Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds in Kangmar,Southern Tibet,China

The planktic foraminifera of the Chuangde Formation （Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds, CORBs） as exposed at Tianbadong section, Kangmar, southern Tibet has been firstly studied for a detailed for a detailed biostratigraphy elaboration. A rich and well-preserved planktic foraminifera were recovered from the Chuangde Formation of the Tianbadong section and the Globotruncanita elevata, Globotruncana ventricosa, Radotruncana calcarata, Globotruncanella havanensis, Globotruncana aegyptiaca, Gansserina gansseri and Abathomphalus mayaroensis zones have been recognized. The planktic foraminiferal assemblage points to an early Campanian to Maastrichitian age for the CORBs of the eastern North Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt, which also provides a better understanding of the shifting progress of the Indian Plate to the north and the evolution of the Neotethyan ocean. The lithostratigraphy of the Chuangde Formation of the Tianbadong section comprises two lithological sequences observed in ascending succession： a lower unit （the Shale Member） mainly composed of purple （cherry-red, violet-red） shales with interbedded siltstones and siliceous rocks; and an upper unit （the Limestone Member） of variegated limestones. The strata of the Chuangde Formation in the Tianbadong section are similar to CORBs in other parts of the northern Tethyan Himalaya area of Asia （Gyangze, Sa＇gya, Sangdanlin, northern Zanskar, etc.）. The fossil contents of the Chuangde Formation in the sections （CORBs） studied provide a means of correlation with the zonation schemes for those of the northern Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt and the Upper Cretaceous of the southern Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt. Paleogeographic reconstruction for the Late Cretaceous indicates that the Upper Cretaceous Chuangde Formation （CORBs） and correlatable strata in northern Zanskar were representative of slope to basinal deposits, which were situated in the northern Tethyan Belt. Correlatable Cretaceous strata in Spiti and Gamba situated in the southern Tethyan Belt in contrast were deposited in shelf environments along the Tethyan Himalayan passive margin. CORBs are most likely formed by the oxidation of Fe（II）-enriched, anoxic deep ocean water near the chemocline that separated the oxic oceanic surface from the anoxic.

Burial Records of Reactive Iron in Cretaceous Black Shales and Oceanic Red Beds from Southern Tibet

One of the new directions in the field of Cretaceous research is to elucidate the mechanism of the sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shales to oceanic red beds. A chemical sequential extraction method was applied to these two types of rocks from southern Tibet to investigate the burial records of reactive iron. Results indicate that carbonate-associated iron and pyrite are relatively enriched in the black shales, but depleted or absent in red beds. The main feature of the reactive iron in the red beds is relative enrichment of iron oxides （largely hematite）, which occurred during syn-depostion or early diagenesis. The ratio between iron oxides and the total iron indicates an oxygen-enriched environment for red bed deposition. A comparison between the reactive iron burial records and proxies of paleo-productivity suggests that paleo-productivity decreases when the ratio between iron oxides and the total iron increases in the red beds. This phenomenon could imply that the relationship between marine redox and productivity might be one of the reasons for the sedimentary transition from Cretaceous black shale to oceanic red bed deposition.

Response of Reactive Phosphorus Burial to the Sedimentary Transition from Cretaceous Black Shales to Oceanic Red Beds in Southern Tibet

The mechanism of sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shales to the oceanic red beds is a new and important direction of Cretaceous research. Chemical sequential extraction is applied to study the burial records of reactive phosphorus in the black shale of the Gyabula Formation and oceanic red beds of the Chuangde Formation, Southern Tibet. Results indicate that the principal reactive phosphorus species is the authigenic and carbonate-associated phosphorus （CAP） in the Gyabula Formation and iron oxides-associated phosphorus （FeP） in the Chuangde Formation which accounts for more than half of their own total phosphorus content. While the authigenic and carbonate-associated phosphorus （CAP） is almost equal in the two Formations; the iron oxidesassociated phosphorus is about 1.6 times higher in the Chuangde Formation than that in the Gyabula Formation resulting in a higher content of the total phosphorus in the Chuangde Formation. According to the observations on the marine phosphorus cyde in Modern Ocean, it is found that preferential burial and regeneration of reactive phosphorus corresponds to highly oxic and reducing conditions, respectively, leading to the different distribution of phosphorus in these two distinct type of marine sediments. It is the redox-sensitive behavior of phosphorus cycle to the different redox conditions in the ocean and the controlling effects of phosphorus to the marine production that stimulate the local sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shale to the oceanic red beds.

Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds:Distribution,Lithostratigraphy and Paleoenvironments

Cretaceous oceanic red beds （CORBs） represented by red shales and marls, were deposited during the Cretaceous and early Paleocene, predominantly in the Tethyan realm, in lower slope and abyssal basin environments. Detailed studies of CORBs are rare; therefore, we compiled CORBs data from deep sea ocean drilling cores and outcrops of Cretaceous rocks subaerially exposed in southern Europe, northwestern Germany, Asia and New Zealand. In the Tethyan realm, CORBs mainly consist of reddish or pink shales, limestones and marlstones. By contrast, marlstones and chalks are rare in deep-ocean drilling cores. Upper Cretaceous marine sediments in cores from the Atlantic Ocean are predominantly various shades of brown, reddish brown, yellowish brown and pale brown in color. A few red, pink, yellow and orange Cretaceous sediments are also present. The commonest age of CORBs is early Campanian to Maastrichtian, with the onset mostly of oxic deposition often after Oceanic Anoxic Events （OAEs）, during the early Aptian, late Albian-early Turonian and Campanian. This suggests an indicated and previously not recognized relationship between OAEs, black shales deposition and CORBs. CORBs even though globally distributed, are most common in the North Atlantic and Tethyan realms, in low to mid latitudes of the northern hemisphere; in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean in the mid to high latitudes of the southern hemisphere; and are less frequent in the central Pacific Ocean. Their widespread occurrence during the late Cretaceous might have been the result of establishing a connection for deep oceanic current circulation between the Pacific and the evolving connection between South and North Atlantic and changes in oceanic basins ventilation.

Discovery of Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis from the Lower Cretaceous of Wangqing,Jilin Province,and Its Significance in Correlation of Cretaceous Red Beds in China

New data from abundant vegetative shoots and cuticular analysis are provided for the Cretaceous cheirolepidiaceous conifer Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis Deng, Yang et Lu. The material was found from a new locality of the Lower Cretaceous strata in the Luozigou Basin, Wangqing, Jilin Province, northeastern China. Pseudofrenelopsis is a common plant in the Dalazi Formation of the Yanji Basin about 150 km from Wangqing, but there exists different species, Pseudofrenelopsis dalatzensis only. Both P. dalatzensis and P. gansuensis have been recorded from the Lower Cretaceous of Jiuquan, Gansu Province, but they are in different stratigraphic horizons. The Lower Cretaceous plant-bearing strata in Luozigou have used to correlate with the Dalazi Formation of the Yanji Basin. The discovery of P. gansuensis, which is lower in horizon than P. dalatzensis in Jiuquan, may indicate that they are also different in horizon in Jilin. Cheirolepidiaceous conifers are among the few fossils of red beds of the Early Cretaceous in China. The present discovery of Pseudofrenelopsis gansuensis provides important evidence for classification, correlation and determination of geological ages of the Early Cretaceous non-marine red deposits of the two separate basins in remote areas of North China.

