Research on World Heritage Geomorphologic Value of the Shibing Karst

This paper makes a research on the geomorphologic value of Shibing Karst,including karst evolutionary environment,types and distribution of karst landforms,geomorphological evolutionary history,and the records corresponding to the major stages of earth's history.The paper also makes a comparative analysis between karst landform of limestone and that of dolomite.The outcome illustrates that Shibing Karst has a very suitable context for karst landform development,like other regions in southern China;it shows the unique and spectacular dolomite fengcong-gorge landform in tropics and subtropics,with the reverse rejuvenation from Fenglin to Fengcong karst,and it is the typical site for dolomite gorge landform and its evolution;Shibing Karst has recorded the Caledonian Movement,Hercynian Movement,Indo-China Movement,Yanshan Movement and Himalayan Movement of southern Asia.The Yanshan Movement created Bijiashan anticline and other dislocations and formed the base terrain-skeleton of Shibing Karst.The Himalayan Movement shaped comprehensively the gorge karst landform in Shibing.The dolomite karst of Shibing shows open landform structures,while closed landform in limestone area,Shibing Karst occupies a very important position in the series of South China Karst and has geomorphologic value of World Natural Heritage.