Sedimentology (2004) 51, 211–230 doi: 10.1046/j.1365-3091.2003.00618.

Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China

MASATOSHI HONDA* 1 , SADAYO YABUKI* and HIRO SHI SHIMIZU

*The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Wako 351-0198, Japan

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University,
Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan (E-mail: shimizu@geol.sci.hiroshima-u.ac.jp)

ABSTRACT

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 eNd(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 eNd(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.
Keywords China, desert sand, loess, Nd isotopic data, rare earth element, Sr
isotopic data.

INTRODUCTION Regional variations in the composition of the

In this paper, Sr and Nd isotopic data, rare earth
element (REE) abundances and major element
compositions are reported for loess deposits and
desert sands from several localities covering
north-west, north-east and north-central China.
1 China, thick loess covers more than 273 000 km2.
Present address: Institute for Frontier Research on
Earth Evolution (IFREE), Japan Marine Science and
Technology Center (JAMSTEC), 2–15 Natsusima-cho,
Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan. (E-mail: hondamasa@
jamstec.go.jp)

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists
loesses and desert sands are examined and com-
pared with previously reported data (e.g. Taylor
et al., 1983; Liu et al., 1993, 1994; Ishii et al.,
1995; Gallet et al., 1996; Honda & Shimizu, 1998),
with the aim of constraining the provenance of the
Chinese loess deposits.
Pleistocene aeolian loess covers about 10% of
the earth’s surface. In the Loess Plateau, central
Elsewhere in China (Fig. 1), thick and extensive
loess is also found on the foothills of the
Tianshan, Kunlun and Altun Mountains around
the Tarim and Junggar basins, north-west China
211
212 M. Honda et al.

Fig. 1. Sampling localities showing the distribution of loess in China (Pye, 1987). Sampling sites, both for loesses
and desert sands, are labelled numerically, with the numbers referring to Table 1. Arrows display the routes of the
cold air outbreaks and dust transport patterns based on meteorological satellite images (Sun et al., 2001).

(Pye, 1987). In addition, less extensive loess ical data have been reported for loess samples
deposits occur in other areas such as north- from other areas of China.
eastern and south-eastern China. Gallet et al. As Chinese desert sands are a possible source
(1996) were the first to report systematic geo- for Chinese loess, Liu et al. (1993, 1994) reported
chemical and isotopic data for loess from the geochemical and isotopic data for two desert
Loess Plateau. However, no systematic geochem- sands from the south-western Tarim Basin and

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China 213

north-western China. Chang et al. (2000) presen-
ted corresponding data for five desert sands from
the north Taklimakan Desert (total area

337 000 km2). However, to determine the prov-
enance of Chinese loess, more geochemical and
isotopic data, as well as mineralogical data, are
required for the desert sands and loess deposits
across China.
SAMPLES AND ANALYTICAL METHODS
The localities of the samples analysed in this study
are shown in Fig. 1, and a sample list is given in
Table 1. Most loess samples were collected from
the foothills of the Kunlun and Tianshan Moun-
tains in the Tarim and Junggar basins, north-
western China. Loesses were also collected from
the Ordos area in northern China and the Naiman
area in north-eastern China. The Ordos area is
located north of the Loess Plateau, and the Naiman
area is located in Inner Mongolia, at the eastern
foothills of the Daxing’anling Mountains.
Most of the desert sands were collected from
the Taklimakan Desert of the Tarim Basin in
north-western China, while others were collected
from the Tengger and Mu-us Deserts, north of the
Loess Plateau. Desert sand samples were also
collected from the Naiman area in north-eastern
China (Fig. 1). Some geochemical, mineralogical
and sedimentological features of the samples
used in this study have been reported previously
by Ishii et al. (1995) and Honda & Shimizu (1998).
The Sr and Nd isotopic data, REE and major
element compositions, together with mineral and
grain-size proportions, are reported for bulk
samples of loess and desert sands. In addition,
size-segregated fractions (mainly finer than
45 lm) of some sand samples from the Taklima-
kan Desert were analysed for REE and Sr and Nd
isotope ratios to examine the effect of grain size.
Selected loess samples were leached with acetic
acid in order to analyse the silicate and carbonate
fractions for REE and Sr isotope ratios. The
carbonate fraction was extracted from 1 g of bulk
sample, using 10 ml of 25% (volume) acetic acid
and shaken in an automatic shaker for 2–4 h,
followed by centrifugation for 10 min at
2000 r.p.m. This leaching procedure is described
in detail by Rea & Janecek (1981).
The grain-size and major element analyses
and the determination of the mineralogy were
undertaken according to methods described by
Honda & Shimizu (1998). Mineral proportions

Table 1. Sample list.

Type Locality Site Sample no.
Loess Tarim Basin 49 H91903a
105 9315-1
124 9403-2*
128 9407-1
129 9408-1*
132 9411
134 9413-1
142 9420-1*
Junggar Basin 90 9217
119 9329-1
Ordos China2, China4
Naiman 201 9333
204 9336
Desert sand Taklimakan Pishan 2811, 931017Æ3-b
Desert Qira 3001, 3003, 3004,
931014Æ1-b, 931014Æ2
Mazartag 931023Æ5-b, 931023Æ6-b
Yaogantuogelake 901018
41 H91701
44 H91801
46 H91803
62 KA92302B, KA92302C

Naiman 213 9345
Tengger Desert 881023, 990730
Mu-us Desert China1, China3, 881026

*Loess-like deposit.

Old dune sand.

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

214 M. Honda et al.

were determined by X-ray diffraction, and major
element compositions were determined using an
X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Philips PW1404
and Rigaku Simultex12). Replicate analyses in-
dicate that precision is better than 5% for P2O5
and better than 3% for all other major elements.
The REE, Rb and Sr abundances were deter-
mined using an inductively coupled plasma mass
spectrometer (ICP-MS; VG PQ3) after decomposi-
tion of sample powder with HF and HClO4 in a
Teflon vessel sealed with a screw cap. Before
isotope analysis on a thermal ionization mass
spectrometer (TIMS; VG Sector 54), Sr and Nd
were separated using cation exchange resin and
Ln resin. Details of separation chemistry and
analytical techniques are given in Shimizu et al.
(2000). Replicate analyses indicate the precision
of REE, Sr and Rb abundance determinations to be
better than 5% in general. Total blanks for REE
were less than 1% for all REE. The measured Sr
and Nd isotopic ratios were normalized against
86
Sr/88Sr ¼ 0Æ1194 and 146Nd/144Nd ¼ 0Æ7219
respectively. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio for the NBS987
Sr standard during sample measurement was
0Æ71023 ± 0Æ00002 (2r), and the 143Nd/144Nd ratio
for the JNdi)1 Nd standard was 0Æ51210 ± 0Æ00001
(2r). For convenience, the parameter eNd(0) ¼
[(143Nd/144Nd)sample/(143Nd/144Nd)CHUR ) 1] · 104
is used, where (143Nd/144Nd)CHUR ¼ 0Æ512638
(DePaolo & Wasserburg, 1976; Jacobsen &
Wasserburg, 1980).
RESULTS
Texture and mineralogical composition
Grain-size distribution parameters (Table 2) for
the Tengger and Mu-us Desert sands, together
with previously reported loesses and desert sands
(Ishii et al., 1995; Honda & Shimizu, 1998), were
calculated according to the equation of Folk &
Ward (1957). Differences in grain-size composi-
tions are clearly observed between desert sand
samples and loess samples, with mainly sand-
sized grains for the former and silt-sized grains
for the latter. Median grain sizes are 5–7/
(0Æ0078–0Æ031 mm) for the loess samples and
2–3/ (0Æ125–0Æ25 mm) for the desert sands
(Table 2). Differences in grain-size distribution
are not observed between the desert sands or
between loesses from the various areas, although
loesses of the Tarim Basin are better sorted than
those of the Loess Plateau.
The mineral composition for representative
loess samples from the Tarim and Junggar basins
and the Naiman area, and desert sands from the
Taklimakan, Tengger, Mu-us deserts and the
Naiman area are given in Table 3. The loesses
commonly comprise quartz as the major constitu-
ent (55–61%), followed by feldspars (15–30%)
and calcite (8–12%). Mica contents are variable
among the loesses: Tarim Basin (17%), Junggar
Basin (7%) and Naiman area (< 3%). These
features are similar to typical loess, which is
reported to have 50–70% quartz, 5–30% feld-
spars, 5–10% mica, 0–30% carbonate and
10–15% clay minerals (Pye, 1987).
Figure 2 shows typical scanning electron micro-
scope (SEM) photographs of carbonate grains for
loesses from the Tarim and Junggar basins, and the
Ordos and Naiman areas. Calcite in the Naiman
loess differs from that of the other areas in terms of
shape: it is angular or subangular (2–3q in the
q-scale of Folk, 1955) compared with subrounded
or rounded (4–5q) for the other regions. Very fine
particles (chiefly quartz, feldspar and clay miner-
als of 2–3 lm diameter or less) often adhere to the
surface of the carbonate grains. The abundance of
these fine particles is significantly lower for the
calcite from the Naiman loess compared to the
other areas.

