Geochemical Characteristics and Environmental Implications of Surface Sediments from Different Types of Sand Dunes in the Dinggye Area, Southern Tibet

Abstract

Geochemical characteristics of aeolian sand are beneficial for understanding sand dune formation and evolution. Few studies in the Dinggye area, Southern Tibet, have focused on the geochemical characteristics of aeolian sand. Thus, we present new geochemical data that provide insights into the geochemical characteristics and environmental implications of aeolian sands in the Dinggye area. The results show that mobile dunes, climbing sand sheets, and nebkhas show heterogeneity in elemental concentrations and UCC-normalized distribution; MgO, TiO2, Ni, Pb, and Nb are higher in mobile dunes; SiO2, CaO, K2O, Na2O, P2O5, V, Cr, Co, Cu, Ba, and Ce are higher in climbing sand sheets; and Al2O3, Fe2O3, La, Zn, As, Sr, Y, Zr, Rb, and Ga are higher in nebkhas. Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis indicate that the main factor affecting elemental content is grain size sorting, followed by provenance, while chemical weathering and regional precipitation are less influential. The CIA and A-CN-K triangle indicate that the different dune types are at a lower chemical weathering stage, with plagioclase weathering and decomposition first. The combination of grain size characteristics, elemental ratios, multidimensional scale (MDS), PCA, and geomorphological conditions suggest that the flood plain and the lakeshore are the main sand sources of aeolian sands in the Dinggye area.