Geology and Minerals

Geology of Hainan Island

Hainan Island, located in the South China Sea off the Chinese coast and separated from mainland China by the Qiongzhou Strait, has a complex geological history that it has experienced multiple stages of metamorphism, volcanic and intrusive activities, tectonic drifting and more. The oldest rocks, the Proterozoic metamorphic basement, are not widely exposed, but mostly found in the western part of the Island. Hainan is mainly covered by igneous rocks emplaced from Permian through Cretaceous periods. Structurally, there are two main sets of faults, one trending east and the other northeast. The formation of the oldest fault, Gezhen shear fault, can even be dated back to the Precambrian times. The multiple stages of granitoid emplacements through its geological history have made Hainan Island rich in various types of ore deposits, including gold, molybdenum, lead, zinc, silver, etc. According to the distribution of the ore deposits, the Island is generally divided into 6 ore-forming provinces. Regarding the present geological activities, small earthquakes are still happening, while the volcanoes are inactive.

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See also

• ▸Geology of South Korea
• ▸Battle of Poitiers
• ▸Lake Ilopango

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