Table 2. Grain-size distribution parameters (in /-scale) of loesses and desert sands in China calculated with Folk
and Ward’s (1957) formula (/ ¼ )3Æ3219 log d, d ¼ diameter of grain size in mm).

Type Locality Mean Median Sorting Skewness Kurtosis No. of samples Reference
Loess Tarim Basin 5Æ0–6Æ9 4Æ8–7Æ0 0Æ90–1Æ5 +0Æ14 to +0Æ37
1Æ1–1Æ2 2 1
Junggar Basin 4Æ3–7Æ5 4Æ5–7Æ5 0Æ85–2Æ1 )0Æ41 to +0Æ45
1Æ0–1Æ8 5 1
Naiman 6Æ2–7Æ1 6Æ7–7Æ6 1Æ7–2Æ4 +0Æ22 to +0Æ49
0Æ81–1Æ3 3 1
Desert sand Taklimakan Desert 0Æ20–4Æ0 0Æ13–4Æ0 0Æ27–1Æ7 )0Æ64 to +0Æ62
0Æ42–1Æ9 37 1, 2
Tengger Desert 2Æ7 2Æ7 0Æ30 )0Æ13 1Æ2 1 3
Mu-us Desert 3Æ0 3Æ0 0Æ46 +0Æ02 1Æ1 1 3
Naiman 1Æ9–2Æ7 1Æ9–2Æ7 0Æ39–1Æ0 )0Æ01 to +0Æ23 1Æ0–1Æ2 3 1

References: (1) Ishii et al. (1995); (2) Honda & Shimizu (1998); (3) This study.

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China 215
Table 3. Distribution of minerals (%) in the Chinese loesses and desert sands.

Type Locality Site Sample no. Quartz Feldspars Calcite Mica Epidote Calcite*
Loess Tarim Basin 49 H91903a 55 15 11Æ3 16Æ7 2Æ4 15Æ5
105 9315–1 57 16 12Æ3 11Æ6 2Æ7 27Æ8
Jungar Basin 90 9217 60 20 10Æ6 7Æ4 2Æ4 10Æ6
Naiman 201 9333 61 30 7Æ8 – 1Æ3 15Æ6
Desert sand Taklimakan Desert 41 H91701 64 25 8Æ5 – 2Æ1 8Æ5
44 H91801 51 31 8Æ3 8Æ5 1Æ7
62 KA92302B 58 29 10Æ7 – 2Æ4 11Æ3
62 KA92302C
36 26 11Æ8 22Æ4 3Æ8 16Æ2
Tengger Desert 881023 51 38 4Æ8 3Æ4 2Æ7 <0Æ1
Mu-us Desert 881026 66 26 6Æ4 – 1Æ9 0Æ7
Naiman 213 9345 72 21 4Æ9 – 1Æ6 <0Æ1

Data were normalized to 100% in total. Calcite*¼ calcite (%) calculated from major element composition, assuming
Ca:Na ¼ 1:3 (on a molar basis) in plagioclase (see text).

Old dune sand.

For the Taklimakan Desert sands (Table 3),
quartz is the major constituent (51–64%), fol-
lowed by feldspars (25–31%) and calcite (8Æ4–
11Æ8%). The mineral composition is similar to
that reported for the same desert sand by Honda &
Shimizu (1998), in which quartz is the main
constituent mineral (30–50%), and subordinate
feldspars, calcite and mica are also present.
Desert sands from the Tengger and Mu-us deserts
and the Naiman area have lower calcite contents
(5–6%) than the Taklimakan Desert sands (9–
12%). The Naiman desert sample (9345) has the
highest quartz content (72%) among the desert
sands analysed.
Major element compositions
Major element compositions for the loesses and
desert sands obtained in this study are listed in
Table 4 and normalized against average upper
continental crust (UCC; Taylor & McLennan,
1985) in Figure 3.
The most remarkable feature of the major ele-
ment compositions of the loesses and desert sands
is the large variation in CaO, mainly reflecting the
variable calcite content. Among the desert sands,
the Taklimakan Desert sands are enriched in CaO
against UCC, whereas CaO is depleted in the
Tengger, Mu-us and Naiman desert sands (Fig. 3).
Calcite contents of the Taklimakan Desert sands
are also higher than those of the other desert sands
(Table 3). The Naiman sand sample (9345) shows
the lowest UCC-normalized values for TiO2,
Al2O3, Fe2O3, MgO and CaO on account of its
high quartz content.
Among the Chinese loesses, the Tarim Basin
samples display CaO enrichment relative to UCC.
A similar enrichment is also commonly observed
in loesses from the Junggar Basin, the Naiman area
(this study; Fig. 3) and the Loess Plateau (Liu et al.,
1993; Gallet et al., 1996), with different enrich-
ment patterns in the Tarim Basin samples. The
UCC-normalized values of 2Æ2–4Æ9 for the Tarim
samples are higher than those of 2Æ0–2Æ5 for the
Junggar, Naiman and Loess Plateau samples. Three
of the five Tarim Basin loesses have high CaO
contents of 13%, 14% and 20%, with LOI (loss on
ignition at 980 C) of 13%, 14% and 17% (Table
4), whereas loesses from the other areas have CaO
contents less than
10% (e.g. Gallet et al., 1996;
this study). The high LOI values suggest that the
high CaO enrichment in the Tarim Basin loesses
also results from high carbonate contents. In
contrast, the Ordos loess shows CaO depletion,
with a UCC-normalized value of 0Æ8. Nanjing loess
is also depleted in CaO, with a UCC-normalized
value < 0Æ5 (Taylor et al., 1983).
Compared with desert sands from the same
area, loesses are generally characterized by lower
SiO2 and higher MgO, which suggests lower
quartz and higher Mg-bearing mafic phases for
the loesses relative to the desert sands (Tables 3
and 4). The difference in mineral proportions
between the loesses and desert sands seems to be
related to the grain-size difference between
them: loesses comprise mainly silt-sized grains,
whereas the desert sands are composed of sand-
sized grains. This is consistent with the observa-
tion by Honda & Shimizu (1998) that quartz
increases and epidote decreases in coarser frac-
tions of the Taklimakan desert sands.
In order to compare the major element compo-
sitions of the silicate fractions (i.e. compositions
on a carbonate-free basis), the data for loess and

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

216 M. Honda et al.

A D

10µm 10µm

B E

10µm
1µm

1µm

Fig. 2. SEM (scanning electron microscope) photographs of calcite grains in loess from (A and B) the Tarim Basin, (C)
the Junggar Basin, (D) the Ordos area and (E) the Naiman area.

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China 217
Table 4. Major element compositions (wt%) for loesses and desert sands in China.

