Chinese explorers announce the discovery of a rare red strata on the Tibetan Plateau in the northwest of the country.
Newly discovered red strata in Hoh Xil on the Tibetan Plateau. (Photo: Xinhua)
Located in the center of the Hoh Xil region of Qinghai Province, this massive “red mountain” is covered with green grass in the summer, stretching east to west with an asymmetrical slope and clear stratigraphic sections. The strata extend approximately 160 km from north to south and nearly 600 km from east to west, naturally exposed, as reported by Global Times on July 19.
According to Associate Professor Shen Tianyi from the School of Earth Sciences at China University of Geosciences, a member of the exploration team, the mountain may have formed from the late Paleogene or the Cretaceous period, approximately 30 to 70 million years ago.
“It is rare to find such a large area of red strata in China. It is an ancient geological relic on the Tibetan Plateau,” Shen emphasized.
The mountain features rich geological formations closely related to the uplift process of the Tibetan Plateau, providing crucial support for in-depth research on the plateau’s evolution.
The red strata were previously red brick-colored rocks found in the Tanggula Mountains. After continuous weathering and erosion, these rocks were transported by rivers, deposited in the Hoh Xil basin, and later exposed due to geological tectonic movements.
As part of the Tibetan Plateau, Hoh Xil is now the largest uninhabited area in China. With its spectacular landscape, the red mountain is expected to be developed into a major geological park.
