Holocene tectonic uplift deduced from elevated shorelines, eastern Coastal Range of Taiwan

• Published in: Tectonophysics Vol. 222; no. 1; pp. 55 - 68
• Main Authors: Liew, P.M., Pirazzoli, P.A., Hsieh, M.L., Arnold, M., Barusseau, J.P., Fontugne, M., Giresse, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 15.06.1993; Amsterdam Elsevier Science; New York, NY Elsevier
• Subjects: Continental interfaces, environment; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geochronology; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; Marine; Ocean, Atmosphere; Sciences of the Universe; Tectonics. Structural geology. Plate tectonics; Asia; Taiwan; shorelines; corals; Quaternary; SEM data; quartz; reefs; abrasion; marine terraces; C-14; Th-230; solution; vertical movements; uplifts; alluvium; absolute age; Holocene; marine sediments
• ISSN: 0040-1951; 1879-3266
• DOI: 10.1016/0040-1951(93)90189-Q

This paper is concerned with the tectonic trends that can be deduced from the Holocene raised shorelines between Ch'eng-kung and Hsin-she, along a 65-km long coastal sector in the eastern Coastal Range of Taiwan. Sequences of up to eight superimposed shorelines have been identified in a single section. Twelve new radiocarbon dates (six of which were obtained by accelerator mass spectrometry) of in-situ marine samples (up to 40 m in altitude) have confirmed a Holocene age. However, it is difficult to define clearly the upper marine boundary in the highest Holocene coastal terraces, which have been uplifted to 65–70 m, but have been capped by, and often also interfingered with, alluvial deposits. High uplift rates, ranging from 2.5–3.0 to over 8 mm/yr, have been inferred along the coast, providing evidence of differential uplift. In some cases uplift movements appear to have occurred by steps, probably spasmodically. Recurrence periods of fast uplifts seem to be of the order of at most 1000 yr. This means that a new spasmodic movement may be imminent, because the last displacement (4–6 m) has been dated about 1000 yr BP.