Type Locality Site Sample no. SiO2 TiO2 Al2O3 Fe2O3* MnO MgO CaO Na2O K2O P2O5 Total LOI
CIA
Loess Tarim 49 H91903a 60Æ30 0Æ54 13Æ73 5Æ08 0Æ08 3Æ39 10Æ03 2Æ11 3Æ18 0Æ15 98Æ59 59Æ5
Basin 49 H91903a§ 65Æ36 0Æ64 15Æ10 5Æ97 0Æ06 2Æ96 1Æ56 2Æ10 3Æ43 0Æ15 97Æ33 63Æ3
105 9315-1 52Æ34 0Æ59 12Æ68 4Æ69 0Æ09 3Æ53 15Æ91 1Æ62 2Æ81 0Æ16 94Æ41 62Æ6
105 9315-1§ 55Æ14 0Æ67 13Æ37 5Æ29 0Æ05 2Æ72 6Æ20 1Æ70 2Æ97 0Æ16 88Æ27 49Æ8
124 9403-2– 53Æ02 0Æ40 10Æ74 3Æ24 0Æ06 2Æ46 14Æ16 2Æ15 2Æ35 0Æ09 88Æ66 12Æ56 55Æ7
128 9407-1 61Æ46 0Æ66 13Æ18 4Æ96 0Æ09 2Æ78 9Æ74 1Æ79 3Æ03 0Æ14 97Æ83 9Æ56 61Æ5
129 9408-1– 62Æ26 0Æ55 13Æ38 4Æ48 0Æ08 2Æ68 9Æ39 2Æ06 3Æ50 0Æ21 98Æ58 8Æ60 58Æ4
134 9413-1 57Æ27 0Æ65 13Æ51 5Æ16 0Æ07 3Æ76 12Æ99 1Æ67 2Æ99 0Æ21 98Æ28 13Æ61 63Æ1
142 9420-1– 55Æ36 0Æ54 11Æ07 3Æ95 0Æ08 3Æ33 20Æ27 2Æ80 1Æ48 0Æ15 99Æ02 17Æ40 54Æ0
Junggar 90 9217 61Æ40 0Æ70 13Æ93 5Æ00 0Æ10 2Æ76 8Æ12 3Æ43 2Æ59 0Æ18 98Æ21 52Æ9
Basin 90 9217§ 61Æ84 0Æ73 14Æ28 5Æ33 0Æ08 2Æ34 3Æ67 2Æ20 2Æ81 0Æ17 93Æ45 57Æ9
119 9329-1 61Æ86 0Æ66 13Æ46 4Æ80 0Æ09 2Æ64 9Æ70 2Æ11 2Æ69 0Æ16 98Æ15 9Æ57 60Æ4
Ordos China2 74Æ49 0Æ57 11Æ00 3Æ98 0Æ06 1Æ13 3Æ49 1Æ82 2Æ86 0Æ10 99Æ49 57Æ4
China2§ 75Æ24 0Æ54 11Æ07 3Æ76 0Æ04 1Æ01 1Æ00 1Æ84 2Æ83 0Æ09 97Æ42 60Æ9
Naiman 204 9336 64Æ74 0Æ64 13Æ08 3Æ49 0Æ06 1Æ42 10Æ34 2Æ41 2Æ77 0Æ10 99Æ06 57Æ3
204 9336§ 69Æ05 0Æ79 14Æ36 4Æ47 0Æ08 1Æ48 1Æ80 2Æ54 2Æ97 0Æ10 97Æ64 60Æ9
Desert Taklimakan 41 H91701 67Æ39 0Æ48 13Æ26 3Æ82 0Æ07 2Æ15 6Æ87 3Æ16 2Æ77 0Æ08 100Æ04 4Æ16 52Æ8
sand Desert 46 H91803 70Æ16 0Æ51 11Æ63 3Æ24 0Æ07 1Æ90 6Æ28 2Æ57 2Æ69 0Æ10 99Æ14 5Æ02 53Æ5
62 KA92302B 72Æ86 0Æ30 9Æ76 2Æ13 0Æ04 1Æ57 7Æ88 2Æ35 2Æ04 0Æ07 99Æ01 6Æ59 52Æ6
62 KA92302C# 68Æ89 0Æ46 10Æ16 2Æ91 0Æ06 2Æ22 10Æ54 2Æ21 1Æ90 0Æ12 99Æ46 8Æ94 55Æ3
Tengger 881023 81Æ57 0Æ35 8Æ79 2Æ50 0Æ04 0Æ78 0Æ91 2Æ01 2Æ07 0Æ03 99Æ03 1Æ41 52Æ8
Desert 990730 82Æ43 0Æ29 9Æ05 1Æ97 0Æ03 0Æ68 0Æ82 1Æ99 2Æ04 0Æ05 99Æ36 58Æ9
Mu-us 881026 81Æ65 0Æ31 8Æ87 2Æ14 0Æ04 0Æ77 1Æ67 2Æ02 2Æ11 0Æ05 99Æ62 2Æ09 52Æ8
Desert
Naiman 213 9345 87Æ62 0Æ17 6Æ28 1Æ48 0Æ05 0Æ35 0Æ41 1Æ11 2Æ45 0Æ01 99Æ92 0Æ52 52Æ2

*Fe2O3 as total iron.

LOI ¼ loss on ignition at 980 C. Total is calculated on a LOI-free basis.
CIA ¼ chemical index of alteration (Nesbitt & Young, 1982; see text). CIA is calculated by assuming Ca:Na of the
silicate fraction is 1:3, except for leached loess samples.
§Leached samples.
–Loess-like deposit.
#Old dune sand.

desert sand samples are plotted as molar propor-
tions in the ternary Al2O3–(CaO* + Na2O)–K2O
diagram, referred to as an A-CN-K diagram (Nes-
bitt & Young, 1984, 1989, 1996; Nesbitt et al.,
1996), where CaO* represents CaO associated
with the silicate fraction (Fig. 4). In addition, the
CIA (chemical index of alteration) defined by
Nesbitt & Young (1982) was also used as an
index for characterizing the chemical features of
the loesses and desert sands: CIA ¼ [Al2O3/
(Al2O3 + CaO* + Na2O + K2O)] · 100 (ratio in
molecular proportions). The CIA value represents
the relative clay mineral content and indicates the
degree of alteration of feldspar to clay minerals.
CaO* is calculated by estimating the Ca/Na
ratio of the silicate fraction, particularly for
plagioclase. Estimation of the Ca/Na ratio is diffi-
cult, however, as shown by our EPMA analyses
that document a large variation in Ca/Na (0Æ003–
1Æ082) for 16 plagioclase grains from the Taklimakan
Desert sands. In this study, CaO* was calculated
using the equation CaO* ¼ 0Æ35 · 2 · (wt.% of

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
Na2O)/62 (Nesbitt & Young, 1982; Honda &
Shimizu, 1998), where the plagioclase compo-
nents were assumed to be those of average UCC,
about a 1:3 ratio of Ca:Na on a molar basis (Taylor
& McLennan, 1985), and the A-CN-K diagram
shown in Fig. 4 is plotted using Ca:Na ¼ 1:3.
Molar ratios of Ca:Na ¼ 1:1 and 1:20 were also
examined on the basis of the electron microprobe
analysis of the plagioclase grains. However, a
comparison of CaO*-corrected loess data with the
leached loess data indicates that the loess whole-
rock samples plot nearest to the leached loess
samples in the ternary diagrams when
Ca:Na ¼ 1:3 was used. Irrespective of the Ca:Na
ratio chosen, the A-CN-K diagram shows the same
compositional differences and trends. The loess
has a larger A (higher CIA) component in the
A-CN-K plot than the desert sands, indicating a
higher clay mineral component. In Fig. 4, desert
sands, except for the Naiman sample, plot in a
narrow range, and it is suggested that the CaO
content variation observed for the whole-rock
218 M. Honda et al.
Fig. 3. UCC-normalized major element compositions of (A and B) loesses, (C) leached loess and (D) desert sands
(UCC: average upper continental crust; Taylor & McLennan, 1985).
samples of these desert sands results mainly from
carbonate content variation.
REE patterns
The REE abundances are given in Table 5, and
REE patterns normalized against chondrite values
(Masuda et al., 1973; Masuda, 1975) are shown in
Fig. 5. Chinese loesses and desert sands show
light REE-enriched patterns with negative Eu
anomalies. The loesses show less variable REE
abundances and patterns than the desert sands.
Moreover, the desert sands show some regional
variation, whereas the loesses display only minor
regional variations.
The Taklimakan Desert sands have similar REE
abundances (Nd abundances ¼ 14–46 p.p.m.)
and possess similar REE patterns (Nd/Yb
ratios ¼ 10–17) to UCC. Desert sands from the
Tengger and Mu-us deserts and the Naiman area
tend to have lower REE abundances (Nd ¼ 11–12,
10–11 and 7 p.p.m. respectively) and less steep
patterns (Nd/Yb ¼ 9–10, 11–12 and 5 respect-
ively) than UCC and the Taklimakan Desert
sands. On the other hand, REE abundances and

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
patterns for all the loesses, including those from
the Tarim and Junggar basins and the Ordos and
Naiman areas, fall within a narrow range
(Nd ¼ 20–30 p.p.m. and Nd/Yb ¼ 10–15) and
are similar to UCC.
The finer than 45 lm fractions of the Taklima-
kan Desert sands have higher REE abundances
(Nd ¼ 35–97 p.p.m.) and similar patterns
(Nd/Yb ¼ 13–17) to the whole-rock samples.
The variation of REE patterns and abundances
with grain size for the desert sand sample 3003
(Qira, the Taklimakan Desert) is shown in Fig. 5,
with the highest abundances in the finer than
45 lm fraction and the lowest abundances in the
coarsest, 300–600 lm fraction. The 150–300 lm
fraction, the modal grain-size fraction (
50%,
Honda & Shimizu, 1997), has a similar REE
pattern and abundance to the whole-rock sample.
The REE abundance variation with grain size is
discussed below.
The P2O5-Nd, (Fe2O3 + MgO)/Al2O3-Nd and
TiO2-Nd diagrams (Fig. 6) show a broad positive
correlation for the desert sands and loesses,
suggesting that the REE systematics of these
sediments are controlled by mineral assemblages
 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China 219

A
Ka, Ch, Gi CIA
100

Sm Il, Mu

chemical
weathering

Pl Ks, Bi
50

Ep

UCC
0
CN K

Loess UCC: average Upper Continental Crust Ka: kaolin

Tarim Basin (Taylor & McLennan, 1985) Ch: chlorite
Junggar Basin Gi: gibbsite
Ordos Sm: smectite
Naiman A=Al2O3
Il: illite
CN=CaO*+Na2O Mu: muscovite
leached loess K=K2O Pl: plagioclase
Ks: k-feldspar
Desert sands Bi: biotite
Taklimakan Desert Ep: epidotes
Tengger Desert
Mu-us Desert
Naiman

Fig. 4. A-CN-K diagram showing the relative major element compositions for silicate fraction of Chinese loesses and
desert sands. CIA (chemical index of alternation; Nesbitt & Young, 1982) ¼ Al2O3/(Al2O3 + CaO* + Na2O +
K2O) · 100 in molecular ratio (see text).

such as apatite, mafic minerals (e.g. hornblende, sphene were observed in the Taklimakan Desert
biotite) and Ti-bearing minerals (e.g. rutile, sands by point-counting. In Loess standard
sphene). Minor amounts (< 2%) of apatite and material (CJ-1; prepared by the National Institute

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
 220

Table 5. REE abundances (p.p.m.) for whole rock samples of loesses (A) and desert sands (B) in China.

