Chemical weathering processes in the Yalong River draining the eastern Tibetan Plateau, China

•Water chemistry and isotopes (δ34S, δ18O, δ13C) reveal the weathering process.•72% of sulphate derived from sulphide oxidation in the Yalong River.•Dynamics of DIC affected by carbonate weathering and equilibration processes.•Sulphuric acid dominate carbonate weathering in the cold and dry zone with high elevation.

To better understand chemical weathering and controlling processes in the Yalong River of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, this study presents major ion concentrations and stable isotopes of the dissolved loads. The isotopic compositions (δ13C-DIC, δ34S and δ18O-SO4) of the dissolved loads are very useful to quantify solute sources and define the carbon budget related with chemical weathering in riverine systems. The isotopic composition of sulphate demonstrates that most of the sulphate is derived from sulphide oxidation, particularly in the upper reach of the Yalong River. The correlations between δ13C-DIC, water chemistry and isotopes of sulphate, suggest that the carbon dynamics are mainly affected by carbonate weathering by sulphuric acid and equilibration processes. Approximately 13% of the dissolved inorganic carbon in the Yalong River originates from carbonate weathering by strong acid. The CO2 consumption rates are estimated to be 2.8 × 105 mol/km2/yr and 0.9 × 105 mol/km2/yr via carbonate and silicate weathering in the Yalong River, respectively. In this study, the influence of sulphide oxidation and metamorphic CO2 on the carbon budget is estimated for the Yalong River draining the eastern Tibetan Plateau.