Particle Size Control on Loess Geochemistry: Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Implications for Provenance Tracing
Abstract Geochemical methods are the most widely used techniques for tracing the provenance of loess. However, the geochemical composition of loess can be influenced by particle size effect (PSE), potentially impacting the accuracy and reliability of provenance tracing. To date, no systematic and qu...
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC012046 |
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| author | Xusheng Li Yufang Li Yalin Li Menghui Liu Rongjin Huang Zhiyong Han |
| author_facet | Xusheng Li Yufang Li Yalin Li Menghui Liu Rongjin Huang Zhiyong Han |
| author_sort | Xusheng Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Geochemical methods are the most widely used techniques for tracing the provenance of loess. However, the geochemical composition of loess can be influenced by particle size effect (PSE), potentially impacting the accuracy and reliability of provenance tracing. To date, no systematic and quantitative assessment has been conducted to evaluate the PSE on the geochemical indicators of loess. Using loess samples from northern and southern China, we conducted a detailed investigation of major, trace, and rare earth elements (REEs), as well as Sr‒Nd isotopes, across six particle size fractions to quantitatively assess the impact of particle size on loess geochemistry. The results show that most elements in loess are significantly affected by the PSE, which is driven by several mechanisms. Mineral sorting primarily affects the PSE of major elements, while chemical weathering enhances the PSE of both major and trace elements, and colloidal adsorption mainly contributes to the PSE of trace elements and REEs, particularly heavy rare earth elements. We recommend selecting a size window of 10–50 μm (or 16–32 μm) for loess provenance tracing, rather than using fractions smaller than 20 μm. Furthermore, we identified nine elemental indicators—Zr/Hf, δEu, La/Sm, Sm/Nd, La/Nd, Y/Ho, Y/Er, Ho/Er, and Yb/Lu—that are independent of particle size. The major elemental ratio K2O/Al2O3 can serve as a valid tracer only in arid and semi‐arid regions. For Sr‒Nd isotopes, 143Nd/144Nd is two orders of magnitude less affected by the PSE than 87Sr/86Sr and should be prioritized for provenance studies of loess. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c990e66428dc4e74b7fac36331a1dcfc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1525-2027 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems |
| spelling | doaj-art-c990e66428dc4e74b7fac36331a1dcfc2025-08-20T02:48:23ZengWileyGeochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems1525-20272025-03-01263n/an/a10.1029/2024GC012046Particle Size Control on Loess Geochemistry: Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Implications for Provenance TracingXusheng Li0Yufang Li1Yalin Li2Menghui Liu3Rongjin Huang4Zhiyong Han5School of Geography and Ocean Science Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaSchool of Geography and Ocean Science Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaSchool of Geography and Ocean Science Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaSchool of Geography and Ocean Science Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaSchool of Geography and Ocean Science Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaSchool of Geography and Ocean Science Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaAbstract Geochemical methods are the most widely used techniques for tracing the provenance of loess. However, the geochemical composition of loess can be influenced by particle size effect (PSE), potentially impacting the accuracy and reliability of provenance tracing. To date, no systematic and quantitative assessment has been conducted to evaluate the PSE on the geochemical indicators of loess. Using loess samples from northern and southern China, we conducted a detailed investigation of major, trace, and rare earth elements (REEs), as well as Sr‒Nd isotopes, across six particle size fractions to quantitatively assess the impact of particle size on loess geochemistry. The results show that most elements in loess are significantly affected by the PSE, which is driven by several mechanisms. Mineral sorting primarily affects the PSE of major elements, while chemical weathering enhances the PSE of both major and trace elements, and colloidal adsorption mainly contributes to the PSE of trace elements and REEs, particularly heavy rare earth elements. We recommend selecting a size window of 10–50 μm (or 16–32 μm) for loess provenance tracing, rather than using fractions smaller than 20 μm. Furthermore, we identified nine elemental indicators—Zr/Hf, δEu, La/Sm, Sm/Nd, La/Nd, Y/Ho, Y/Er, Ho/Er, and Yb/Lu—that are independent of particle size. The major elemental ratio K2O/Al2O3 can serve as a valid tracer only in arid and semi‐arid regions. For Sr‒Nd isotopes, 143Nd/144Nd is two orders of magnitude less affected by the PSE than 87Sr/86Sr and should be prioritized for provenance studies of loess.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC012046element geochemistrySr‒Nd isotopesparticle size effectprovenanceloess‒paleosol |
| spellingShingle | Xusheng Li Yufang Li Yalin Li Menghui Liu Rongjin Huang Zhiyong Han Particle Size Control on Loess Geochemistry: Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Implications for Provenance Tracing Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems element geochemistry Sr‒Nd isotopes particle size effect provenance loess‒paleosol |
| title | Particle Size Control on Loess Geochemistry: Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Implications for Provenance Tracing |
| title_full | Particle Size Control on Loess Geochemistry: Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Implications for Provenance Tracing |
| title_fullStr | Particle Size Control on Loess Geochemistry: Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Implications for Provenance Tracing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Particle Size Control on Loess Geochemistry: Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Implications for Provenance Tracing |
| title_short | Particle Size Control on Loess Geochemistry: Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Implications for Provenance Tracing |
| title_sort | particle size control on loess geochemistry characteristics mechanisms and implications for provenance tracing |
| topic | element geochemistry Sr‒Nd isotopes particle size effect provenance loess‒paleosol |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GC012046 |
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