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Revista mexicana de ciencias geológicas
On-line version ISSN 2007-2902Print version ISSN 1026-8774
Rev. mex. cienc. geol vol.22 n.3 Ciudad de México Dec. 2005
Artículos
Grain size discrimination between sands of desert and coastal dunes from northwestern Mexico
Discriminación por tamaño de partícula entre arenas de dunas desérticas y costeras del noroeste de México
1Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior s/n, Coyoacán, 04510 México, D.F., Mexico. kasper@icmyl.unam.mx
A textural study of grain-size distribution parameters (mean graphic size Mz, sorting σ, skewness Ski, kurtosis KG) was carried out in the state of Sonora, in NW Mexico. The aim was to distinguish between desert and coastal dunes based on the textural parameters of the sands. Sixty two sand samples were collected from the slip face and crest of linear and sand sheet dunes from the desert and coastal zone of the Altar Desert, Sonora. Textural parameters were determined by a Laser Particle Size Analyzer (Coulter). Among the four groups of dunes studied, El Pinacate desert dune sands are significantly different from the rest of the dune groups in terms of grain size and skewness. This is due to the selectiveness of the northwesterly winds that concentrates finer sizes with longer wind transport from the source (Colorado River delta sediments) to the El Pinacate dune fields. In contrast, the grain size distributions for the rest of the dune fields are affected by their proximity to the sediment sources, tidal transport, long shore drifts and southwesterly and southeasterly winds. Coastal dune sands are coarser than the desert dune sands. This may be caused by the effect of the tidal currents and local winds of the Colorado River delta sediments that locally carry coarser grains onto the beach and landwards. Bioclasts of the beach sand in Puerto Peñasco also exerts a control in the grain size distribution of the dune sand. The linear discriminant analysis and ANOVA test are useful tools to discriminate between desert and coastal dune sands. Some similarities were detected for the grain size distributions between the Altar Desert sands (Mz=1.34φ- 2.79φ; σ=0.35φ - 1.60φ) and the Kalahari Desert sands (Mz=1.55φ - 2.38φ; σ=0.51φ - 1.52φ) that are probably associated with the sediment source of the sands, dune morphology and wind patterns.
Key words: coastal dunes; desert dunes; grain size distribution; Altar Desert; Sonora; Mexico
Se realizó un estudio textural sobre la distribución de tamaño de grano (media Mz, clasificación σ, asimetría Ski y curtosis KG) en el Estado de Sonora, Noroeste de México. El objetivo fue distinguir entre las arenas de dunas desérticas y costeras con base en sus parámetros texturales. Se colectaron sesenta y dos muestras de arena de flancos y crestas de dunas lineales y parabólicas del desierto y de la costa del Desierto de Altar, Sonora. Los parámetros texturales fueron determinados por medio de un Analizador Láser de Tamaño de Partícula (Coulter). Entre los cuatro grupos de dunas estudiadas, las dunas de El Pinacate son significativamente diferentes del resto de las dunas en términos de tamaño de grano y asimetría. Esto es debido a la selectividad de vientos del noroeste que concentran tamaños finos con mayor transporte desde la fuente (delta del Río Colorado) hasta las dunas de El Pinacate. En contraste, las distribuciones de tamaño de grano para el resto de los campos de dunas están afectadas por la cercanía a la fuente de sedimentos, el régimen de marea, las corrientes litorales y los vientos hacia el sureste y noreste locales. Las dunas costeras muestran tamaño de grano más grueso que las dunas desérticas. Esto puede ser causado por el efecto de las mareas y vientos del suroeste y noroeste que transportan sedimentos gruesos del delta del Río Colorado a la playa y tierra adentro. Los biógenos de la playa en Puerto Peñasco influyen también en los parámetros texturales de la duna. El análisis de discriminación lineal y prueba ANOVA son herramientas útiles para discriminar entre las dunas desérticas y costeras. Algunas similitudes se detectaron en las distribuciones de tamaño de grano entre el Desierto de Altar (Mz=1.34φ - 2.79φ; σ=0.35φ - 1.60φ) y Kalahari (Mz=1.55φ - 2.38φ; σ=0.51φ- 1.52φ) que están probablemente asociadas con la fuente de sedimento, morfología de dunas y con los patrones de viento.
Palabras clave: dunas costeras; dunas desérticas; distribución de tamaño de grano; Sonora; México
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, UNAM, for the support during the field work and sample processing. This research is part of the “Quantitative studies of roundness and provenance of beach, dune and river sediments” (Conacyt-Mexico 139156T). We thank E. Morales de la Garza for his assistance.
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Received: March 31, 2005; Revised: August 03, 2005; Accepted: August 08, 2005
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