Locality Site Sample no. Y La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu Nd/Yb

A
Tarim 49 H91903a 17Æ9 26Æ1 54Æ1 6Æ29 24Æ0 4Æ65 1Æ04 4Æ09 0Æ642 3Æ77 0Æ724 2Æ09 0Æ301 1Æ90 0Æ301 12Æ6
Basin 105 9315-1 22Æ0 29Æ4 60Æ9 6Æ95 26Æ2 5Æ06 1Æ03 4Æ50 0Æ710 4Æ18 0Æ799 2Æ35 0Æ354 2Æ29 0Æ349 11Æ4
124 9403-2* 22Æ3 35Æ9 76Æ4 8Æ86 31Æ2 5Æ81 0Æ761 5Æ38 0Æ765 4Æ37 0Æ849 2Æ40 0Æ340 2Æ20 0Æ317 14Æ2
128 9407-1 24Æ6 33Æ8 70Æ2 8Æ12 30Æ5 6Æ10 1Æ20 5Æ31 0Æ863 4Æ87 0Æ899 2Æ71 0Æ414 2Æ62 0Æ394 11Æ6
M. Honda et al.

129 9408-1* 29Æ6 42Æ5 88Æ6 9Æ84 36Æ0 6Æ92 1Æ06 5Æ85 0Æ883 5Æ22 0Æ997 2Æ88 0Æ437 3Æ01 0Æ461 12Æ0
132 9411 24Æ7 39Æ3 82Æ8 9Æ34 33Æ5 6Æ49 1Æ09 5Æ61 0Æ824 4Æ76 0Æ932 2Æ66 0Æ379 2Æ47 0Æ365 13Æ6
134 9413-1 20Æ3 27Æ3 57Æ6 6Æ61 24Æ2 4Æ76 1Æ03 4Æ26 0Æ695 3Æ96 0Æ778 2Æ26 0Æ327 2Æ14 0Æ314 11Æ3
142 9420-1* 19Æ1 26Æ3 52Æ7 6Æ11 22Æ7 4Æ40 0Æ951 3Æ98 0Æ621 3Æ62 0Æ664 1Æ98 0Æ301 1Æ95 0Æ298 11Æ6
Junggar 90 9217 25Æ7 27Æ4 57Æ9 6Æ79 26Æ4 5Æ34 1Æ16 4Æ78 0Æ763 4Æ67 0Æ898 2Æ63 0Æ390 2Æ58 0Æ392 10Æ2
Basin 119 9329-1 23Æ8 26Æ9 56Æ6 6Æ81 26Æ2 5Æ32 1Æ19 4Æ91 0Æ770 4Æ60 0Æ847 2Æ54 0Æ393 2Æ67 0Æ396 9Æ81
Ordos China2 16Æ1 24Æ5 50Æ8 5Æ77 21Æ0 4Æ08 0Æ953 3Æ41 0Æ535 3Æ09 0Æ620 1Æ83 0Æ284 1Æ80 0Æ275 11Æ7
China4 23Æ1 30Æ6 64Æ4 7Æ55 28Æ0 5Æ37 1Æ11 4Æ90 0Æ709 4Æ25 0Æ822 2Æ41 0Æ342 2Æ33 0Æ343 12Æ0
Naiman 201 9333 22Æ7 30Æ1 64Æ3 7Æ53 27Æ5 5Æ50 1Æ14 4Æ68 0Æ756 4Æ34 0Æ894 2Æ58 0Æ383 2Æ59 0Æ394 10Æ6
204 9336 21Æ4 26Æ2 55Æ4 6Æ55 24Æ4 4Æ64 1Æ07 4Æ45 0Æ655 3Æ80 0Æ789 2Æ27 0Æ337 2Æ36 0Æ331 10Æ3
B
Taklimakan Pishan 2811 23Æ2 31Æ9 66Æ1 7Æ48 27Æ3 5Æ07 0Æ967 4Æ33 0Æ678 3Æ81 0Æ951 2Æ17 0Æ303 2Æ11 0Æ303 12Æ9
Desert 931017Æ3-b 21Æ4 33Æ2 68Æ8 7Æ93 29Æ0 5Æ40 1Æ00 4Æ43 0Æ697 3Æ76 0Æ970 2Æ00 0Æ287 1Æ88 0Æ284 15Æ4
Qira 3001 17Æ2 25Æ9 52Æ6 5Æ88 21Æ3 3Æ92 0Æ652 3Æ28 0Æ588 3Æ33 0Æ616 1Æ84 0Æ294 1Æ76 0Æ271 12Æ1
3003 20Æ4 30Æ8 63Æ4 7Æ04 25Æ6 4Æ59 0Æ822 3Æ74 0Æ605 3Æ42 0Æ796 1Æ96 0Æ294 1Æ96 0Æ294 13Æ1
3004 12Æ3 16Æ5 34Æ8 3Æ89 14Æ0 2Æ73 0Æ683 2Æ31 0Æ371 2Æ27 0Æ456 1Æ38 0Æ209 1Æ44 0Æ209 9Æ72
931014Æ1-b 25Æ0 50Æ8 103 11Æ5 40Æ1 6Æ92 1Æ12 5Æ36 0Æ822 4Æ48 1Æ10 2Æ61 0Æ376 2Æ66 0Æ385 15Æ1
931014Æ2 28Æ4 64Æ4 131 13Æ6 46Æ3 7Æ76 1Æ07 5Æ42 0Æ836 5Æ46 1Æ06 3Æ09 0Æ474 3Æ05 0Æ451 15Æ2
Mazartag 931023Æ5-b 20Æ8 43Æ8 87Æ0 9Æ56 34Æ2 5Æ95 1Æ02 4Æ78 0Æ764 4Æ16 0Æ974 2Æ20 0Æ332 2Æ20 0Æ319 15Æ5
931023Æ6-b 21Æ6 46Æ1 91Æ0 9Æ71 34Æ1 5Æ87 0Æ867 4Æ44 0Æ769 4Æ25 0Æ766 2Æ22 0Æ360 2Æ12 0Æ334 16Æ1
Yaogantuogelake 901018 15Æ3 24Æ5 50Æ6 5Æ55 20Æ9 3Æ99 0Æ781 3Æ30 0Æ535 2Æ89 0Æ714 1Æ57 0Æ238 1Æ55 0Æ236 13Æ5
41 H91701 18Æ9 52Æ0 103 11Æ2 38Æ6 6Æ35 1Æ35 5Æ02 0Æ774 3Æ94 0Æ704 2Æ03 0Æ290 1Æ84 0Æ268 21Æ0
44 H91801 22Æ0 36Æ0 72Æ9 8Æ19 29Æ8 5Æ64 1Æ09 5Æ02 0Æ716 4Æ14 0Æ788 2Æ27 0Æ336 2Æ26 0Æ322 13Æ2
46 H91803 20Æ6 29Æ4 59Æ6 6Æ77 24Æ8 4Æ59 1Æ02 4Æ31 0Æ637 3Æ77 0Æ737 2Æ15 0Æ319 2Æ13 0Æ314 11Æ6
62 KA92302B 13Æ7 24Æ5 49Æ6 5Æ81 21Æ9 4Æ06 0Æ893 3Æ09 0Æ483 2Æ59 0Æ501 1Æ42 0Æ211 1Æ30 0Æ190 16Æ8
62 KA92302C
20Æ3 30Æ9 62Æ2 7Æ29 27Æ0 5Æ10 1Æ01 4Æ59 0Æ661 3Æ67 0Æ717 2Æ05 0Æ293 1Æ95 0Æ283 13Æ8
Tengger 881023 12Æ4 14Æ4 28Æ7 3Æ35 12Æ4 2Æ40 0Æ604 2Æ06 0Æ339 1Æ97 0Æ429 1Æ23 0Æ178 1Æ24 0Æ193 10Æ0
Desert 990730 11Æ6 12Æ2 25Æ2 2Æ96 10Æ8 2Æ05 0Æ326 1Æ83 0Æ320 1Æ86 0Æ381 1Æ16 0Æ180 1Æ19 0Æ175 9Æ08
Mu-us China1 9Æ51 12Æ6 24Æ9 2Æ96 11Æ0 2Æ10 0Æ603 1Æ79 0Æ287 1Æ61 0Æ328 0Æ944 0Æ136 0Æ925 0Æ135 11Æ9
Desert China3 9Æ15 12Æ3 24Æ9 2Æ82 9Æ80 1Æ79 0Æ314 1Æ51 0Æ258 1Æ43 0Æ294 0Æ865 0Æ137 0Æ921 0Æ138 10Æ6
881026 9Æ26 13Æ2 27Æ4 3Æ13 11Æ3 2Æ23 0Æ604 1Æ89 0Æ313 1Æ81 0Æ363 1Æ06 0Æ160 1Æ07 0Æ160 10Æ6
Naiman 213 9345 13Æ2 8Æ03 14Æ1 1Æ83 7Æ10 1Æ54 0Æ428 1Æ79 0Æ329 2Æ08 0Æ487 1Æ31 0Æ228 1Æ48 0Æ248 4Æ80

