Editor’s Note:On the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,Qinghai weaves a dynamic ecological symphony composed of four distinct natural languages.Here,one can find not only solidified waves-represented by...Editor’s Note:On the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,Qinghai weaves a dynamic ecological symphony composed of four distinct natural languages.Here,one can find not only solidified waves-represented by the crystal-clear Qarhan Salt Lake-but also flowing flames-the passionate hues of the Guide Danxia landscape.展开更多
The tafoni that develop in sandstone cliffs have attracted the interest of both scientists and the general public. A necklace-like tafone system, referred to here as beaded tafoni, has developed in the prominent cliff...The tafoni that develop in sandstone cliffs have attracted the interest of both scientists and the general public. A necklace-like tafone system, referred to here as beaded tafoni, has developed in the prominent cliffs of the Danxia landscapes within the Longhushan Global Geopark in the subtropical zone of South China. This paper presents a new model of the formation of this system of extraordinary beaded tafoni. The cliffs of the Danxia landscapes of the study area are composed of an alluvial conglomerate(i.e.,red beds). These Danxia landscapes have subrounded summits that are covered by vegetation and experience a nearly vertical water flow induced by gravity. Erosion and collapse of the outsized gravels and concentrated pebbles in the red beds give rise to the initial development of the beaded tafoni. The tafoni then become rounded and beaded as a result of reworking and decay by fluvial outwash. During storms, intense water flows run vertically down the cliffs and generate a whirling motion in the tafoni.Consequently, the inside walls of the tafoni gradually become wider and smoother. During the late development stage, the beaded tafoni tend to become indistinct or disappear because of the interconnection of the tafoni and subsequent merging with the bedding-controlled cavities.展开更多
Tafoni are a type of cavernous weathering features widespread in different climate zones around the world,but their origin has not been fully understood.Little attention was paid on tafoni in conglomerates.Danxiashan ...Tafoni are a type of cavernous weathering features widespread in different climate zones around the world,but their origin has not been fully understood.Little attention was paid on tafoni in conglomerates.Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark,located within the subtropic humid region of South China,has a landscape of large tafoni that occur on cliffs of red conglomerates.Both the Dinosaur Rock and Pagoda Peak of the geopark were selected to investigate the formation mechanisms of tafoni in conglomerates.During the field investigation,the size,rock hardness,and the external and internal meteorology of tafoni were measured and tested.The texture and composition of rock samples were observed,and the ion chromatography experiments were performed as well.Results show that tafoni have well ellipsoidal openings.Clasts of the conglomerates are largely sub-rounded and poorly sorted,and the cement is dominantly composed of calcite and iron oxide.The hardness of the lips is almost equal to that of the columns,and both are slightly higher than the backwalls.Compared with the external intense environmental changes,the interior of the tafoni is characterized by smaller temperature and relative humidity ranges and windless condition.Therefore,the porous and permeable conglomerates provide favorable lithology for tafoni development,and the micro-environment within the caverns is conducive to improving water utilization efficiency and enhancing salt weathering.The salts mainly consist of sulfates and nitrates,which might be derived from frequent raining,water evaporation and red beds as well.Consequently,tafoni are the result of the synergistic effects by multiple factors,rather than a single mechanism.展开更多
文摘Editor’s Note:On the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,Qinghai weaves a dynamic ecological symphony composed of four distinct natural languages.Here,one can find not only solidified waves-represented by the crystal-clear Qarhan Salt Lake-but also flowing flames-the passionate hues of the Guide Danxia landscape.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41772197, 41602113)Open Research Fund from the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Depositional Mineralization & Sedimentary Minerals (Shandong University of Science and Technology+1 种基金 Grant No. DMSM2017011)Jiangxi Provincial Graduate Innovation Fund Project (YC2018-S336)
文摘The tafoni that develop in sandstone cliffs have attracted the interest of both scientists and the general public. A necklace-like tafone system, referred to here as beaded tafoni, has developed in the prominent cliffs of the Danxia landscapes within the Longhushan Global Geopark in the subtropical zone of South China. This paper presents a new model of the formation of this system of extraordinary beaded tafoni. The cliffs of the Danxia landscapes of the study area are composed of an alluvial conglomerate(i.e.,red beds). These Danxia landscapes have subrounded summits that are covered by vegetation and experience a nearly vertical water flow induced by gravity. Erosion and collapse of the outsized gravels and concentrated pebbles in the red beds give rise to the initial development of the beaded tafoni. The tafoni then become rounded and beaded as a result of reworking and decay by fluvial outwash. During storms, intense water flows run vertically down the cliffs and generate a whirling motion in the tafoni.Consequently, the inside walls of the tafoni gradually become wider and smoother. During the late development stage, the beaded tafoni tend to become indistinct or disappear because of the interconnection of the tafoni and subsequent merging with the bedding-controlled cavities.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41962009,41772197)the Innovation Fund of East China University of Technology(Grant No.DHYC202007)。
文摘Tafoni are a type of cavernous weathering features widespread in different climate zones around the world,but their origin has not been fully understood.Little attention was paid on tafoni in conglomerates.Danxiashan UNESCO Global Geopark,located within the subtropic humid region of South China,has a landscape of large tafoni that occur on cliffs of red conglomerates.Both the Dinosaur Rock and Pagoda Peak of the geopark were selected to investigate the formation mechanisms of tafoni in conglomerates.During the field investigation,the size,rock hardness,and the external and internal meteorology of tafoni were measured and tested.The texture and composition of rock samples were observed,and the ion chromatography experiments were performed as well.Results show that tafoni have well ellipsoidal openings.Clasts of the conglomerates are largely sub-rounded and poorly sorted,and the cement is dominantly composed of calcite and iron oxide.The hardness of the lips is almost equal to that of the columns,and both are slightly higher than the backwalls.Compared with the external intense environmental changes,the interior of the tafoni is characterized by smaller temperature and relative humidity ranges and windless condition.Therefore,the porous and permeable conglomerates provide favorable lithology for tafoni development,and the micro-environment within the caverns is conducive to improving water utilization efficiency and enhancing salt weathering.The salts mainly consist of sulfates and nitrates,which might be derived from frequent raining,water evaporation and red beds as well.Consequently,tafoni are the result of the synergistic effects by multiple factors,rather than a single mechanism.
