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Dolomite abundance in Chinese loess deposits: A new proxy of monsoon precipitation intensity
Author(s) -
Meng Xianqiang,
Liu Lianwen,
Balsam William,
Li Shilei,
He Tong,
Chen Jun,
Ji Junfeng
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl066681
Subject(s) - dolomite , calcite , geology , carbonate , loess , dissolution , mineralogy , geochemistry , carbonate minerals , precipitation , geomorphology , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , meteorology
Dolomite of detrital origin in carbonate‐rich soil can help indicate the intensity of carbonate dissolution and leaching processes. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we generated a high‐resolution record of dolomite and calcite contents from eight sections on the Chinese Loess Plateau spanning the last 130 kyr. Based on the relative abundance of calcite and dolomite, four dissolution phases of carbonate minerals related to summer monsoon (SM) variations are identified as follows: (1) coexistence of dolomite and calcite indicating a very weak SM with a mean annual precipitation (MAP) < 610 mm; (2) calcite without dolomite indicating a weak SM, 610 < MAP < 690 mm; (3) both dolomite and calcite are absent, but there is no downward leaching indicating a strong SM, 690 < MAP < 725 mm; and (4) both dolomite and calcite are absent, and downward leaching of the underlying loess layer suggesting a very strong SM with MAP > 725 mm.

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