[1] The South China plate moved towards the Qinling complex and North China Block. Ophiolites were formed during early Cambrian to Early Silurian (545 to 423 million years ago). [1][2], The Qin Mountains, also called "Nanshan" (Southern Mountains), are the traditional dividing line between northern and southern China. sill basalt and a small amount of chert can be found. [29] Limestone, Shale, sandstone and other sedimentary rocks were deposited on top of basement rocks at the Paleozoic (545-250 million years ago), with a minor amount of sandstone deposited until the Triassic period (205 million years ago). [1] The oceanic part of South China Block subducted to the mantle and the ocean started closing. [3][11] Therefore, geologists are able to reconstruct the evolution of mountain belt based on evidence preserved in these rocks. [16] As a result, magma eventually reached the top of the plate, then cooled down and solidified into rocks, forming an arc. [1], The ecoregion is the eastern range of the Giant panda, and also provides habitat for the endangered Red panda (Ailurus fulgens), and the Chinese snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). [7][29] Therefore, ophiolite representing oceanic setting and volcanic rock indicating subduction zone was discovered there. [3][18] By the time the North Qinling Belt moved away from Rodinia, it was colliding with the Proto-Erlangping arc as well. The new toll road soon turns into a single lane, winding switchback as you ascend surprisingly high into real mountains, … [6][13][26][24], However, the collisional event was different from normal one. [6][3], Later on in the middle Neoproterozoic (around 750 million years ago), the super-continent containing Proto-Erlangping arc, North Qinling Belt and South Qinling Belt was broken up. My sister and I were driven through the Qinling Mountains by jeep by our intrepid " body guard, driver and guide", Rocky, as part of a day trip out of Xian. [3][21] This also implies the North Qinling belt collided with Proto-Erlangping belt after the closure of the ocean.[3][12]. Qinling Mountains. ¥ä½ CONSERVATION OF QINLING GIANT PANDA. CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, Forest and Land Management in Imperial China By Nicholas K. Menzies, "Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth", 10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2. It is located in China. [7][29] This is explained by gabbroic and granitic intrusion within the suture zone, with the low amount of unltra-mafic rocks involved. They support a large variety of plants and wildlife, some of which is found nowhere else on Earth. [3], On the other hand, the formation of North Qinling belt was more complicated. At the early Paleozoic (around 545-440 million years ago), the Erlangping island arc subducted beneath the North China Block (obduction), so that those arc-related ophiolite with melange was moved to the surface of the earth. [3][6][18] The North and South Qinling Belt were located at the Northeastern part of it. To the north is the Yellow River basin, a loess-soil region of temperate deciduous forests. [29] After that, since the North part of South Qinling belt was in a shallow marine environment, sedimentary facies reflecting the paleo-environment was formed.