Geochemical indicators of separate sources for eolian sands in the eastern Mojave Desert, California, and western Arizona

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2002 Geochemical indicators of separate sources for eolian sands in the eastern Mojave Desert, California, and western Arizona James R. Zimbelman; James R. Zimbelman 1Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560-0315, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Steven H. Williams Steven H. Williams 2Biological Sciences Curriculum Study, 5415 Mark Dabling Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2002) 114 (4): 490–496. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<0490:GIOSSF>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 17 Feb 2000 rev-recd: 21 Dec 2000 accepted: 01 May 2001 first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation James R. Zimbelman, Steven H. Williams; Geochemical indicators of separate sources for eolian sands in the eastern Mojave Desert, California, and western Arizona. GSA Bulletin 2002;; 114 (4): 490–496. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<0490:GIOSSF>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Low, stabilized sand dunes cover much of the Cactus and La Posa Plains in western Arizona, near the town of Parker. The provenance of the dunes is not well defined, and it had been hypothesized that they were possibly related to extensive eolian sand deposits in the eastern Mojave Desert of California, on the other side of the Colorado River. Major oxide analyses of bulk sand samples collected from southeastern California and western Arizona show clear chemical differences. The Mojave sands all have SiO2 < 79 wt%, Al2O3 > 10 wt%, and Na2O + K2O > 5 wt%, whereas the Colorado River and Arizona sands have SiO2 > 81 wt%, Al2O3 < 6 wt%, and Na2O + K2O < 4 wt%. These results show that the stabilized dunes near Parker are chemically indistinguishable from Colorado River sands. The chemical differences between the southeastern California sands and the western Arizona sands are supported by X-ray diffraction results that indicate these two sand populations have significant differences in the relative abundance of quartz and feldspar. Our data also indicate a near-source origin for the Mojave sands, whereas the Colorado River and Arizona sands have undergone more prolonged chemical weathering. The major oxide results are consistent with published trace element studies by others that clearly distinguished between mature and immature sands in California and Colorado. The quartz/feldspar ratio may be amenable to measurement by some advanced remote-sensing instruments. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.