*Loess-like deposit.

Old dune sand.

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China 221

for Environmental Studies of Japan) collected

Nd/Yb

13Æ6
12Æ3
13Æ3
12Æ1
13Æ6
10Æ9
13Æ7
15Æ0
17Æ0
14Æ0
14Æ8
14Æ3
13Æ4
13Æ0
from the Loess Plateau, minor amounts (< 2%) of
anatase, sphene and apatite were observed by
EPMA and Raman spectroscopic analysis (Yabuki

0Æ419
0Æ282
0Æ447
0Æ233
0Æ308
0Æ693
0Æ581
0Æ530
0Æ829
0Æ413
0Æ661
0Æ967
0Æ455
0Æ383
et al., 2002).
Lu

1Æ94
2Æ99
2Æ05
2Æ85
3Æ88
3Æ37
5Æ72
2Æ60
1Æ54
2Æ88
2Æ45
4Æ48
4Æ37
6Æ23
Yb

Sr and Nd isotopic compositions

0Æ433
0Æ299
0Æ461
0Æ434
0Æ239
0Æ302
0Æ529
0Æ803
0Æ381
0Æ682
0Æ615
0Æ668
0Æ937
0Æ447

The Sr and Nd isotopic compositions are given

Tm

in Table 6 and illustrated in Figure 7. The loess

samples have 87Sr/86Sr ratios ranging from 0Æ710

3Æ04
1Æ91
2Æ87
1Æ98
5Æ57
2Æ84
1Æ56
4Æ51
4Æ04
3Æ53
3Æ01
2Æ66
4Æ56
6Æ16

to 0Æ726 and eNd(0) values ranging from )14 to

Er

)5Æ5. Loesses from the Tarim Basin mainly fall in

0Æ985
0Æ703
0Æ979
0Æ539
0Æ667
0Æ903

a field of 87Sr/86Sr ratios ranging from 0Æ712 to

1Æ06
1Æ56
1Æ37
1Æ25
1Æ94
1Æ56
2Æ11
1Æ04
Ho

0Æ717 and eNd(0) values ranging from )13 to )9

3Æ55 (Fig. 7), which agrees with previously reported
5Æ60
3Æ26
4Æ82
5Æ17
2Æ61
7Æ38
6Æ63
5Æ65
4Æ94
8Æ34
8Æ20

10Æ6
11Æ0

Chinese loesses, mainly from the Loess Plateau

Dy

(Taylor et al., 1983; Nakai et al., 1993; Liu et al.,

0Æ649
0Æ912
0Æ733
0Æ445
0Æ576
0Æ882
0Æ850
0Æ897

1994; Gallet et al., 1996). Loesses from the

1Æ39
1Æ19
1Æ08
2Æ14
1Æ32
1Æ86
Tb

Junggar Basin and the Naiman area plot in a

separate field with 87Sr/86Sr ratios ranging from
5Æ87
3Æ48
5Æ25
3Æ94
5Æ44
2Æ71
7Æ57
7Æ01
6Æ00
5Æ55
8Æ90
8Æ38

0Æ710 to 0Æ712 and eNd(0) values ranging from )7

13Æ9
11Æ8
Table 5C. REE abundances (p.p.m.) for size-segregated fractions of the Taklimakan Desert sands.

Gd

to )5.
In the 87Sr/86Sr–eNd(0) diagram (Fig. 7), the
0Æ874
0Æ890
1Æ26
1Æ03
1Æ12
1Æ54
1Æ33
1Æ28
2Æ30
1Æ03
1Æ41
1Æ81
1Æ10
1Æ26
Eu

Taklimakan and Mu-us Desert sands mainly plot

in the same field as the loesses from the Tarim
6Æ57
4Æ47
7Æ63
6Æ87
3Æ21
4Æ47
9Æ54
7Æ53
6Æ86

Basin and the Loess Plateau. The finer than

12Æ0
10Æ2

18Æ2
11Æ0
15Æ4
Sm

45 lm fraction of the Taklimakan Desert sands

displays slightly lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0Æ713–
23Æ4
40Æ8
16Æ8
25Æ3
37Æ9
97Æ1
35Æ3
64Æ2
53Æ0
50Æ6
40Æ3
36Æ3
58Æ6
81Æ1
Nd

0Æ715) and higher eNd(0) values (
)10) than the

whole rocks of the same samples (87Sr/86Sr from
6Æ47
9Æ64
4Æ62
7Æ31
9Æ88

0Æ714 to 0Æ717, eNd(0) from )10 to )12), but are

10Æ9

11Æ3
17Æ8
14Æ6
14Æ5
26Æ0
16Æ2
21Æ6
11Æ0
Pr

also within the field for loesses from the Tarim

Basin and the Loess Plateau. Sr and Nd isotopic
98Æ7
55Æ1
86Æ1
39Æ3
67Æ1
98Æ6
82Æ2

102
162
130
131
257
148
168
Ce

data for the Taklimakan Desert sands have been

reported by Liu et al. (1994) and Chang et al.
26Æ7
48Æ9
117Æ0
40Æ9
18Æ9
31Æ9
46Æ9
77Æ2
62Æ5
62Æ5
71Æ6
96Æ7
48Æ4
40Æ1

(2000), and the Taklimakan data presented here

La

agree with these previous results. It should be

29Æ1
19Æ2
28Æ4
21Æ4
27Æ3
15Æ0
39Æ1
35Æ0
50Æ7
23Æ9
41Æ6
41Æ4
55Æ7
28Æ1

noted that, in Fig. 7, one Mu-us Desert sample

Y

has conspicuously low eNd(0) ¼ )19Æ7. Bory

et al. (2003) also reported low eNd(0) for the
Size (lm)

600–300
300–150
150–75

finer than 5 lm fraction of the Tengger and

75–45
< 45
< 45
< 45
< 45
< 45
< 45
< 45
< 45
< 45
< 45

Mu-us desert sands. Desert sands from the

Naiman area and the Tengger Desert plot in a
separate field from the Taklimakan desert sands;
Sample no.

931014Æ1-b

931023Æ5-b
931023Æ6-b
931017Æ3-b

931014Æ2

the former fall in a higher eNd(0) field and the

901018

latter fall in a higher 87Sr/86Sr field. The Gobi

3003
3001
3004
2811

Desert (Mongolia) data reported by Biscaye et al.

(1997) also show eNd(0) values of around )6,
Yaogantuogelake

which are higher than those of the Taklimakan

Desert sands ()10 to )12). However, the
87
Sr/86Sr ratios of the Naiman and Gobi desert
Mazartag

samples (0Æ714–0Æ716) are similar to those of

Pishan

the Taklimakan Desert sands (mainly 0Æ712–

Qira
Qira
Site

0Æ716).

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
222 M. Honda et al.