A Preliminary Study on the Red Beds in the Northern Heyuan Basin, Guangdong Province, China

The red beds of the northern Heyuan Basin （Guangdong Province, China） are more than 4,000 m thick. Based on the lithological characters, in ascending order these beds are divided into the Dafeng Formation, Zhutian Formation, and Zhenshui Formation of the Nanxiong Group, Shanghu Formation and Danxia Formation. The Nanxiong Group with relatively mature coarse clastic rocks attains about 2940 m in thickness. The Dafeng Formation is 837 m thick, consisting of conglomerates and sandy conglomerates; the Zhutian Formation, which is 1.200 m thick, consists of purplish red sandstone with gravels, poorly sorted sandstone, feldspathic quartzose sandstone banded granular conglomerate, siltstone, and sandy mudstone. The Zhutian Formation is rich in calcareous concretions. Heyuannia （Oviraptoridae） and turtle fossils were found in this formation. The Zhenshui Formation deposited to a thickness of 900 m consists of coarse sediments, including granular conglomerate, and gravelly sandstone with well developed cross-beddings; the Shanghu Formation, which is 820 m thick, consists of purplish red granular conglomerate coarse sandstone intercalated with fine si^tstone; the Danxia Formation characterized by the Danxia ~andform is composed of coarse c^astic gravels and sandy gravels. The lower part of the Nanxiong Group whence dinosaur eggs and derived oviraptorosaurs come, belongs to the Late Cretaceous. No fossils are found in the Shanghu Formation or the Danxia Formation, but their stratigraphic order of superposition on the Nanxiong Group clearly shows their younger age.

Magnetostratieraphy of the Red Beds in the Hengyang Basin

This paper discusses the Cretaceous-Tertiary magnetic polarity sequence of the the Hengyang Basin on the basis of magnetostratigraphic study. The age of each stratigraphic unit has been determined with the magnetic polarity time scale combined with 39Ar/40Ar dating, thus providing evidence for determining the geological ages of different formations. The authors assign the age of the Dongjing Formation of the Hengyang Basin to Early Cretaceous, the Shenhuangshan Formation to Early-Late Cretaceous, the Daijiaping Formation to Late Cretaceous, and the Dongtang and Xialiushi formations to Palaeocene.

Field, Mega- and Microscopic Description of the Volcaniclastic Red Beds and the Associated Scoriaceous Basalt of Wadi Al Roaian, Ablah Area, Assir Terrain

The study area is located in the entrance of Wadi Girshah in Ablah area, Assir terrain, southwestern Saudi Arabia. The present study aims to shed light on the field, mega- and microscopic description of the volcaniclastic red beds and the associated scoriaceous basalts of Wadi Al Roaian. It is based mainly up on the field works augmented by petrographic description. The present study revealed that, the succession of the upper part of Girshah Formation comprises three main horizons: 1) lower unit of epidotized and silicified basaltic and andesitic tuffs;2) middle unit of volcaniclastic red beds-scoriaceous basalts of successive cycles (each of these cycles begins by reddish tuffaceous mudstone and sandstone and is terminated by the calcite-bearing scoriaceous basalt). This unit indicated the deposition in lacustrine environments and the red iron oxyhydroxides minerals were formed either by the direct hematitization of the deposited tuffs or by the diagenetic hematitization of the green clays formed instead of the precursor tuffaceous materials;3) upper scoriaceous basalt unit composed from hematitized and calcitized basalt. The unit was formed by basic volcanic eruptions in subaerial condition which was predominated by the formation of calcium carbonate lakes associated with the progressive and subsequent calcitization of the Ca-plagioclase minerals of the basalt and the associated glassy tuffaceous material. The scoriaceous basalts of Wadi Al Roaian area represent subaerial basic volcanic eruption in continental situation and are associated with subsequent events of mineral alteration and formation of secondary minerals i.e. calcite, hematite and goethite.

