Abstract
The chemical compositions of the desert sediments collected from Taklimakan Desert, China, were studied and their chemical characteristics are elucidated.
1) SiO2, Al2O3, K2O, Na2O and Ba are abundant in coarser fractions of most of sediments, and CaO, MgO, Fe2O3, MnO, P2O5, Cr, Sr, C, S and V are abundant in finer fractions.
2) Effect of sedimentary environment on chemical compositions is not clear, but regional effect is suggested by geochemical map. The chemical composition of finer fraction of dune sand is homogeneous, suggesting that the fine particle is supplied from wide area of the desert.
3) In view of chemical weathering, Na2O and K2O might dissolve in water and deposit as chloride or sulfate in the sediments related to river, whereas CaO and MgO might be immobile or retained in fine fractions as salt.
