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Change in Sediment Provenance Near the Current Estuary of Yellow River Since the Holocene Transgression

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Abstract

Sedimentary sequence and sediment provenance are important factors when it comes to the studies on marine sedimentation. This paper studies grain size distribution, lithological characteristics, major and rare earth elemental compositions, micropaleontological features and 14C ages in order to examine sedimentary sequence and sediment provenance of the core BH6 drilled at the mouth of the Yellow River in Bohai Sea. According to the grain size and the micropaleontological compositions, 4 sedimentary units have been identified. Unit 1 (0–8.08 mbsf) is of the delta sedimentary facies, Unit 2 (8.08–12.08 mbsf) is of the neritic shelf facies, Unit 3 (12.08–23.85 mbsf) is of near-estuary beach-tidal facies, and Unit 4 (23.85 mbsf–) is of the continental lake facies. The deposits from Unit 1 to Unit 3 have been found to be marine strata formed after the Holocene transgression at about 10 ka BP, while Unit 4 is continental lacustrine deposit formed before 10 ka BP. The provenances of core BH6 sediments show properties of the continental crust and vary in different sedimentary periods. For Unit 4 sediments, the source regions are dispersed while the main provenance is not clear, although the parent rock characteristics of a few samples are similar to the Luanhe River sediments. For Unit 3, sediments at 21.1–23.85 mbsf have been mainly transported from the Liaohe River, while sediments above 21.1 mbsf are mainly from the Yellow River and partially from the Liaohe River. For Unit 2, the sediments have been mainly transported from the Yellow River, with a small amount from other rivers. For Unit 1, the provenance is mainly the Yellow River catchment. These results help in better understanding the evolution of the Yellow River Delta.

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Acknowledgements

This paper was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41206049, 40976036 and 40906033) and the Marine Public Welfare Research Project (No. 200805063).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Submarine Geosciences and Prospecting, College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China

    Sheng Song, Xiuli Feng, Xiao Liu, Xiao Xiao & Li Feng

  2. Marine Engineering and Prospecting Institute of North China Sea, North China Sea Branch of the State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao, 266061, China

    Guogang Li

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  1. Sheng Song
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  2. Xiuli Feng
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  3. Guogang Li
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  4. Xiao Liu
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  6. Li Feng
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Correspondence to Xiuli Feng.

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Song, S., Feng, X., Li, G. et al. Change in Sediment Provenance Near the Current Estuary of Yellow River Since the Holocene Transgression. J. Ocean Univ. China 17, 535–544 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-018-3377-1

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