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The age of formation of the mirabilite and sand wedges in the Hexi Corridor and their paleoclimatic interpretation

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Chinese Science Bulletin

Abstract

Sand wedges in the Hexi Corridor mainly formed in an alluvial gravel stratum of the late Pleistocene and the radiocarbon ages of the eolian sand infilling wedge prove that they were a product of the last ice age. During their period of formation, the mean annual air temperature in the Hexi Corridor was about −5.3°C., i.e. about 13°C lower than that of the present. This estimated value is coincident with the decrease in air temperature predicated from mirabilite (Na2SO4 · 10H2O) sedimentary layer in study area, and also agrees with research on the estimated amplitude of air temperature lowering in middle and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere during the last glacial period. The annual precipitation in the Western Hexi Corridor at that time was probably about 100–200 mm, i.e. about 100 mm more than at present.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Earth and Environment Sciences, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, China

    Nai’ang Wang, Jianming Zhang, Hongyi Cheng, Jianying Guo & Qiang Zhao

  2. Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 730000, Lanzhou, China

    Nai’ang Wang

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  1. Nai’ang Wang
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Wang, N., Zhang, J., Cheng, H. et al. The age of formation of the mirabilite and sand wedges in the Hexi Corridor and their paleoclimatic interpretation. Chin.Sci.Bull. 48, 1439–1445 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1360/02wd0250

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1360/02wd0250

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