Three-day field trip at Yichang – LINKING THE LAND TO THE SEA

This post-conference field trip provides a great opportunity for participants to visit well-exposed Neoproterozoic sequences and local scenic spots in Yichang and neighboring areas, South China. The Neoproterozoic Era (1000-541 Ma ago) emerges as one of the focuses in the study of Earth System history. It is a geological interval of dramatic climatic change and an important evolutionary innovation. The Early Neoproterozoic is characterized by the final assembly and subsequent disassembly of the Rodina supercontinent, associated with extensive continental rifting events. Global glaciations of unusual magnitude occurred in the Cryogenian Period. The subsequent Ediacaran period witnesses the radiation of various eukaryotes, including animals, macroalgae, a unique assembly of acanthomorphic acritarches, and classical Ediacaran organisms. There is increasing evidence suggesting that these evolutionary events may have been coupled with the progressive oxygenation and ventilation of the global oceans.

The choice of Yichang area in South China as a focus of this field trip is motivated by many contributions of scientists to our understanding of Neoproterozoic stratigraphy, paleontology and the chemical evolution of upper continental crust. The carbonate cap atop the terminal Cryogenian glacial deposit in South china is one of the best studied carbonate caps. The focus of the field trip will be on the Neoproterozoic sequence at the Jiulongwan Section of Yichang area.

Day 1 (September 20th)
Take CRH from Wuhan to Yichang to visit the Three Gorges tribes along the Yangtze River.

  After lunch, drive to Inspection location 1- Xiaoxikou Town.

The inspection route starts from Xiaoxikou Town to Phoenix Tower in Zigui, and dinner will be held at Fenghuang Tower in Zigui.

The accommodation hotel is at Xijiang International Hotel in Zigui (No. 12 Nanjun Avenue, Jingangcheng New Area, Maoping Town, Zigui).

Day 2 (September 21st)
From Xijiang International Hotel in Zigui to Sanxia Renjia Scenic Area (taking 33 tourist buses).

  After lunch, go to the Wangjiaping Tourist Center in Sanxia Township, Yiling District.

After the trip ends, head to the Phoenix Tower in Zigui for dinner (taking the 33 seat tourist bus).

Day 3 (September 22nd)
  After breakfast, go to the observation deck near the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang for inspection.

  Take CRH back to Wuhan after lunch.

Cultural and geological highlights of the Yangtze Three Gorges region will be combined in this field trip. The estimated cost ($350-400) includes fees for the high-speed railway (CRH) tickets, two overnight stays, entrance tickets and the bus ride.
 

Three Gorges Dam

1. The Neoproterozoic sequence at the Jiulongwan Section of Yichang area

The field trip will focus on the Neoproterozoic glacial deposits and marine carbonates of the Nanhuan (Cryogenian) and Sinian (Ediacaran) strata outcrop in the eastern Yangtze Gorges (Three Gorges) area. The Nanhua Formation preserves glacial diamictites that were deposited during the widespread end-Cryogenian glaciation. It is overlain by marine carbonate and shale of the Doushantuo and Dengying formations (Ediacaran). The Doushantuo Formation was deposited between 635 and 551 Ma on a passive margin continental shelf (Nanhua Basin, South China) on the Yangtze Block following the breakup of Rodinia. A thin (<5 m) cap carbonate and two phosphorite-bearing units are preserved in the Doushantuo Formation, where abundant embryos have been debatably ascribed to animal fossils, multicellular algae, and giant process-bearing a canthomorphacritarchs.

Three Gorges tribe & Three Gorges Waterfalls

The Three Gorges tribe is located in the Xiling Gorge of the Three Gorges along the Yangtze River. It is one of the National AAAAA level scenic spots in China. You can enjoy the original ecological scenery of the Three Gorges by combining boat trips and walking. The scenic area has folk performances every day, and you can participate in the deep and ancient and mysterious Bachu culture.