Mesozoic “Red Beds” and its Evolution in the Hefei Basin

The Hefei Basin is the largest basin in the North China landmass with complete and well-preserved Mesozoic and Cenozoic strata. In the basin there developed a suite of extremely thick ＂red beds＂ in the Mesozoic. Owing to complex evolution processes and a lack of paleontological traces, there have been controversies regarding the division and correlation of this suite of red beds. Based on results obtained in recent years in drilling, seismic and surface geological investigations and in consideration of relationships between seismic sequences and regional tectonic events, as well as evidence in paleontology, petrology and isotopic dating, this paper preliminarily puts forward the following ideas about the sequence stratigraphic framework of the continental ＂red beds＂ in the Hefei Basin. （1） The Zhougongshan Formation and the Yuantongshan Formation have similar lithologic, geophysical and paleontological characteristics, so we incorporate them into a single formation, called the Yuantongshan Formation, and the original Zhougongshan and Yuantongshan Formations are regarded as the upper and the lower parts of the newly defined Yuantongshan Formation. Its age is the Middle Jurassic; （2） the Zhuxiang Formation belongs to the Upper Jurassic Series and （3） the age of the Xiangdaopu Formation is the Lower Cretaceous. Furthermore, signatures of depositional evolution are analyzed in the paper based on features of seismic reflection, outcrops and drilling data. The Early and Middle Jurassic is characterized by a foreland basin, which is influenced mainly by uplift and longitudinal compression of the Dabieshan Mountains; the Lower Jurassic System has a relatively small depositional area; the Middle Jurassic strata are distributed extensively over the whole basin, marking the summit of basin development; a flexure basin is characteristic of the Late Jurassic, manifesting a joint effect of the Dabieshan and Zhangbaling Mountains with the former being more significant. In the Early Cretaceous, the Xiangdaopu Formation was distributed in the Daqiao depression, evidently affected by extension of the Tanlu fault; in the Late Cretaceous, the Hefei Basin was subjected to dismembering and the Zhangqiao Formation was distributed in the east-west direction along the downthrown side of the fault.

Age of the Silurian Lower Red Beds in South China:Stratigraphical Evidence from the Sanbaiti Section

The age of the Silurian Lower Red Beds in the Upper Yangtze region remains debatable.Twenty-four samples were collected for conodont biostratigraphical studies from the Paiyunan Formation in the Sanbaiti Section,Huaying,Sichuan Province.The conodont fauna from the Paiyunan Formation,together with the graptolites from the underlying Lungmachi Formation,indicates that the Lower Red Beds at Sanbaiti correspond to the lower Telychian.Comparative analysis indicates that most exposures of the Lower Red Beds in the Upper Yangtze region can be assigned,in general,to the Telychian Stage,except for several localities,where the Lower Red Beds can be roughly dated as an interval between the upper Aeronian and lower Telychian.

Clay mineral assemblages of the oceanic red beds in the northern South China Sea and their responses to the Middle Miocene Climate Transition

The Middle Miocene Climate Transition(MMCT,~14 Ma)is the largest cooling event in the Cenozoic“Coolhouse”,which significantly impacts the global chemical weathering pattern.In this paper,the responses of the MMCT global cooling event in the deep South China Sea were studied by clay mineral assemblages analysis of the oceanic red beds(ORB)at International Ocean Discovery Program(IODP)Expedition 368 Site U1502.The results show that the clay mineral assemblages of the ORB at Site U1502 are mainly composed of smectite(56–88%),illite(7–29%),and kaolinite(6–20%),without chlorite.The contents of these clay minerals and illite crystallinity show a four-stage variation pattern during early-middle Miocene(22.8–10.8 Ma).Smectite decreased from average 81%during 22.8–16.2 Ma and 16.2–14.4 Ma to average 67%during 13.8–10.8 Ma,with a rapid decrease of~14%during 14.4–13.8 Ma.On the contrary,illite and kaolinite increased rapidly by~8%and~6%,respectively,during 14.4–13.8 Ma.Illite crystallinity increased from average 0.18°Δ2θduring 22.8–16.2 Ma to average 0.19°Δ2θduring 16.2–14.4 Ma,and then decreased rapidly by~0.02°Δ2θduring 14.4–13.8 Ma.The provenance analysis of clay minerals shows that illite and kaolinite mainly originated from South China landmass due to physical erosion,while smectite mainly came from the Luzon arc as the product of chemical weathering.Therefore,smectite/illite ratio and illite crystallinity are used as proxies of chemical weathering intensity in the early-middle Miocene.High values of the ratio and the crystallinity represent the enhanced chemical weathering,whereas low values indicate the weakened chemical weathering or the strengthened physical erosion process.The smectite/illite ratio and illite crystallinity both decreased rapidly during 14.4–13.8 Ma,indicating the chemical weathering in the surrounding area of the South China Sea weakened rapidly,which we believe is the result of the MMCT event forcing.In addition,their values increased slightly during 16.2–14.4 Ma,which is in response to the relatively enhanced chemical weathering during the Middle Miocene Climate Optimum(MMCO).The variation pattern of clay mineral assemblages of the early-middle Miocene ORB in the South China Sea and its rapid transformation during the MMCT reveal that the Cenozoic cooling played a specific role in controlling the chemical weathering of the Earth’s surface.

