Recently, at a special geoheritage conference held in Algarve, Portugal, the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) officially released the third batch of 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites. The Triassic Dabie Ultrahigh‑pressure Metamorphic Belt of China was successfully inscribed on the list, marking Anhui Province's very first IUGS Geological Heritage Site.

IUGS Geological Heritage Sites represent the highest‑rank geoheritage formally recognised by the global geoscience community. Selection follows rigorous criteria: candidate sites must constitute milestones in the history of Earth‑science development, host internationally‑leading research outcomes, maintain well‑preserved geological relics, and serve as typical global representatives of comparable geoheritage locations.

The inclusion of the Triassic Dabie Ultrahigh‑pressure Metamorphic Belt signals authoritative international recognition of its standing in global research on ultrahigh‑pressure metamorphism and continental deep subduction. It also achieves a "zero‑to‑one" breakthrough for Anhui Province in this category of global geoheritage.

Besides the Triassic Dabie Ultrahigh‑pressure Metamorphic Belt, China's newly‑listed entries include the Xianshuihe Fault and the Middle‑Jurassic Dinosaurs of Yunyang in Chongqing. With these additions, China's total count of IUGS Geological Heritage Sites has risen to 13.

The core zone of this newly‑designated geoheritage site covers three representative metamorphic‑rock outcrops: Bixiling in Yuexi County, Xindian and Hanchangchong in Qianshan City. All three outcrops sit within the Tianzhushan Global Geopark and are subject to sound conservation and management.

The Dabie Ultrahigh‑pressure Metamorphic Belt is hailed as a “natural laboratory” for global continental dynamics and a “geological history book” recording continental deep subduction.

Source: Anhui Daily