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Karst Geoheritage of the Red Stone Forest in the **angxi UNESCO Global Geopark: Chromogenic Factors, Microgeomorphology and Dissolution Behaviour

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Abstract

The Ordovician red karst forest is a core geoheritage site in the **angxi UNESCO Global Geopark and is of world-class value. However, the chromogenic factors and microgeomorphology of it have not been systematically studied, and the dissolution rate of the rocks remains unclear. The geopark contains the Sanbaidong profile, which completely traverses the bedrock of the red stone forest. We collected 355 samples from the strata within the profile for high-density geochemical analysis and found that the red stone forest contains more than one chromogenic factor. The TFe2O3 content in the lower boundary of red carbonate rocks increases significantly, controlling the occurrence of red beds. The proportion of Fe3+ controls the degree of red colouration. The proportions of Fe2+ and Cu2+ control the appearance of the greyish-green layer, and Mn2+ may control the darkness of the rocks. According to the study on the coupling between elements, TFe2O3 and Cu2+ are mainly supplied from continental sources, and Mn2+ is restricted by both marine and continental factors. The elemental distribution in layers obviously controls the concave and convex microgeomorphology. The clearest reason for this phenomenon is the CaO-SiO2 proportions in adjacent layers, which are independent of the absolute values. According to an ideal model and comparisons with the Dalongdong area in **angxi and the Shilin UNESCO Global Geopark, it is calculated that the dissolution of the red stone forest may occur at a rate of 130.63 mg/a. The dissolution difference between the concave and convex surfaces is 1.3978 mg/a. This means that the compositional difference between the concave and convex surfaces may lead to an annual quality difference of approximately 1.07% between the layers. After tens of thousands of years, the microgeomorphology finally formed.

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Data Availability

All the data can be obtained from the Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS and the Geopark Administration of **angxi Tujia & Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

Abbreviations

aUGGp:

Applied UNESCO Global Geopark

BT:

Baota

DW:

Dawan

ESR:

electron spin resonance

GNT:

Guniutan

HHY:

Honghuayuan

IUGS:

International Union of Geosciences and Sciences

LOI:

loss on ignition

TP:

translation point

UGGp:

UNESCO Global Geopark

UNESCO:

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

XRF:

X-ray fluorescence

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mr. ** Li, Mr. Wenhua Gao and Mr. Hua Peng for their long-term support for our work in the **angxi area.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 42001011]; the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Public Welfare Research Institutes, CAGS [grant number JKYQN202365]; the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation [grant number 2022GXNSFBA035592]; the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Public Welfare Research Institutes, CAGS [grant number 2020015]; the Guangxi Major Science and Technology Innovation Base Construction Project [grant number 2018-242-Z01]; and the China Geological Survey [grant number DD20221637].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Earth Sciences, Jilin University/Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources Evaluation in Northeast Asia (Jilin University), Changchun, Jilin, 130061, China

    Liangjun Wu & Pujun Wang

  2. Institute of Karst Geology CAGS/Key Laboratory of Karst Dynamics, MNR & GZAR, Guilin, 541004, Guangxi, China

    Liangjun Wu, Yuanhai Zhang, Haoxing Wei & Fayuan Li

  3. **angxi UNESCO Global Geopark Museum, Furong Town, **angxi, 343899, Hunan, China

    Bei Li

  4. Geopark Administration of **angxi Tujia & Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Jishou, 416000, Hunan, China

    Qingzi Ye & Wenhong Peng

  5. Department of Science and Engineering, Liuzhou No. 2 Vocational School, Liuzhou, 545005, China

    Haixian Jiang

  6. Department of Engineering, Liuzhou Management Center of Construction and Engineering for Quality and Safety, Liuzhou, 545001, China

    Junhui Jiang

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  1. Liangjun Wu
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Correspondence to Haixian Jiang.

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Wu, L., Zhang, Y., Wang, P. et al. Karst Geoheritage of the Red Stone Forest in the **angxi UNESCO Global Geopark: Chromogenic Factors, Microgeomorphology and Dissolution Behaviour. Geoheritage 16, 18 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-024-00917-1

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