The accretion of aeolian dust in soils of the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA

Abstract

Recent observations suggest a contemporary aeolian dust flux of at least 5–10 g m −2 yr −1 to high‐elevation ecosystems of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. To better quantify the influence of dust on San Juan soil geochemistry, we used Sr and Nd isotopic mixing models to estimate the total mass of accreted dust in soils of two alpine basins underlain by bedrocks of different geochemical composition. In order to minimize the potentially confounding effects caused by transient soil pools of Sr and Nd, we implemented a sequential leaching procedure that isolates the residual mineral fraction of soils and their putative parent materials, including local saprolite and exogenous dust inputs. Using this approach, we calculated masses of accreted dust in soils, which were similar across the two isotopic tracers and differing local geologies. Long‐term rates of dust accretion were estimated to be slightly higher than contemporary rates of dust deposition. We conclude that dust inputs comprise from 10% to 40% of the total soil mass in these ecosystems. Our observations suggest that dust inputs have exerted a primary control on soil development in the San Juan Mountains and have likely influenced the physical and chemical characteristics of soils in this region. Aeolian dust has accreted in soils of the southern Rocky Mountains Dust accounts for 10% to 40% of the total soil mass in alpine soils Dust accretion likely influences soil particle size, hydrology, and geochemistry