Chronology of periglacial structures in Northern China

• Published in: Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
• Main Author: Jianzhong, Sun
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1990
• Subjects: Ice; permafrost; Permafrost and Periglacial Processes; wedge*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.3430010310; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fppp.3430010310; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ppp.3430010310

Abstract Structures of assumed periglacial significance in Northern China include (1) ice‐wedge casts, (2) frost cracks and (3) involutions. On the basis of involutions and palynological analyses, the earliest period of periglacial conditions (Nangou Periglacial Stage) occurred 2.5‐3.15 × 10 6 years BP. Ice‐wedge casts near Beijing indicate that permafrost extended at least that far south during the Taipingshan Periglacial Stage, dated at 900‐730 × 10 3 years BP. The most widely distributed periglacial structures relate to the Guxiangtun stage (36 000‐13 000 years BP), which can be broadly correlated with the last Glacial Stage. The most recent periglacial structures are involutions related to the Zhoulu (10000‐8500 years BP), Zhalainoer (5000‐3000 years BP) and Disaogouwan (≈ 2300 years BP) stages.