic characteristics of different particle-size fractions of eolian sands in the deserts of northern China

RAO Wen-bo1,3, CHEN Jun2, YANG Jie-dong2, JI Jun-feng2, LI Gao-jun2   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Hehai University, Nanjing 210098, China; 2. Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China; 3. Research Academy of Hehai University, Nanjing 210098, China
  • Received:2009-06-20 Revised:2009-06-20 Online:2009-06-20 Published:2009-06-20

Abstract: Sr-Nd isotopic compositions of different grain-size fractions of eolian sand samples collected from Gurbantunggut,Tengger and Ordos deserts are investigated in detail. TheεN(d 0) and 87Sr/86Sr values vary from -3 to -5.3 and from 0.712452 to 0.716895, respectively in the Gurbantunggut desert, between -9.9 ~ -12.3 and 0.716753 ~ 0.723033, respectively in the Tengger desert, and between -13.1 ~ -18 and 0.714028 ~ 0.716780, respectively in the Ordos desert. These desert sands with different Sr-Nd isotopic ratios imply their distinct provenances. The Nd isotopic values of eolian sands are dependent on geology and relief of the deserts. The Sr isotopic ratios of eolian sands are affected not only by geology and relief of the deserts, but also by particle sorting and mineral weathering. The isotopic compositions of different particle-size fractions of eolian sands in the Gurbantunggut desert have similar variations to those in the Tengger desert, but distinct from those in the Ordos desert. Fine and coarse sands in the Ordos desert have different sources, of which, the fine sand (especially the < 2 μm fraction) perhaps came partially from foreign sources. However, different grain-size fractions of eolian sands in other deserts have same provenances without the input of foreign sources.