by Peter Clift
Alizai, A., Hillier, S., Clift, P.D. and Giosan, L., 2012. Quaternary Research 77(3), 368–381, doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2012.01.008.
We employed X-ray diffraction methods to quantify clay mineral assemblages in the Indus Delta and flood plains since... more
We employed X-ray diffraction methods to quantify clay mineral assemblages in the Indus Delta and flood plains since ~14 ka, spanning a period of strong climatic change. Assemblages are dominated by smectite and illite, with minor chlorite and kaolinite. Delta sediments integrate clays from across the basin and show increasing smectite input between 13 and 7.5 ka, indicating stronger chemical weathering as the sum- mer monsoon intensified. Changes in clay mineralogy postdate changes in climate by 5–3 ka, reflecting the time needed for new clay minerals to form and be transported to the delta. Samples from the flood plains in Punjab show evidence for increased chemical weathering towards the top of the sections (6–b4 ka), coun- ter to the trend in the delta, at a time of monsoon weakening. Clay mineral assemblages within sandy flood- plain sediment have higher smectite/(illite + chlorite) values than interbedded mudstones, suggestive of ei- ther stronger weathering or more sediment reworking since the Mid Holocene. We show that marine records are not always good proxies for weathering across the entire flood plain. Nonetheless, the delta record likely represents the most reliable record of basin-wide weathering response to climate change.
Download (.pdf) 
