Vandenberghe, J. , Sun, Y. , Wang, X. , Abels, H. A. , Liu, X.
2018-02-01 EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS 2018 177(卷), null(期), (43-52页)
After a previous review of the grain-size characteristics of in situ (primary) fine-grained aeolian deposits, reworked (secondary) aeolian deposits, as modified in lacustrine environments and by alluvial and pedogenic processes, are discussed in this paper. As a reference, the grain-size characteristics of primary loess deposits are shortly described. Commonly, pedogenesis and weathering of primary loess may lead to clay neoformation and thus to an enrichment in grain diameters of 4-8 mu m, a size which is comparable to the fine background loess. Remarkably, the modal grain-size values of primary loess are preserved after re -deposition in lakes and flood plains. But, secondary lacustrine settings show a very characteristic admixture with a clayey population of 1-2,5 mu m diameter due to the process of settling in standing water. Similarly, alluvial settings show often an addition with coarse-grained sediment supplied by previously eroded sediment. However, floodplain settings show also often the presence of pools and other depressions which behave similarly to lacustrine environments. As a result, alluvial secondary loess sediments are characterized by the poorest grain-size sorting when compared with the other secondary loess and primary loess. Despite the characteristic texture of each of these deposits, grain-size characteristics of the described individual sediment categories are not always fully diagnostic and thus grain-size analysis should be complemented by other information, as sedimentary structures and fauna or flora, to reliably reconstruct the sedimentary processes and environments.