238 MESSRS. SEERTCHIY AND KINGSMILL ON [May 1 89 5, 



21. On the Loess and other Supeepicial Deposits of Shantung 

 (North China). By S. B. J. Seeetchlt, Esq., and T. W. 

 Kingshill, Esq. (Communicated by Sir John Evans, K.C.B., 

 E.B.S., E.G.S. Read February 6th, 1895.) 



[Abridged.] 



Contents. 



Page 

 I. Superficial Deposits of North China 238 



1. Modern Fluviatile Deposits. 



2. Marine Sands. 



3. Old River-gravels. 



4. The Loess in the Chefu District. 



II. The Basement-gravels 250 



III. The Tertiary History of North China 251 



IV. Conclusions 253 



This paper is based upon a recent journey by the authors, 

 extending right across Shantung, from Chefu in the east into 

 Chihli in the Avest ; one of us, however (T. W. K.), had previously 

 traversed the country southwards, and had studied the loess in 

 the provinces of Kiangsu, Shanse, Anhwei, Honan, Shantung, 

 and Chihli. Luring the recent journey, lasting from April till 

 the end of July, 1892, we had unusual opportunities of studying 

 the surface-beds, and as the conclusions we arrived at were 

 threshed out from time to time, and position after position had 

 to be abandoned, it has been thought best to throw our obser- 

 vations into a more or less narrative form. 



I. Supeepicial Leposits op North China. 



"We are of opinion that much of the objection taken to the 

 marine theory of the loess is due to a disinclination to concede such 

 great changes in the configuration of Asia, within comparatively 

 recent times, as are therein involved, and we therefore proceed to 

 show that China has been to a large extent submerged even since 

 the loess period. Hitherto little attention has been paid by geologists 

 to the interesting beds which seem to prove this submergence. The 

 series as at present made out is, in descending order, — 



1. Modern Fluviatile Deposits. 



2. Marine Sands. 



3. Old River-gravels. 



4. Loess. 



5. Basement-gravels. 



1. Modern Fluviatile Deposits. These consist of the huge delta- 

 deposits of the Yangtse, the far less conspicuous silts and sands of 

 the Yellow Biver, and the gravels and sands of the present streams. 

 As they apparently belong to the present state of things, and do not 

 affect the loess question, they are merely recorded here as the 

 newest of the series, and now in process of formation. 



