Clay minerals in surface sediments of the Pearl River drainage basin and their contribution to the South China Sea

Clay minerals have played a significant role in the study of the East Asian monsoon evolution in the South China Sea by being able to track oceanic current variations and to reveal contemporaneous paleoclimaUc changes prevailing in continental source areas. As one of the most important rivers inputting terrigenous matters to the northern South China Sea, the Pearl River was not previously paid attention to from the viewpoint of clay mineralogy. This paper presents a detailed study on clay minerals in surface sediments collected from the Pearl River drainage basin （including all three main channels, various branches, and the Lingdingyang in the estuary） by using the X-ray diffraction （XRD） method. The results indicate that the clay mineral assemblage consists dominantly of kaolinite （35%-65%）, lesser abundance of chlorite （20%-35%） and illite （12%-42%）, and very scare smectite occurrences （generally 〈5%）. Their respective distribution does not present any obvious difference throughout the Pearl River drainage basin. However, downstream the Pearl River to the northern South China Sea, the clay mineral assemblage varies significantly： kaolinite decreases gradually, smecUte and illite increase gradually. Additionally, illite chemistry index steps down and illite crystallinity steps up. These variations indicate the contribution of major kaolinite, lesser illite and chlorite, and very scarce smecUte to the northern South China Sea from the Pearl River drainage basin. The maximum contribution of clay minerals from the Pearl River is 72% to the northern margin and only 15% to the northern slope of the South China Sea. In both glacials and interglacials, kaolinite indicates that the ability of mechanical erosion occurred in the Pearl River drainage basin.

Clay minerals in surface sediments of the Pearl River drainage basin and their contribution to the South China Sea

Clay minerals have played a significant role in the study of the East Asian monsoon evolution in the South China Sea by being able to track oceanic current variations and to reveal contemporaneous pa- leoclimatic changes prevailing in continental source areas.As one of the most important rivers input- ting terrigenous matters to the northern South China Sea,the Pearl River was not previously paid at- tention to from the viewpoint of clay mineralogy.This paper presents a detailed study on clay minerals in surface sediments collected from the Pearl River drainage basin(including all three main channels, various branches,and the Lingdingyang in the estuary)by using the X-ray diffraction(XRD)method. The results indicate that the clay mineral assemblage consists dominantly of kaolinite(35%-65%), lesser abundance of chlorite(20%-35%)and illite(12%-42%),and very scare smectite occurrences (generally<5%).Their respective distribution does not present any obvious difference throughout the Pearl River drainage basin.However,downstream the Pearl River to the northern South China Sea,the clay mineral assemblage varies significantly:kaolinite decreases gradually,smectite and illite increase gradually.Additionally,illite chemistry index steps down and illite crystallinity steps up.These varia- tions indicate the contribution of major kaolinite,lesser illite and chlorite,and very scarce smectite to the northern South China Sea from the Pearl River drainage basin.The maximum contribution of clay minerals from the Pearl River is 72%to the northern margin and only 15%to the northern slope of the South China Sea.In both glacials and interglacials,kaolinite indicates that the ability of mechanical erosion occurred in the Pearl River drainage basin.