Paleosols in an outcrop of red beds from the Upper Cretaceous Yaojia Formation,southern Songliao Basin, Jilin Province, NE China

Paleosols in an outcrop of fluvial–lacustrine red beds have been recognized in the Upper Cretaceous Yaojia Formation in southern Songliao Basin, Songyuan City, Jilin Province, NE China. They are recognized in the field by pedogenic features, including root traces and burrows, soil horizons and soil structures. Root traces are remnants of small herbaceous plants, elongating and branching downwards in the red paleosols. They are filled by calcite,analcime, and clay minerals in spaces created by the decay of the plant roots. Burrows are found near the root traces with backfilled cells made by soil-dwelling insects. Soil horizons include calcic horizons(Bk horizon) with continuous calcareous layers, argillic horizons(Bt horizon) with clay films and dark brown to black iron-manganese cutans, vertic horizons(Bw horizon) with slickensided claystone, and deformed soil structure and gleyed horizons(Bg horizon) with mottles and reticulate mottles. Soil structures of the paleosols include pseudo-anticlinal structures,subangular blocky structures, and angular blocky structures. The micro-pedogenesis characteristics are also observed, including micrite pedogenic minerals and clay skins. Based on the pedogenic features above, paleosols types including Aridisol, Alfisol, and Vertisol are interpreted in the red beds of the Yaojia Formation. Forming in the Late Cretaceous, the paleosols can provide more details about the seasonal climate conditions and terrestrial sedimentary system in lacustrine basin.

Identifying the spatiotemporal characteristics of individual red bed landslides: a case study in Western Yunnan, China

Strata in red bed areas have typical characteristics of soft-hard interbedding and high sensitivity to water. Under the comprehensive action of internal stratigraphic structure and external hydrological factors, red bed landslides have highly complex spatiotemporal characteristics, presenting significant challenges to the prevention and control of landslide disasters in red bed areas, especially for slope and tunnel engineering projects. In this study, we applied an interdisciplinary approach combining small baseline subset interferometric synthetic aperture radar(SBAS-InSAR), deep displacement monitoring, and engineering geological surveying to identify the deformation mechanisms and spatiotemporal characteristics of the Abi landslide, an individual landslide that occurred in the red bed area of Western Yunnan, China. Surface deformation time series indicated that a basic deformation range developed by March 2020. Based on In SAR results and engineering geological analysis, the landslide surface could be divided into three zones: an upper sliding zone(US), a lower uplifted zone(LU), and a toe zone(Toe). LU was affected by the structure of the sliding bed with variable inclination. Using deep displacement curves combined with the geological profile, a set of sliding surfaces were identified between different lithology. The groundwater level standardization index(GLSI) and deformation normalization index(DNI) showed different quadratic relationships between US and LU. Verification using the Pearson correlation analysis shows that the correlation coefficients between model calculated results and measured data are 0.7933 and 0.7577, respectively, indicating that the DNI-GLSI models are applicable. A fast and short-lived deformation sub stage(ID-Fast) in the initial deformation stage was observed, and ID-Fast was driven by concentrated rainfall.

