CLASSIFICATION OF HOLOCENE CARBONATE-CEMENTED ROCKS FROM SOUTH CHINA COASTS AND ITS IMPLICATION

There are controversies over the origin and classification of the carbonate-cemented rocks developed in South China coasts, that brings about argument with regards to paleo-sealevel, tectonic uplift-subsidence, and paleo-climate. Based on the study of diagenesis, this paper classified these carbonate-cemented rocks into four categories:beachrock, dune rock, chenier, and coquinite. Typical outcrops including Xichong beachrock, Guang'ao dune rock, Hanjiang River delta chenier, and Haishan Island coquinite were selected for in-depth discussion. It is suggested that beachrock is of important significance to researches on past sea-level, coastal evolution, and paleo-cliamate. Chenier is significant to past sea level (in some cases) and coastline migration. Dune rock and coquinite are not so informational as the others.