Abstract
We identified geomorphological, sedimentary and biological evidence of high lake levels around the current Jilantai Salt Lake through field investigations and through analyses of regional remote sensing images. There are four groups of shorelines at elevations of around 1060, 1050, 1044 and 1035 m a.s.l., being 37, 27, 21 and 12 m above the current salt lake surface, respectively. Littoral deposits of sand and gravels are found at elevations between 1070 and 1080 m a.s.l., 47 to 57 m higher than the current salt lake surface, although palaeoshoreline landforms are only preserved at several sites. At Herimuxini, on the northern margin of the Ulan Buh Desert, typical lacustrine sediments and sand-gravel littoral deposits also occur at elevations of 1080 m a.s.l. and below. A 11-km-long typical spit extends eastward from this shoreline gradually reducing in elevation from 1050 to 1035 m a.s.l. In some sand-gravel quarries along the southern bank of the Yellow River on its Great Bend, such as those located near the Hydrological Gauge Station and Shilazhao Town, shoreline features were identified. Littoral deposits overlying the alluvial-diluvial layers occur in a sand quarry near Balagong in Hangjin County. There are also beachrock and littoral deposits preserved on the cut-and-built terraces at several sites along the southern piedmont of Langshan-Yinshan Mountains. In addition, a profile revealing subaqueous delta sediments was identified near Wuhai, where the Yellow River enters the basin. Typical lake sediments also exist at the Togtoh Platform on the eastern end of the Hetao Plain. Aquatic Mollusk shells are common in the littoral deposits, including several species of Corbicula, Radix lagotis, R. xauricularia and Gyraulus convexiusculus. Ostracode shells can also be identified in finer sediments. Typical vertical prograding sequences are evident in outcrops where lacustrine sediments were well preserved. Wave-rolled cobbles and beachrock are very commonly preserved on the top of profiles in the embankments at higher elevations. All this evidence suggests that there was once a huge palaeo-lake covering the Jilantai region and most part of the Hetao Plain with the highest lake level reaching ∼1080 m a.s.l. We refer to the huge paleolake, which was larger than modern Lake Baikal, as “Megalake Jilantai-Hetao.” OSL dating results indicate that the megalake formed before ∼60—50 ka, and the four shorelines at elevations between 1060 and 1035 m a.s.l. likely represent the lake level variations from ∼60–∼50 ka to the early Holocene. The discovery of the Megalake Jilantai-Hetao likely will impact understanding of the development of the Yellow River during the late Quaternary, the evolution of the Ulan Buh and Kubq deserts, neotectonism in the region, and possibly regional climatic changes.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Geological and Mineral Bureau of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Areal Geological Survey for Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1991. 327–329
Cao G. Study on the Paleoseism in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 2001. 1–40
Madsen D B, Chen F H, Oviatt C G, et al. Late Pleistocene/Holocene wetland events recorded in southeast Tengger Desert lake sediments, NW China. Chin Sci Bull, 2003, 48(14): 1423–1429
Wang F Y. Satellitic radar remote sensing studies on evolution of Jilantai salt lake. Remote Sensing Land Resour (in Chinese with English abstract), 2001, 50(4): 35–39
Zhang H C, Ma Y Z, Peng J L, et al. Palaeolake and palaeoenvironment between 42 and 18 kaBP in Tengger Desert, NW China. Chin Sci Bull, 2002, 47(23): 1946–1956
Ma B Q, Li D W, Guo W S. Geomorphological response to environmental changes during the late stage of late Pleistocene in Hubao basin. Quat Sci (in Chinese with English abstract), 2004, 24(6): 630–636
Nie Z S, Li K. Discovery and significance of Salawusu Formation in Baotou area, Inner Mongolia. Chin Sci Bull (in Chinese), 1988, 33(21): 1645–1649
Jia T F, Yin S, Zhao M, et al. A study on the lake deposits on the Togtoh section of Yellow River in the early and middle stage of Pleistocene. J Inner Mongolia Nor Univ (Natural Science Edition) (in Chinese with English abstract), 2001, 30(1): 74–78
Li J B, Ran Y K, Guo W S. Research on the lacustrine strata of the Togtoh basin, China. Quart Sci (in Chinese with English abstract), 2005, 25(5): 630–638
