Sr isotopic and elemental characteristics of calcites in the Chinese deserts: Implications for eolian Sr transport and seawater Sr evolution

Abstract

Calcite content, Sr concentrations, and isotopes of calcites in the Chinese deserts are systematically studied in this paper. Calcite contents, which are calculated according to acid-soluble Ca contents in the deserts, are generally higher in the sandy deserts than in the sandy lands and decrease roughly from northwest to northeast of China. Acid-soluble Sr is well correlated with calcite in the Chinese deserts, implying acid-soluble Sr comes mainly from the calcite dissolution. Sr concentrations in calcites, calculated on the basis of calcite contents and acid-soluble Sr concentrations in the deserts, have an inverse relation to calcite contents, essentially mirroring the degree of Sr substitution for Ca in the calcite development. Desert calcites have regional variations in Sr isotopic ratios. Calcite Sr isotopic ratios depend on geological settings and chemical weathering. The Badain Jaran, and Tengger deserts are probably affected by additional factors such as the remote groundwater cycle or overturning of underlying sand deposits. Only four deserts (Taklimakan, Qaidam, Badain Jaran, and Tengger) appear to be potential sources of eolian deposits in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP). Isotopic signatures of calcite Sr and silicate Nd further indicate that the Tengger desert was not an important source for eolian deposits in the CLP. Eolian calcite was probably enriched due to wind sorting from the potential sources to the CLP and suffered weathering–leaching after it accumulated in the CLP. Sr isotopic compositions and Ca/Sr molar ratios of calcites are different between the deserts and the Lingtai profile, due to the integrated effect of wind sorting and weathering–leaching. It is essential to calculate accurately the 87Sr/ 86Sr ratio and Sr concentration of eolian calcite entering the oceans according to geochemical data of the Chinese deserts, because of the importance of the Chinese deserts in the global dust cycle. The calculated Sr concentration and 87Sr/ 86Sr ratio of eolian calcite entering the North Pacific Ocean, are 11.75 μmol/g and 0.71032, respectively. The calculated values in this study are close to the recommended values by Jacobson [Jacobson A. D. (2004) Has the atmospheric supply of dissolved calcite dust to seawater influenced the evolution of marine 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios over the past 2.5 million years? Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 5(12), 1–9, Q12002. doi: 10.1029/2004GC000750]. Using the same model as that of Jacobson (2004), the effect of Asia dust on the evolution of seawater Sr isotopes is evaluated. ( 87Sr/ 86Sr) seawater increases by 0.3 × 10 −5 if the lower dust flux of 2.34 × 10 8 mol Sr/yr is used in the model, suggesting the little effect of Asian dust on the seawater Sr record in the Quaternary. The increase in ( 87Sr/ 86Sr) seawater is 1.5 × 10 −5 if the higher value of 1.17 × 10 9 mol Sr/yr is used, as observed in the Quaternary Sr record. These results further support the suggestions of Jacobson (2004).