Elemental composition and its environmental significance for the varicolored hills in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains of Sunan Yugur Autonomous County,China

The varicolored hills in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains of northem China, in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province＇s Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, have given this region a unique geomorphology. In this paper, we describe the elemental composition, lithological characteristics, and source type of the sediments that formed the varicolored hills. We found that the major oxides that make up their sediments are SiO2, A12O3 and Na2O. These sediments had higher Fe2O3, MgO, CaO, and Na2O contents and lower SiO2, A12O3, K2O, and TiO2 contents than in the major Fangyan rock group of the Jianglang Mountains Danxia landform and the red paleosols that have accumulated in the Yaojia Formation of the Songliao Basin. The varicolored hills have developed their strong coloration as a result of oxidation or reduction of Fe. Our data suggest that the sediments developed from terrestrial detrital deposits.The varicolored hills in the northern foothills of the Qilian Mountains of northem China, in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province＇s Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, have given this region a unique geomorphology. In this paper, we describe the elemental composition, lithological characteristics, and source type of the sediments that formed the varicolored hills. We found that the major oxides that make up their sediments are SiO2, A12O3 and Na2O. These sediments had higher Fe2O3, MgO, CaO, and Na2O contents and lower SiO2, A12O3, K2O, and TiO2 contents than in the major Fangyan rock group of the Jianglang Mountains Danxia landform and the red paleosols that have accumulated in the Yaojia Formation of the Songliao Basin. The varicolored hills have developed their strong coloration as a result of oxidation or reduction of Fe. Our data suggest that the sediments developed from terrestrial detrital deposits.

A New Species of Jiangxialepis(Galeaspida)from the Lower Telychian(Silurian)of Jiangxi and its Biostratigraphic Significance

A new species of Shuyuidae(Eugaleaspiformes,Galeaspida),Jiangxialepis jiujiangensis sp.nov.,is described from the lower Telychian(Llandovery,Silurian)Qingshui Formation in Jiujiang,Jiangxi Province,China.The new species differs from the type species J.retrospina from Wuhan,Hubei Province in its sharp and posteriorly positioned median dorsal spine and narrow spine-shaped inner cornual processes.The Silurian strata in Xiushui–Wuning area has provided a standard framework for the correlation of Silurian shallow marine red beds in South China.Thus,the finding of J.jiujiangensis from the Silurian Lower Red Beds(LRBs)in Jiangxi Province bears very important biostratigraphic significance.It can directly compare to Jiangxialepis retrospina from the Fentou Formation in Wuhan,Hubei Province in the genus level.This indicates that the age of the fish-bearing strata in Wuhan is most likely to be the early Telychian rather than middle Telychian as previously assumed.

Late Cretaceous Foraminiferal Faunas from the Saiqu“mélange”in Southern Tibet

As one of the mélanges in the southern side of the Yarlung-Zangbo suture zone, the Saiqu mélange in southern Tibet is important for understanding the evolution of the Neo-Tethys ocean. The age of the Saiqu mélange, however, has been debated due to the lack of reliable fossil evidence in matrix strata. Based on lithological similarities with platform strata in southern Tibet and limited fossils from exotic blocks, previous studies variously ascribed the Saiqu mélange to be Triassic in general, Late Triassic, or Late Cretaceous. Here we reported planktonic foraminiferal faunas from the matrix strata of the Saiqu mélange. The new fossils yield a Late Cretaceous age, which is so far the best age constraint for the mélange. Regional stratigraphic correlation indicates that the Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds （CORBs） in Saiqu may be time equivalent to the CORBs of the Zongzhuo Formation in neighboring regions. Thus the Saiqu m^lange should be correlated to the Upper Cretaceous Zongzhuo Formation rather than the Triassic Xiukang Group, as previously suggested.

