Typical Zone Division of Karst Kevelopment in China

Abstract

Determining the typical area of karst development in China would provide positive reference for theoretical research of engineering geology in karst areas in China. By quantitative or semi-quantitative analyzing on the distribution characteristics, climatic conditions and formation lithology of carbonate rocks in China, regional difference characteristics of karst development in carbonate rock regions in China is evaluated, and finnally the representative karst zone in China is reasonably and theoretically delineated and demonstrated. Results show that: the pure Carbonate rocks in southwest of China in tropical and subtropical climate zone which are very favorable for karst development, distributes continuously and massively, and therefore can be considered as the most typical karst area,. this is also a very explanation that karst morphology develops completely. Especially, karst in the zone including Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southeast and north-east of Guizhou province, and southeastern of Chongqing Municipality, is the most representative karst region in southwest of china because of its the purest carbonate rocks.