A
Loess (whole rock sample) Loess (whole rock sample) Loess (leached sample)

100 100 100

sample/chondrite

10 10 10

1 1 1
La Ce Pr NdPmSm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er TmYb Lu La Ce Pr NdPmSm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er TmYb Lu La Ce Pr NdPmSm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er TmYb Lu

Site & Sample No. (Locality) Site & Sample No. (Locality) Residue
49 H91903a (Tarim Basin) 90 9217 (Junggar Basin) 49 H91903a
105 9315-1 (Tarim Basin) 119 9329-1 (Junggar Bsin) 105 9315-1
124 9403-2 (Tarim Basin)
+ China2 (Ordos area) 90 9217
128 9407-1 (Tarim Basin) China4 (Ordos area) China2
+ 201 9333 (Naiman area) 204 9336
129 9408-1 (Tarim Basin)
204 9336 (Naiman area) Leachate
132 9411 (Tarim Basin)
UCC 49 H91903a
134 9413-1 (Tarim Basin)
+
(Taylor & McLennan, 1985) 105 9315-1
142 9420-1 (Tarim Basin)
90 9217
UCC
China2
(Taylor & McLennan, 1985)
204 9336
+
loess-like deposit

B
Desert sand Sample 3003 of Qira
(whole rock sample) in the Taklimakan Desert

100 100 100

sample/chondrite

10 10 10

Desert sand
(< 45 µm fraction)

1 1 1
La Ce Pr NdPmSm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er TmYb Lu La Ce Pr NdPmSm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er TmYb Lu La Ce Pr NdPmSm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er TmYb Lu

Site & Sample No. (Locality) Site & Sample No. (Locality) 600-300 µm
Pishan 2811 (Taklimakan) Pishan 2811 (Taklimakan) 300-150 µm
Qira 3001 (Taklimakan) Qira 3001 (Taklimakan) 150-75 µm
Qira 931014.2 (Taklimakan) Qira 3004 (Taklimakan) 75-45 µm
Mazartag 931023.5-b (Taklimakan) Qira 931014.1-b (Taklimakan) 45- µm
62 KA92302B (Taklimakan) Mazartag 931023.6-b (Taklimakan) whole rock sample
990730 (Tengger) Yaogantuogelake 901018 (Taklimakan)
China3 (Mu-us) UCC
213 9345 (Naiman) (Taylor & McLennan, 1985)
UCC
(Taylor & McLennan, 1985)

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China 223

However, it should be noted that the leachate

Fig. 5. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns for loesses
and desert sands: (A) whole-rock samples of the
loesses, and leachate and residue fraction after leaching
of the loesses; (B) the desert sands. REE abundances in
the Leedey chondrite (Masuda et al., 1973; Masuda,
1975) are used for normalization.
Leaching experiments on loess samples
In order to examine whether the carbonate fraction
in the loess samples is primary (detrital) or secon-
dary (authigenic), and whether the geochemical
and isotopic character of the loesses are disturbed
by authigenic carbonates, selected loess samples
were leached with acetic acid, and REE, Sr and Rb
abundances and Sr isotopic ratios for residual and
leachate fractions were determined (Table 7). The
leachate fraction generally corresponds to the
carbonate fraction, as shown in samples 9315-1
(Tarim loess) and 9217 (Junggar loess). Calcite
contents obtained from a mineralogical study are

10% for these two samples, which is comparable
to the fraction of leachate (around 10%; Table 7).
fraction is not necessarily equivalent to the car-
bonate fraction and may include some other
leachable components, as shown by sample
H91903a, a Tarim Basin loess sample. The calcite
content determined by mineralogical study is

10% for this sample (Table 3), but the fraction
of leachate is
30%. Further study is needed to
identify the phases that were leached in addition to
the calcite.
The Sr isotopic ratio and Sr abundances
obtained in the leaching experiments are shown
in Fig. 8. Except for the Naiman loess (9336),
residue fractions display higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios
and lower Sr abundances than their whole-rock
samples. The 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios of the
leachates are generally 0Æ710, which is close to
the modern open sea-water value of 0Æ709. Gallet
et al. (1996) also showed that the leachate frac-
tion obtained by 2 N HCl leaching for Luochuan
loess is characterized by low 87Sr/86Sr ratios
(0Æ7107–0Æ7110) and high Sr contents (550–
750 p.p.m.). In addition, REE patterns for the

100 Taklimakan
Taklimakan (<45µm fraction)
(<45µm fraction) R=0.82
80 R=0.89 Taklimakan
(Qira 3003)
Taklimakan
R=0.78
(Qira 3003)
Nd (ppm)

60 Taklimakan Taklimakan
R=0.40 R=0.78
R=0.63

40

20
Tengger Tengger & Mu-us
Naiman & Mu-us Naiman
0
0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6
(Fe2O3+MgO)/Al2O3 P2O5(%)

100 Taklimakan Loess

(<45µm fraction) Tarim Basin(1,2)
Junggar Basin(1,2)
R=0.85
80 Ordos area(1)
Loess Plateau(2,3)
Naiman(1)
Nd (ppm)

60 Nanjing(4)
Taklimakan leached loess (residue)(1)
R=0.84 Desert sand
Taklimakan(1)
40
Tengger(1)
Mu-us(1)
Taklimakan Naiman(1)
20 (Qira 3003) Taklimakan (<45µm fraction)(1)
Tengger & Mu-us R=0.78 Taklimakan (Qira 3003)(1)
Naiman
0
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
TiO2(%)

Fig. 6. (Fe2O3 + MgO)/Al2O3-Nd, P2O5-Nd and TiO2-Nd diagrams for loesses and desert sands. R, correlation coef-
ficient. Data sources: (1) this study; (2) Liu et al. (1993); (3) Gallet et al. (1996); (4) Taylor et al. (1983).

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

 224

Table 6. Sr and Nd isotopic data of loesses and desert sands in China.

87 87 147 143
Type Locality Site Sample no. Rb (p.p.m.) Sr (p.p.m.) Rb/86Sr Sr/86Sr* Sm/144Nd Nd/144Nd* eNd(0)
Loess (WR
) Tarim 49 H91903a 133 229 1Æ681 0Æ71718 ± 3 0Æ1172 0Æ512108 ± 08 )10Æ9
M. Honda et al.

Basin 105 9315-1 102 658 0Æ451 0Æ71203 ± 2 0Æ1168 0Æ512122 ± 06 )10Æ1
124 9403-2
107 624 0Æ495 0Æ71260 ± 6 0Æ1126 0Æ512209 ± 08 )8Æ4
128 9407-1 112 278 1Æ167 0Æ71383 ± 2 0Æ1209 0Æ512169 ± 08 )9Æ2
Junggar 90 9217 97Æ3 304 0Æ926 0Æ71186 ± 2 0Æ1223 0Æ512315 ± 08 )6Æ3
Basin 119 9329-1 95Æ3 320 0Æ863 0Æ71145 ± 2 0Æ1228 0Æ512354 ± 07 )5Æ5
Ordos China2 96Æ1 207 1Æ345 0Æ72564 ± 2 0Æ1175 0Æ511915 ± 11 )14Æ1
China4 85Æ3 232 1Æ066 0Æ71511 ± 2 0Æ1160 0Æ511996 ± 08 )12Æ5
Naiman 201 9333 107 267 1Æ154 0Æ71121 ± 2 0Æ1209 0Æ512302 ± 07 )6Æ6
204 9336 93Æ3 366 0Æ737 0Æ71047 ± 2 0Æ1150 0Æ512352 ± 07 )5Æ6
Dune sand (WR) Taklimakan Pishan 2811 83Æ1 263 0Æ913 0Æ71473 ± 5 0Æ1123 0Æ512081 ± 10 )10Æ9
Desert Qira 3003 73Æ5 331 0Æ643 0Æ71670 ± 2 0Æ1084 0Æ512027 ± 06 )11Æ9
Mazartag 931023Æ6-b 109 444 0Æ714 0Æ71613 ± 3 0Æ1041 0Æ512072 ± 08 )11Æ0
Yaogantuogelake 901018 84Æ4 302 0Æ809 0Æ71370 ± 2 0Æ1154 0Æ512139 ± 09 )9Æ7
44 H91801 104 267 1Æ131 0Æ72144 ± 2 0Æ1144 0Æ512025 ± 07 )12Æ0
62 KA92302B 75Æ9 270 0Æ814 0Æ71265 ± 2 0Æ1121 0Æ512130 ± 06 )9Æ9
Dune sand (WR) Tengger 881023 70Æ8 125 1Æ644 0Æ71938 ± 2 0Æ1170 0Æ512138 ± 08 )9Æ8
Desert 990730 79Æ9 138 1Æ674 0Æ72012 ± 3
Mu-us China1 75Æ4 197 1Æ108 0Æ71600 ± 2 0Æ1154 0Æ511986 ± 09 )12Æ7
Desert China3 83Æ0 339 0Æ708 0Æ71612 ± 3 0Æ1104 0Æ511630 ± 17 )19Æ7
881026 67Æ2 153 1Æ274 0Æ71622 ± 2 0Æ1193 0Æ512036 ± 07 )11Æ7
Naiman 213 9345 74Æ4 118 1Æ818 0Æ71496 ± 2 0Æ1312 0Æ512561 ± 07 )1Æ5
Dune sand (< 45§) Taklimakan Pishan 2811 63Æ2 282 0Æ649 0Æ71323 ± 3 0Æ1135 0Æ512099 ± 08 )10Æ5
Desert Qira 3003 59Æ1 272 0Æ628 0Æ71326 ± 2 0Æ1131 0Æ512125 ± 08 )10Æ0
Mazartag 931023Æ6-b 56Æ5 300 0Æ546 0Æ71521 ± 2 0Æ1133 0Æ512104 ± 09 )10Æ4
Yaogantuogelake 901018 93Æ3 351 0Æ768 0Æ71327 ± 2 0Æ1119 0Æ512133 ± 11 )9Æ9

*Errors are 2 r of the mean and correspond to the last significant figures.

