A Quantitative Provenance Analysis (QPA) Approach to Quantify Controls on Sediment Generation and Sediment Flux in the Upper Reaches of the Magdalena River (Colombia): 2. Lithological Control on Contribution to Silt‐ to Clay‐Sized Fractions

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Earth surface 2024-05, Vol.129 (5), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Liedel, S., Caracciolo, L., Beltrán‐Triviño, A., Restrepo, J. C., Ángel, J. D. Restrepo, Szczerba, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemical weathering; Clay; Clay minerals; Composition; Detritus; Earthquakes; Extreme weather; Fluvial sediments; Landslides; linear mixing model; lithological control; Lithology; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Metamorphic rocks; Mineralogy; Modelling; Precipitation; quantitative provenance analysis; Rainfall; Raman light and heavy mineral analysis; River sediments; Rivers; Sand; Sediment; sediment budget; Sediment composition; sediment generation; Sedimentary rocks; Sediments; Seismic activity; Silt; Siltstone; Statistical methods; Suspended sediments; Tropical climate; Tropical climates; Volcanic rocks; Weathering
• ISSN: 2169-9003; 2169-9011
• DOI: 10.1029/2023JF007379

The composition of 27 fluvial silt and clay sediments was used in this study to identify and quantify the processes in the upper valley of the Magdalena river in South Colombia. The combination of seismic activity, intense precipitation, and landsliding resulted in limited chemical weathering and a very efficient transfer of weathered products to the transfer zone of both tributary rivers and the main trunk. Inputs from plutonic, high‐grade metamorphic, volcanic, and low‐ to medium‐grade metamorphic lithologies vary in coarse silt‐sized versus fine silt‐ and clay‐sized sediments, reflecting inherited textural parameters and mineralogy. Plutonic and high‐grade metamorphic rocks mostly produce sand‐sized sediments, up to two times more than coase silt and up to 10 times more than fine silt to clay. The prevalence of siltstone in the area enhances the contribution of sedimentary rocks to fine silt and clay (up to 50% higher than to sand). Volcanic rocks mainly produce coarse silt (up to 2.5 times more than sand). Low‐grade metamorphic detritus is enriched in silt and clay (up to 5–7 times). These findings highlight the critical role of lithology in regulating sediment generation. The study's approach can establish or modify factors modeling lithological control on suspended sediment flux, such as in the BQART equation. Plain Language Summary This study examines the production of sediment finer than sand (clay and silt) from different rock types in a region with enhanced sediment transfer, tropical climate and earthquakes: the upper reaches of the Magdalena river in Colombia. Compositional data of river sediments were analyzed with statistical methods and subjected to mathematical modeling. Sediment compositions demonstrate that extreme rainfall is able to move sediment produced by landslides before it is significantly modified by environmental influences. Our mathematical models show how bedrock characteristics affect the production of clay, silt and sand. This highlights the need to consider rock type as a crucial control in any sediment production‐related study. The approach presented in this study has the potential to establish or modify correction factors for local or global modeling of sediment production, transport and transfer. Key Points Textural and compositional signatures of silt‐ and clay‐sized sediment reflect fast sediment removal from the weathering environment Textural parameters and mineralogical assemblages of drainage lithologies determine