Mid-conference field trip

Trip 1—the Mesoproterozoic microbialite profile near  Guanjing Town 


(1 day; free; leader: Hongxia Jiang) -- To visit the Mesoproterozoic microbialite profile near the Guanjing Town near Shijiazhuang. It is featured by exquisite stromatolites, especially coniform stromatolites (Fig. 1). Photographing and specimen collection are permitted.

Fig. 1

Post-conference field trips

Trip 2— three Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic microbialite profiles and two Cambrian microbialite profiles near Shijiazhuang.



(3 days; leader: Dr. Hong-Xia Jiang) -- To visit three Paleoproterozoic and Mesoproterozoic microbialite profiles and two Cambrian microbialite profiles near Shijia​zhuang. In addition to columnar and conical stromatolites, there are herronic (Fig. 2), mushroom and dendritic stromatolites (Fig. 3). Photographing and sample collecting are permitted.

Fig. 2 Palaeoproterozoic herringbone stromatolites

Fig.3 Cambrian dendritic stromatolites

 

Trip 3—Mesoproterozoic microbialite profiles in the Jixian


(4 days; leader: Prof. Wen-Qing Pan, Senior engineer Xiu-Fen Zhai) -- To visit the Mesoproterozoic microbialite profiles in the Jixian National Geological Park. The profiles are worldwide famous, with large thickness, good exposure and exquisite structure of microbialites (Fig. 4). Robert Riding and many other schol​ars have studied them and published articles on them. Sampling is subject to approval.

Fig. 4 Brached stromatolite in the Mesoproterozoic microbialite profiles in the Jixian National Geological Park

Trip 4—Upper Permian coral and calcisponge reefs and “microbialite” in Cili, Hunan Province, China


(4 days; leader: Xue-Song Tian) -- To visit the world's only Permian Lepingian coral reefs (Fig. 5), calcisponge reefs (Fig. 6), mysterious and controversial P-T boundary "microbialites", the cyanobacterial mold rocks (Fig. 7) in Cili, Hunan Province. It is only 1.3 hours' drive from the famous World Natural Heritage Zhangjiajie National Park (Fig. 8). Photographing and sample collecting are permitted.  

Fig. 5 Coral reef rock in the Upper Permian reef in Cili, Hunan Province, China
Fig. 6 Calcisponge reef rock in the Upper Permian reef in Cili, Hunan Province, China
Fig. 7 "Microbialite" (cyanobacterial castolite) in the Permian-Triassic boundary interval in Cili, Hunan Province, China
Fig. 8 Beautiful stone forest in the famous World Natural Heritage Zhangjiajie National Park near Cili, Hunan Province, China

Trip 5—Granite complex at the Great Wall

 

(3 days; leader: Zhi-Yuan Zhang) -- To visit the granite complex beneath the Badaling part of the worldly famous Great Wall (Fig. 9). The rock was formed 110 million years ago. This site is a perfect combination of geological landscape and cultural heritage. Here you can not only watch various granite weathering landforms, but also feel the beauty of mountains and rivers and magnificence of human culture.


FFFig. 9 The Great Wall on the Mesozoic granite rock, one of the eight wonders of the world

Trip 6—Modern travertine and microbialites at Jiuzhaigou


(4 days; leader: Associate research fellow Hai-Long Sun) -- To visit the colorful and stunning modern travertine and microbialites at the very famous World Natural Heritage Jiuzhaigou National Geoparks (Figs. 10, 11). Sampling is subject to approval.

 

Fig. 10 Travertine pond at Jiuzhaigou
Fig. 11 Microbial mat in a pond at Jiuzhaigou

Trip 7—Modern coral reefs at Hainan Island


(5 days; leader: Research fellow Tian-Ran Chen) -- To visit the colorful modern coral reefs at Luhuitou, West and East Mao Islands, Sanya, Hainan Province, China (Fig. 12, 13, 14). They are excellent places to survey the interaction between modern coral reef ecosystems and environments, and marine biodiversity. Sampling is subject to approval.

 

Fig. 12 Coral (Acropora) at the modern coral reefs at Sanya, Hainan Island, China
Fig. 13 Dead and live corals in a modern coral reefs at Sanya, Hainan Island, China