On the Subdivisions of the Red Beds of South‐Eastem China*1

Abstract

Two subdivisions of the Red Beds can be distinguished,the older being un- conformably overlain by the younger.They are tentatively considered Cretaceous and early Tertiary in age respectively.A critical review shows that the Tanhsia formation of K.L.Fong represents the lower part of the younger Red Beds while his Nanhsiung formation,instead of overlying the Tanhsia,is referable to the older Red Series.Two types of the older Red Beds are distinguished according to their petrological contents:the common type and the tuff-containing or coastal type.Between these two there is an intermediate one here called the Chiaotou formation.The Kienteh formation or the Wuyi formation is nothing but the older Red Beds under the induence of volcanic activities during the deposition and this name may therefore be applied to the co(?)stal type.For the upper part of the younger Red Beds the name Canton formation is here proposed, which undoubtedly overlies the Tanhsia.