Rock Cave-Type Granite Landscape – Fu’an Type

On a granite surface, especially when it lies on a valley floor, many rock caves can form in the direction of the stream flow. On a horizontal plane, most of these caves or holes are circular. On a vertical plane, they generally have a round barrel or irregular shape. The diameter ranges from a dozen centimetres to more than 10 m, and they are approximately 2 m deep but can reach a depth of 10 m or more below waterfalls or along the lower part of rapids. This type of cave is a unique type of depression that is carved by pebbles and sand caught in flowing water, which then wash and grind the surface at weak points (geodes or dark mineral clusters) in the rock. This process can be observed in valleys of granite or other rock types. The rock cave-type granite landscape has become the landscape theme of Fu’an National Geological Park in Fujian Province (Fig. 15).

Fig. 15

Granite rock cave, Bai Yun (White Cloud) Mountain, Fu’an, Fujian Province