Spatial distribution characteristics of major elements in sediments and their provenance implications in the Mu Us Sandy Land, China

Thirty-five modern aeolian sand samples were analyzed for major elements from the Mu Us Sandy Land. In the combination of the existing major elements data of the paleo-aeolian sand from the Late Pleistocene profiles in the northeastern and southwestern margins of the area, the spatial variation patterns of major elements in the surface aeolian sand within the area and the possible sources of aeolian sand were systematically analyzed. The results show that: (1) there are significant regional differences in the content of major elements in the aeolian sand of the Mu Us Sandy Land, which can be roughly divided into two regions: northeast and southwest, with a boundary of 38°N; (2) compared with the upper continental crust and loess, aeolian sand is characterised by high SiO2, low Al2O3 and Fe2O3 contents. Compared with the northeast region, the average contents of SiO2, Fe2O3, and MgO of the aeolian sand in the southwest are higher, and the degree of chemical weathering and mineral maturity are higher; (3) the elemental composition of paleo-aeolian sand in the Mu Us Sandy Land also displays similar spatial differentiation patterns, and the chemical composition of aeolian sand in the east and west can be distinguished by element scatter plots; (4) the modern aeolian sand in the Mu Us Sandy Land results from near source sedimentation or paleo-aeolian sand refurbishment under the influence of modern circulation background.