Spatial distribution characteristics of grain size and geochemical elements of surface sediments in the Mu Bulag River
Riparian dunes are ubiquitous in the main deserts all over the world,and their uniqueness is promin-ently reflected in the wind-water geomorphic process.In this study,the characteristics and variations of particle size and element composition were obtained through the analysis of the particle sizes and geochemical ele-ments in the surface sediments from the Mu Bulag River located in the Hobq Desert.For characteristics of the particle size composition,the samples collected in 2013 and 2019 were extremely fine sand and dust sand,which accounted for more than 70%with narrow kurtosis and good sorting.These results of the sediments dis-played typical aeolian characteristics.However,the samples collected in 2019 presented a coarser particle size and better sorting compared with that obtained in 2013.The Si and Al were the dominant elements for chemic-al composition in the sediments.Considering the average chemical composition of the upper continental crust(UCC),the loss of most chemical elements in 2019 were higher than with that in 2013.The A-CN-K diagrams revealed that the chemical weathering degree was low in the surface materials of riparian dunes in the basin,in-dicating a weak stage of removing Na and Ca,while other elements experienced unremarkable chemical weath-ering or migration.As for the samples from different river sections in both 2013 and 2019,the particle sizes be-longed to finer with narrower kurtosis and better sorting,and thus the aeolian characteristics were more obvi-ous from the upper to the middle and lower reaches of the river.Compared with the average chemical composi-tion of the UCC,the consistency of element changes trends of samples in four sections in 2013 was more re-markable.For the basin scale,the physical and chemical characteristics of surface sediments of riparian dunes in different years showed great similarities,and these results can be attributed to the influences of parent rocks and the dynamic balance in surface materials under the alternate action of wind and water.
grain sizegeochemical elementsaeolian-fluvial interactionsriparian dunesthe Mu Bulag River