On the use of coccoliths in loess to reconstruct dust source areas and transport routes: An example from the Malam Loess of the Penglai District, Northwestern Shandong Peninsula, China

This paper is the first to report on the presence of calcareous nannofossils in aeolian loess. A total of twelve taxa of Paleogene age were found in the Malan Loess of Penglai, and their source region is discussed in detail. Many previous investigations have indicated that marine Cretaceous to Paleogene sediments containing calcareous nannofossils were widespread in the southwestern Tarim Basin (Xinjiang). During the Last Glacial Maximum, the period of Malan Loess deposition, the westerlies were very active over the interior and zone of Central Asia and dust storms frequently occurred in northwestern China. Some calcareous nannofossils as components of dust storms were transported by these westerlies from the southwestern Tarim Basin to the area of Penglai. Consequently, calcareous nannofossils in aeolian loess can be used as excellent indicators of ancient dust source areas and routes of transportation.