Loess-like deposit.
Whole-rock samples.
§Finer than 45 lm fraction.

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China 225

Fig. 7. 87Sr/86Sr–eNd(0) diagram for loesses and desert sands. Data sources: (1) this study; (2) Liu et al. (1994);
(3) Nakai et al. (1993); (4) Gallet et al. (1996); (5) Biscaye et al. (1997); (6) Taylor et al. (1983).

leachate fraction often show negative Ce anomal-
ies (Fig. 5A).
The Naiman loess sample (9336) shows little
difference in 87Sr/86Sr ratios among whole-rock,
leachate and residue fractions: namely
0Æ71047 ± 0Æ00002 for the whole rock, 0Æ71035 ±
0Æ00026 for the leachate and 0Æ71023 ± 0Æ00002
for the residue.
DISCUSSION
Geochemistry of desert sands and loesses
The geochemical and isotopic characteristics of
the desert sands and loesses are summarized in
Table 8. A significant feature of the major element
composition of the loesses and desert sands is the
large variation in CaO that is strongly related to
carbonate content. The Sr isotopic ratios, Sr
abundances and REE patterns obtained in the
leaching experiments suggest that the carbonates
in the Naiman loess (9336) are authigenic,
whereas those in other loesses are detrital and

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
supplied from marine carbonates. This conclu-
sion is supported by calcite grain shapes. The
carbonate grains in the Naiman loess have
unpitted crystal faces (Fig. 2) indicative of an
authigenic origin, whereas carbonate grains in the
other loess samples are rounded, suggesting a
detrital origin (Fig. 2). Authigenic calcite that is
precipitated within the loess deposits is consid-
ered to inherit the Sr isotopic ratio of its host,
presuming that Sr supply is limited under
arid conditions. From this, it can be concluded
that the geochemical and isotopic composition of
the whole-rock loess samples reflect the original
detrital composition, regardless of whether the
carbonate fractions are authigenic or detrital.
That the calcite in the loess samples is mainly
detrital indicates that the loesses studied here
underwent little post-depositional alteration. In
the A-CN-K diagram (Fig. 4), which is based on
the major element composition of the silicate
fractions (i.e. on a carbonate-free basis), desert
sands and loesses, except for the Naiman desert
sand, fall along a weathering trend from UCC,
indicating that the sources of these loesses and
226 M. Honda et al.
Table 7. REE, Rb and Sr abundances (p.p.m.) and Sr isotope composition of loess samples after leaching.

Locality Site Sample Type Y La Ce Pr Nd Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu

Tarim 49 H91903a Residue 22Æ2 25Æ8 56Æ3 6Æ39 23Æ4 4Æ46 0Æ826 3Æ89 0Æ673 3Æ73 0Æ752 2Æ02 0Æ311 1Æ98 0Æ291
Leachate 18Æ9 21Æ4 39Æ4 5Æ09 19Æ4 4Æ05 0Æ931 4Æ11 0Æ627 3Æ35 0Æ627 1Æ72 0Æ237 1Æ53 0Æ237
105 9315-1 Residue 23Æ5 36Æ7 77Æ4 8Æ47 29Æ8 5Æ40 0Æ844 5Æ27 0Æ783 4Æ25 0Æ877 2Æ49 0Æ370 2Æ46 0Æ354
Leachate 15Æ0 13Æ7 24Æ1 3Æ33 13Æ2 2Æ91 0Æ606 3Æ05 0Æ473 2Æ51 0Æ485 1Æ32 0Æ177 1Æ08 0Æ156
Junggar 90 9217 Residue 22Æ4 23Æ7 51Æ8 6Æ04 22Æ1 4Æ37 0Æ890 4Æ49 0Æ706 4Æ03 0Æ817 2Æ36 0Æ362 2Æ46 0Æ351
Leachate 27Æ0 28Æ2 54Æ7 7Æ13 27Æ7 5Æ96 1Æ26 5Æ96 0Æ929 4Æ96 0Æ944 2Æ55 0Æ340 2Æ20 0Æ315
Ordos China2 Residue 14Æ4 21Æ8 45Æ9 5Æ06 18Æ1 3Æ29 0Æ563 3Æ14 0Æ473 2Æ61 0Æ528 1Æ52 0Æ232 1Æ55 0Æ225
Leachate 17Æ2 16Æ7 24Æ4 5Æ19 16Æ0 4Æ27 0Æ741 4Æ32 0Æ580 2Æ77 0Æ506 1Æ27 0Æ153 0Æ917 0Æ141
Naiman 204 9336 Residue 18Æ2 21Æ9 46Æ4 5Æ32 19Æ4 3Æ61 0Æ760 3Æ16 0Æ534 3Æ15 0Æ643 1Æ92 0Æ280 2Æ02 0Æ287
Leachate 22Æ5 29Æ3 59Æ1 7Æ50 29Æ3 6Æ13 1Æ20 5Æ77 0Æ842 4Æ40 0Æ809 2Æ09 0Æ263 1Æ66 0Æ231

Rb Sr
87
Locality Site Sample Type (p.p.m.) (p.p.m.) Rb/86Sr 87
Sr/86Sr* wt%

Tarim 49 H91903a Residue 147 145 2Æ94 0Æ72276 ± 02 72Æ5
Leachate 7Æ56 572 0Æ0382 0Æ71001 ± 02 27Æ5
105 9315-1 Residue 133 587 0Æ655 0Æ71280 ± 02 87Æ7
Leachate 10Æ0 983 0Æ0293 0Æ71041 ± 02 12Æ3
Junggar 90 9217 Residue 109 249 1Æ27 0Æ71301 ± 02 86Æ2
Leachate 7Æ79 722 0Æ0312 0Æ70916 ± 03 13Æ8
Ordos China2 Residue 100 188 1Æ54 0Æ72715 ± 02 92Æ7
Leachate 6Æ22 373 0Æ0482 0Æ71155 ± 02 7Æ28
Naiman 204 9336 Residue 114 267 1Æ23 0Æ71023 ± 02 82Æ4
Leachate 8Æ49 961 0Æ0256 0Æ71035 ± 26 17Æ6

*Errors are 2r of the mean and correspond to the last significant figures.

wt% measured after leaching.

0.728 China2
leachate
residue
0.726 bulk
China2

0.724
H91903a

0.722

0.720
Sr/86Sr

0.718
87

H91903a

0.716

0.714
9217 9315-1
9315-1
9217
0.712
China2 9315-1
0.710 9336 H91903a 9336
9336

9217
0.708
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Sr (ppm)

Fig. 8. Sr abundances (p.p.m.)–87Sr/86Sr diagram for leachate and residual samples of loess in China after leaching
by acetic acid, together with those of whole-rock samples.