Zhang F J, Wang B S. The Positioning Technology of GPS (in Chinese). Beijing: Publishing House of Coal Industry, 1997. 92–93
Murray A S, Olley J M, Caitcheon G G. Measurement of equivalent doses in quartz from contemporary water-lain sediments using optically stimulated luminescence. Quat Sci Rev (Quaternary Geochronology), 1995, 14(4): 365–371
Nanson G C, Callenb R A, Price D M. Hydroclimatic interpretation of Quaternary shorelines on South Australian playas. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl, 1998, 144(3–4): 281–305
Mauz B. Late Pleistocene records of littoral processes at the Tyrrhenian Coast (Central Italy): depositional environments and luminescence chronology. Quat Sci Rev, 1999, 18 (10–11): 1173–1184
Murray-Wallace C V, Jones B G, Nghi T, et al. Thermoluminescence ages for a reworked coastal barrier, southeastern Vietnam: a preliminary report. J Asian Earth Sci, 2002, 20(5): 535–548
Ollerhead J, Huntley D J, Nelson A R, et al. Optical dating of tsunami-laid sand from an Oregon coastal lake. Quat Sci Rev, 2001, 20 (18): 1915–1926
Aitken M J. An Introduction to Optical Dating. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998. 1–60
Li S H. Identification of well-bleached grains in the optical dating of quartz. Quat Sci Rev, 2001, 20(12): 1365–1370
Wallinga J, Duller G A T. The effect of optical absorption on the infrared stimulated luminescence age obtained on coarse-grain feldspar. Quat Sci Rev, 2000, 19(10): 1035–1042
Thomas P J, Murray A S, Sandgren, P. Age limit and age underestimation using different OSL signals from lacustrine quartz and polymineral fine grains. Quat Sci Rev, 2003, 22: 1139–1143
Aitken M J. Thermoluminescence Dating. London: Academic Press Inc. Ltd, 1985. 67–67
Prescott J R, Hutton J T. Cosmic ray contributions to dose rates for luminescence and ESR dating: large depths and long-term time variations. Radiat Meas, 1994, 23(2–3): 497–500
Stuiver M, Reimer P J. Extended 14C data-base and revised CALIB radiocarbon calibration program. Radiocarbon, 1993, 35: 215–230
Weninger B, Jöris, O. Calpal, 1.10.00 edn. Koln, Radiocarbon Laboratory Institut Fur Urgeschichte Und Fruhgeschichte Weyertal 125 D-50923. 2000
Gilbert G K. Lake Bonneville. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1890, 23–88
Yang J C, Li Y L. Principles for Geomorphology (in Chinese). Beijing: Peking University Press, 2006. 136–147
Feng Z Z. Sedimentary Petrology (Volume B). 2nd ed (in Chinese). Beijing: Petroleum Press, 1993. 128–130
China Earthquake Administration. Active Faults Surrounding Ordos Plateau (in Chinese). Beijing: Seismological Press, 1988. 20–75
Song F M, Cao Z Q. Primary study on the faults at the eastern piedmont of Bayan Ulan Mountains. Study of Active Faults (in Chinese), 1994, 3: 202–205
Deng, Q D, You, Y C. The characteristic and mechanism of tectonic movements to the fault basins surrounding Ordos Plateau. In: Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, ed. Study on the Modern Movements of the Earth’s Crust. Beijing: Seismological Press, 1985. 58–78
Galbraith R F, Roberts R G, Laslett G M, et al. Optical dating of single and multiple grains of quartz from Jinmium Rock Shelter, Northern Australia. Part I, experimental design and statistical models. Archaeometry, 1999, 41: 339–364
Zhang J F, Zhou L P, Yue S Y. Dating fluvial sediments by optical stimulated luminescence: selection of equivalent doses for age calculation. Quat Sci Rev, 2003, 22: 1123–1129
Zhang J F, Li S H, Tso M-Y W. Assessment of bleaching of K-feldspar grains. Radiat Meas, 2001, 33(1): 103–108
Geological Bureau of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Areal Geological Mapping Report in Shetai Area on the Scale of 1:200000 (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1972. 10–80
Geological Bureau of Inner Mongolia Autonomous District. Areal Geological Mapping Report in Baiyinwusu Area on the Scale of 1:200000 (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1979. 6–50
Li J B, Ran Y K, Guo W S. Division of quaternary beds and environment evolution in Hubao basin in China. Quat Sci (in Chinese with English abstract), 2007, 27(4): 632–644
Yu S S, Bai F Y, Li H J. Study on the Resources and Environments in Salt Lake Jilantai and Its Development (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 2001. 21–50
