Characteristics And Formation Of The Travertine In Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong Area

Large scale of surficial travertine landscapes developed in Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong area,such as basin,pond,waterfall,shoal,cave,hole,funnel,lake,karstic spring and so on,distributing from the riverbed to hillside.This paper described the characteristics and distribution of the travertine,divided the types,discussed the the contributing factor, forecasted the trend and analyzed the measure of reasonable exploitation and protection.After the saturated karstic spring was exposed to ground,for the changing of temperature,pressure,dynamics and the infecting of creatures, the Ca/MgCO3 deposited and turns into the travertine.The travertine heightened,and accumulated water to lakes, when the water brimmed over, waterfall came into being. This is the famous "stratified lakes and folded waterfalls "sight. When the environment condition of water changed or the chemical homeostasis was disturbed, corrosion and solution occured,and the travertine landscapes was rebuilt by conveying,scouring, and collapsing.The travertine has the character of surviving and perishing together with karstic water,Lacking of saturated karstic water, the travertine landscapes would be blacken,spalled,sanded,and collapsed. The travertine landscapes were affected by a kind of recession which expressed for drought lakes, shrinked waterfalls and collapsed ponds.The travertine landscapes conservation should take the measure of plugging and adding calcium basing on the hydrogical property and recession reason of travertine,and the measures be in harmony with the environment.