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China
desert sands have a similar ratio of [K2O/(CaO +
Na2O)] to UCC. However, from the above discus-
sion of the carbonate fractions, the weathering
trend on the A-CN-K diagram (Fig. 4) is consid-
ered to reflect the primary chemical composition
of the sediments rather than post-depositional
weathering effects. The sources of the Naiman
desert sand may have ratios that are significantly
different from that of UCC or, alternatively, the
Naiman desert sand may have originated from
sources with [K2O/(CaO + Na2O)] similar to UCC,
but sorting and removal of clay minerals has
resulted in a deviation from the UCC weathering
trend.
It may be concluded that differences in mineral
proportion and subsequent major element com-
position (calcite, quartz and mafic minerals and
CaO, SiO2 and MgO) between desert sands and
loess from the same area appear to result from the
difference in their grain size. This difference is
caused by mechanical sorting during aeolian
transport. With aeolian sorting, quartz tends to
remain in desert sands, while fine-grained min-
erals such as micas and clay minerals tend to be
concentrated in the loess deposits. This is con-
sistent with the observation that quartz increases
and epidote decreases in progressively coarser
fractions of the Taklimakan Desert sands (Honda
& Shimizu, 1998).
Furthermore, variations in the mineralogy of
the desert sands from the Taklimakan, Tengger
and Mu-us deserts and Naiman area yield
regional variations in major element and REE
data, as summarized in Table 8. However, loess-
es display less regional variation in REE features
(Figs 5 and 6) compared with the desert sands.
Sr and Nd isotopic composition of desert sands
and loesses
In the 87Sr/86Sr–eNd(0) diagram (Fig. 7) for the
loess and desert sand samples, it is observed
that Naiman and Junggar loesses and Naiman
and Gobi Desert sands display higher eNd(0)
than loesses from the Tarim Basin, the Ordos
area and the Loess Plateau and sands from the
Taklimakan, Mu-us and Tengger deserts. Loesses
and desert sands with higher eNd(0) values are
located at higher latitudes than those with lower
eNd(0) values. This observation can be reconciled
with isotopic data for the Chinese moraines
from the Tianshan and west Kunlun Mountains
(Chang et al., 2000) surrounding the Tarim
Basin (Fig. 1). Chang et al. (2000) showed that
these moraine deposits have highly variable Nd

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
227
isotopic compositions. Although the 87Sr/86Sr
ratios for these moraines do not differ signifi-
cantly (0Æ714–0Æ727), higher eNd(0) values were
reported for the moraine samples from the
higher latitude area (Tianshan north flank;
eNd(0) ¼ )1Æ9 and )5Æ5) than those from the
lower latitude areas (Tianshan south flank and
Kunlun Mountains; eNd(0) ¼ )9Æ2 to )10Æ6).
The Nd isotopic characteristics of the loesses,
desert sands and moraines suggest that the
Tianshan northern flank moraines may be
sources for the Gobi and Naiman desert sands
and the Junggar and Naiman loesses. In addition,
the Nd isotopic data indicate that moraines from
the western Kunlun Mountains and the
Tianshan southern flank are sources for the
Taklimakan Desert sands (Chang et al., 2000)
and the loesses of the Tarim Basin and Loess
Plateau. Such inferences are consistent with the
predominant westerly wind system in northern
China as revealed by meteorological observations
of dust storms, dust haze and upper-level jet
streams that move from west to east over eastern
Asia (e.g. Liu et al., 1981; Sun et al., 2001).
However, studies of the satellite images indicate
that the dust raised from the Taklimakan Desert
is first transported north and north-west, reach-
ing latitude 50 N, before being transported for
more than several thousand kilometres west-
wards and ultimately deposited in the remote
North Pacific Ocean (Sun et al., 2001). Further
geochemical, isotopic and meteorological studies
for the loesses, desert sands and aeolian dust are
needed to elucidate the transport pathways in
detail.
SUMMARY
Mineral proportions, major element composi-
tions, REE abundances and Sr and Nd isotopic
ratios are presented for Chinese loesses and
desert sands: the loesses are from the Tarim and
Junggar basins, the Ordos and the Naiman areas,
whereas the desert sands are from the Taklima-
kan, Tengger and Mu-us deserts and the Naiman
area. Their geochemical and isotopic features are
summarized in Table 8.
The study confirms that there is less REE
abundance variation for the loesses (e.g.
Nd ¼ 20–30 p.p.m. and Nd/Yb ¼ 10–15) than
for the desert sands (e.g. Nd ¼ 10–50 p.p.m. and
Nd/Yb ¼ 5–20), despite regional variations in
major element compositions. CaO variation
resulting from variable calcite abundances is the
 228
M. Honda et al.

Table 8. Summary of geochemical and isotopic features for loesses and desert sands.

Quartz Feldspars Calcite SiO2 TiO2 MgO CaO P2O5 Nd

87
Type Locality (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (p.p.m.) Nd/Yb Sr/88Sr eNd (0) Reference
Loess Tarim Basin 55 15 12 52–60 0Æ4–0Æ7 2Æ8–3Æ8 10–16 0Æ14–0Æ21 21–33 11–16 0Æ712–0Æ717 )9Æ2, )10Æ9 1, 2, 3
Junggar Basin 60 20 11 62 0Æ7 2Æ6 8–10 0Æ16–0Æ18 26 7–10 0Æ711 )5Æ5, )6Æ3 1, 2, 3
Ordos 75 0Æ6 1Æ1 4 0Æ10 21–28 12 0Æ715–0Æ726 )12Æ5, )14Æ1 1
Loess Plateau 65 0Æ7 2Æ4 10 0Æ17 29–33 11–14 0Æ714–0Æ716 )9Æ6, )11Æ2 2, 3, 4, 5
Naiman 60 30 8 65 0Æ6 1Æ4 10 0Æ10 24–28 10–11 0Æ710–0Æ711 )5Æ6, )6Æ6 1
Nanjing 73 0Æ8 1Æ6 1 35 12 0Æ719 )10Æ2 7

Desert sand Taklimakan 50–65 25–30 8–11 67–73 0Æ2–0Æ8 1Æ6–2Æ2 6–8 0Æ07–0Æ10 14–46 10–21 0Æ713–0Æ721 )9Æ7, )12Æ0 1, 2, 3, 6
Desert
Taklimakan 50–63 16–24 10–15 56–62 0Æ8–2Æ0 3Æ1–3Æ8 12–15 0Æ2–0Æ6 35–97 11–17 0Æ713–0Æ715 )9Æ9, )10Æ5 1, 6
Desert
(< 45 lm
fraction)
Tengger Desert 51 38 5 82 0Æ3 0Æ8 1 0Æ03–0Æ05 11–12 9–10 0Æ720 )9Æ8 1
Mu-us Desert 65 26 6 82 0Æ3 0Æ8 2 0Æ05 10–11 11–12 0Æ716 )11Æ7, )19Æ7 1
Naiman 72 21 5 88 0Æ2 0Æ4 0Æ5 0Æ01 7 5 0Æ715 )1Æ5 1
Gobi Desert )5Æ7, )8Æ7 8
(< 5 lm
fraction)

References: (1) this study; (2) Liu et al. (1993); (3) Liu et al. (1994); (4) Gallet et al. (1996); (5) Nakai et al. (1993); (6) Honda & Shimizu (1998); (7) Taylor et al.
(1983); (8) Biscaye et al. (1997).

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230

 Geochemical and isotopic studies of aeolian sediments in China
most significant feature in regional major element
compositional data for both the loesses (1–16%)
and the desert sands (0Æ5–15%). From the results
of the leaching experiments with acetic acid and
grain shape observation by SEM, CaO variation in
the loesses is concluded to be intrinsic, irrespect-
ive of the detrital or authigenic origin of the
calcite.
The Sr and Nd isotopic ratios of the loesses and
desert sands also display regional variations. In
particular, the Nd isotopic ratios show latitudinal
variations. The Naiman and Junggar loesses
clearly have higher eNd(0) values and lower
87
Sr/86Sr ratios than the loesses from the Tarim
Basin, the Ordos area and the Loess Plateau.
Among desert sands, those from the Naiman area
(China; this study) and the Gobi Desert (Mongo-
lia; Biscaye et al., 1997) differ from those from the
Taklimakan and Mu-us deserts in having high
eNd(0) values. However, the Sr isotopic ratios of
the Naiman and Gobi Desert samples are similar
to those of the Taklimakan and Mu-us desert
samples.
Latitudinal variations in the 87Sr/86Sr and
eNd(0) compositions of the Chinese loesses and
desert sands suggest that the Trianshan northern
flank moraines may be the source for the Gobi
and Naiman desert sands and the Junggar and
Naiman loesses, and the moraines of the
western Kunlun Mountains and the Trishan
northern flank the source of the Taklimakan
Desert sands and the loesses of the Tarim Basin
and the Loess Plateau. These inferences are
essentially consistent with meteorological obser-
vations that dust storms, dust haze and upper-
level jet streams over East Asia move from west
to east (e.g. Liu et al., 1981; Sun et al., 2001).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank Kazuya Takahashi and Hideo Yabuki
(Institute of Physical and Chemical Research,
RIKEN) and Takemasa Ishii (National Institute
of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology,
AIST) for offering samples and providing helpful
information on them. We also thank Akihiko
Okada (Japan Science and Technology Corpora-
tion) and Qing Chang (IFREE, JAMSTEC) for
discussion, Keiko Sato (IFREE, JAMSTEC) for
analysing some samples for major element analy-
sis by XRF, and Simon Johnson and Monica
Handler (IFREE, JAMSTEC) for correcting the
English. Part of this study was supported by the
Special Coordination Funds of the Ministry of

2004 International Association of Sedimentologists, Sedimentology, 51, 211–230
229
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Techno-
logy of Japan and by a grant-in-aid for scientific
research from JSPS (Japan Society for the Promo-
tion of Science).
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Manuscript received 4 September 2001;
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