Travertine Mineralogical Characteristics and Spatial Distribution in Huanglong, China, a World Natural Heritage: Derived from Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene Glacial U-Shaped Valley Carbonate Deposits

Huanglong, China's UNESCO World Heritage Site, features a distinctive travertine landscape shaped by late Pleistocene to early Holocene glacial activity. Research reveals that the site's travertine deposits, primarily composed of high-purity calcite (over 95% CaCO₃), exhibit diverse vertical structures including porous and dense forms due to superficial plant alteration. The Huanglong Trench, spanning 3.6 km with an average thickness of 17.8 m, showcases unique geological features like waterfalls, terraces, beaches, and karst caves, contributing significantly to global travertine studies. The study employed hydrogeological surveys, UAV aerial mapping, and mineral analysis to elucidate the mineralogical characteristics and spatial distribution of these rare deposits.

Gao, W., Liu, X., Zhang, W., Sun, D., Chen, Z., Zhang, Q., Zhang, Z., Liu, S., Dong, J., Wang, S., Zhang, J., Xu, H., Zhang, W., & Zheng, J. (2024). Travertine Mineralogical Characteristics and Spatial Distribution in Huanglong, China, a World Natural Heritage: Derived from Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene Glacial U-Shaped Valley Carbonate Deposits. ACS Omega, 10(1), 1331–1343. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c08897