Provenance of Aeolian Sediments in the Ordos Deserts and Its Implication for Weathering, Sedimentary Processes

Identifying the provenance of aeolian deposits in semi-arid zones China is beneficial understanding Earth’s surface processes and helping to alleviate ecological stress. In this paper, we use grain-size, geochemical elements, heavy-minerals, quartz grain morphology data investigate potential source sands from Ordos Deserts (Mu Us Sandy Land Hobq Desert). Sedimentological, geomorphological results indicate that significant differences exist among various parts Mu Land, i.e., sediments southwest region are obviously distinct other areas but show same external with Desert referring sorting, mineralogical maturity, characteristics, morphology. Comparing samples felsic rocks sources via a serious methods, conclude that: 1) Aeolian regions mixture binary provenance, one originated local lacustrine underlying sandstones, another Alxa Plateau (AP) carried by northwesterly Asian winter monsoon. 2) The fluvial denuded Qilian Orogenic Belt Northeastern Tibetan (NTP) Yellow River likely initial material for Desert. 3) plays critical role sediment transport sand seas arid northern China.