Quaternary stratigraphic regionalization and comprehensive framework in Nanling and adjacent areas

Abstract

The Quaternary sediments in the Nanling and adjacent areas are dominated by alluvial, eluvium and cave deposits, which have lacked of a unified stratigraphic and chronological framework.Based on the results of field survey and research on profiles, the Quaternary strata of Nanling area has been divided into five stratigraphic minor regions: Yongzhou-Chenzhou, Guilin-Hezhou, Shaoguan-Qingyuan, Ganzhou and Daoxian-Yangshan minor region.Meanwhile, the framework of comprehensive strata determined by the lithostratigraphic sequence, biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphic and climatic data has also been established.The results show that the Quaternary System in Nanling area can be compared with the Nihewan Stage, Zhoukoudian Stage, Sarawusu Stage of Pleistocene Series and the unbuilt stage of Holocene Series in China.Its biostratigraphy is characterized by the Gigantopithecus Fauna of Early Pleistocene and the Homo sapiens such as Maba, Daoxian, Liujiang hominin since the late Middle Pleistocene.The climatic stratigraphy are represented by the glacial-interglacial cycle and the local climatic characters in the background of the East Asian monsoon, which were reconstructed by alpine peat and stalagmites deposited from the late Pleistocene.However, the comparison between alluvial and eluvium remains difficult due to the lack of dating data.There is also no detailed comparison between the biological evolution stages and climatic stages.Therefore, the Quaternary stratigraphic research in Nanling should focus on improving the dating precision and establishing a unified time scale in the future in order to promote the refinement of comprehensive stratigraphy comparison.The comparison between continental sediments and marine strata in the South China Sea should be expanded.And it can be used as the basis of applications in hydrological, environmental and engineering geology in Nanling and adjacent areas.

Keywords

• stratigraphic regionalization
• stratigraphic comparison
• quaternary
• nanling areas