Deng Q D, Zhang P Z, Ran Y K, et al. Basic characteristics of active tectonics of China. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2003, 46(4): 356–372
Wang Y J, Cheng H, Edwards R L, et al. A high-resolution absolute-dated late Pleistocene monsoon record from Hulu Cave, China. Science, 2001, 294(14): 2345–2348
Yuan D X, Cheng H, Edwards R L, et al. Timing, duration, and transitions of the last interglacial Asian monsoon. Science, 2004, 304(23): 575–578
Porter S C, An Z S. Correlation between climate events in the North-Atlantic and China during the last glaciation. Nature, 1995, 375: 305–308
Guo Z, Liu T, Guiot J, et al. High frequency pulses of east Asian monsoon climate in the last two glaciations: link with the North Atlantic. Clim Dyn, 1996, 12: 701–709
Chen F H, Bloemendal J, Wang J M, et al. High-resolution multiproxy climate records from Chinese loess: evidence for rapid climatic changes between 70 ka and 10 ka. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl, 1997, 130(1-4): 323–335
Li A, Yang Z, Sun Z, Yang T. How and when did the Yellow River develop its square bend? Geology, 2001, 59: 951–954
Geng K, Chen Y F. Formation, development and evolution of Jilantai Salt-Lake, Inner Mongolia. Acta Geogr Sin (in Chinese), 1990, 45(3): 341–349
Pachur H J, Wünnemann B, Zhang H C. Lake evolution in the Tengger desert, northwestern China during last 40,000 years. Quat Res, 1995, 44(2): 171–180
Zhang H C, Peng J L, Ma Y, et al. Late Quaternary palaeolake levels in Tengger desert, NW China. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl, 2004, 211(1–2): 45–58
Wünnemann B, Hartman K. Morphodynamics and paleohydrography of the Gaxun Nur Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Zeitschrift Fur Geomorphologie Supplementband, 2001, 126: 147–168
Yang X P, Liu T S, Xiao H L. Evolution of megadunes and lakes in the Badain Jaran desert, Inner Mongolia, China during the last 31000 years. Quat Int, 2002, 104(1): 99–112
Chen K Z, Bowler J M. Late Pleistocene evolution of salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai Province, China. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl, 1986, 54(1–4): 87–104
Rhodes T E, Gasse F, Lin R F, et al. A late Pleistocene-Holocene lacustrine record from Lake Manas, Zunggar (Northern Xinjiang, western China). Palaeogeogr Palaeocl, 1996, 120(1–2): 105–125
Han S D, Yuan Y J. The sequence of paleoclimatic variation of Balikun Lake of Xinjiang in the past 35000 years. Acta Geogr Sin (in Chinese with English abstarct), 1990, 45(3): 350–362
Zheng M P, Liu J Y, Qi W. The discussion of the paleoclimate changes in the last 40 ka BP on Tibet plateau based on the saline lake deposits. In: Zheng, M P, ed. Saline Lake Resources and Global Change (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1996. 6–20
Li B Y. The last greatest lakes on the Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau. Acta Geogr Sin (in Chinese with English abstract), 2000, 55(2): 174–181
Shi Y F, Yu G, Liu X D, et al. Reconstruction of the 30–40 ka B.P. enhanced India monsoon climate based on geological record from the Tibetan Plateau. Palaeogeogr Palaeocl, 2001, 169(1–2): 69–83
Zhao X T, Zhu D G, Yan F H, et al. Climatic change and lake level variation of Namaco, Xizang since the last interglacial stage. Quat Sci (in Chinese with English abstract), 2003, 23(1): 42–51
Zhu D G, Meng Y G, Zhao X T, et al. Namtso lacustrine sediments and the ancient big lake in northwen Tibet Plateau. Acta Geosci Sin (in Chinese with English abstract), 2001, 22(2): 149–155
Zhu D G, Meng X G. Quaternary Environmental Evolution in Nam Area in Tibetan Plateau (in Chinese with English abstract). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 2004. 25–93
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the NSFC Innovative Research Team Project (Grant No. 40421101) and the International Cooperation Project (Grant No. 2002CB714004). Laboratory analyses are supported by the NSFC Key Project (Grant No. 90502008) and the NSFC (Grant No. 40502016)
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, F., Fan, Y., Chun, X. et al. Preliminary research on Megalake Jilantai-Hetao in the arid areas of China during the Late Quaternary. Chin. Sci. Bull. 53, 1725–1739 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0227-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0227-3