Discovery of Radiolaria from the Zongzhuo Formation in Tianba,Kangmar,Tibet and its Age Implication

There is a group of variegated marine deposits, including the red beds widespread in the area of Tianba, Kangmar, southern Tibet, which previous works have contributed to Cretaceous Zongzhuo Formation by lithologic associations only, but with poor fossil evidence. Due to the absence of age dating fossils, the red bed age is obscure. Abundant Cretaceous radiolaria were discovered from the Zongzhuo Formation in the present study. In spite of the poor general preservation of some radiolarian specimens as recrystallized quartz infillings, 58 species from 46 genera of radiolaria, extracted from chert and silicous limestone of the Zongzhuo Formation in Kangmar, were identified on the basis of their shape and ornamentation. Based on the radiolaria, the age of the Zongzhuo Formation of this area has been referred to as Late Cretaceous. The new radiolarian data from the Zongzhuo Formation of Tianba area provide a local basis to correlate these deposits with other regions of the Tethyan Himalaya.

中国浙江丹霞拱形岩穴与美国科罗拉多高原天然石拱和天生桥特征与成因的对比研究

The red beds in Zhejiang province of China host the highest concentration of Danxia arched rock shelters in the world,just as the Colorado Plateau in the western USA hosts the world's largest concentration of natural arches and bridges.This study investigated the geological background of the arched rock shelters and compared them to the natural arches and bridges,based on field study and a literature review.It was found that Zhejiang arched rock shelters differ from Colorado Plateau natural arches and bridges in geometry and formation mechanism.Statistical geometric data on arch geometry shows that Danxia arched rock shelters in Zhejiang tend to be relatively flat.They are relatively low features with long spans,and great depth.The natural arches and bridges on the Colorado Plateau are similar to each other,but the bridges are larger than the arches.The geometric differences between the arched landforms could be attributed to their different geologic history and to their different formation mechanisms.The arched rock shelters in Zhejiang are formed by differential weathering between sandstone and conglomerate due to moisture-induced tensile stresses.In contrast,natural arches on the Colorado Plateau are closely related to the Salt Valley anticline,vertical tectonic fractures,and horizontal discontinuities in rock fins.The Colorado Plateau natural bridges were formed by river erosion.

Geological Evolution of Longhushan World Geopark in Relation to Global Tectonics

The South China fold belt has experienced a complex series of tectonic events that span 1.0 billion years of earth history. Longhushan （龙虎山） World Geopark is located on the Proterozoic suture between the Yangtze craton and Cathyasia block and highlights the long history of this belt. Collision of the Cathyasia and Yangtze cratons 1.0 billion years ago was associated with the formation of the Rodinian supercontinent where most of the planet＇s landmasses were amalgamated into one block. Jurassic through Early Cretaceous magmatism was associated with the inland migration of the continental margin arc associated with the penetration of a flat slab after subduction of the Kula-Farallon ridge. Slab roll-back in the Early to Middle Cretaceous opened many extensional basins across the South China fold belt, including the Xinjiang （信江） basin in which Longhushan is located, and these were filled largely with continental red beds deposited by fluvial systems in the hot torrid climate. The beds are richly fossiliferous, including remains of many dinosaurs and dinosaur eggs. Subduction of the Kula-Pacific plate in the Middle Cretaceous caused a short magmatic pulse, and then, the basins subsided slowly through the remainder of the Cretaceous. Cenozoic uplift of the red bed basins was initiated by the India- Asia collision. The uplift was associated with the formation of many faults, joints, and brittle structures that dissected the red bed deposits. Fluvial erosion of the red beds was enhanced along the brittle structures, and different locations have developed very distinctive and structuraliy controlled geomorphological features including mesas, kopjies, and isolated stone peaks that are known in China as Danxia （丹霞） land-forms. Together, these features form Danxia landscapes, and Longhushan World Geopark exhibits a complete range of the Danxia landscapes from juvenile, to mature and to old stages of development. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization （UNESCO） World Geopark program ensures that these features and geologic history will be preserved in their pristine state and be available for study and appreciation for generations to come.