Distribution of rare earth elements in sediments of the North China Plain: A probe of sedimentation process

Rare earth elements (REE) are powerful tracers for our understanding of sedimentary provenance and depositional processes. This study investigated geochemical characteristics REE in 226 sediment samples collected from the piedmont, central littoral plains North China Plain. Results showed that total concentrations exhibited a decreasing trend as piedmont > littoral, 82%, 70% 67% had higher than value upper continental crust. The were controlled by physicochemical properties. Ternary diagrams sandstone classification Al2O3–CaO + Na2O–K2O reflected sediments originated greywackes they experienced an incipient to intermediate chemical weathering. Average index alteration (CIA) was 68, 51 55 plains, respectively. Sediment American Shale Composite (NASC)-normalized patterns characterized light (LREE) enrichment over heavy (HREE) coherent negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* ranging between 0.57 1.00). Value (La/Yb)NASC ranged 0.86 1.15 (average 1.23), 1.03 1.49, 0.91 1.49 three zones, respectively, indicating fractionation occurred during sedimentation A positive correlation observed samples, implying LREE preferentially enriched HREE with accumulation REE. not found where general along depth existed. findings this have implication using tracer studies basin scale.