Stepwise increased spatial provenance contrast on the Chinese Loess Plateau over late Miocene-Pleistocene

Abstract The Miocene–Holocene dust sequences composing the Chinese Loess Plateau are one of Earth’s most complete terrestrial eolian sediment archives. Here we present a zircon Uranium-Lead geochronology dataset for sequence from northeastern plateau and compare results with those central plateau. These data show trend increasing spatial provenance contrast late Miocene to Pleistocene. This can be reasonably explained by uplift Qilian Shan, Pliocene intensification increased variations Asian summer monsoons, Pleistocene Northern Hemisphere glaciations, possible formation current Yellow River course. events changed supply, availability, wind strength, causing observed pattern. interpretations challenge assertions linking accumulation on primarily aridification within interior, but rather point confluence surface processes involving exhumation, monsoon, ice ages, river reorganization.