Geology of the Pearl River Delta
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The geology of the Pearl River Delta is rock sequences plus superficial sediments, emplaced in an alluvial delta, occupying the Pearl River Estuary. The unconsolidated sediments which dominate the delta are largely derived from continental materials exposed across the Pearl River basin, and range in size from fine particles such as mud to larger fragments like gravel. These deltaic materials have been deposited for 9000 years atop the bedrock at the mouth of the Pearl River in Guangdong Province, situated along the northern margin of the South China Sea.[1]
Pearl River Delta | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Neoproterozoic to Cenozoic | |
Type | Geological formation (delta) |
Location | |
Coordinates | 21°20’–23°30’N and 112°40’–114°50’E[1] |
Region | Sub-tropical area |
Extent | East Asia |
Type section | |
Country | China |
This landform, replete with an intricate network of river channels, has been evolving since the Early Holocene era, shaping the contemporary delta landscape observed today.[2] During this period, cyclical variations in sea level, known as regression and transgression, have occurred.[3] As a result, space has been created for the deposition of sediments carried by the Pearl River.[3] The Quaternary geological sequence, which overlays the bedrock, exemplifies this cycle. It comprises marine units, primarily constituted by silt and clay, as well as continental units, dominated by sand and gravel.[4] The bedrock underlying the delta exhibits complexity due to varying deformation and intrusion events prompted by significant tectonic activities.[5][6] The ongoing evolution of the delta is principally influenced by neo-tectonic movements, fluvial processes, fluctuations in sea level, and human activities.[1] These elements collectively exert a significant impact on the dynamic development and transformation of the delta.