Paleokarst in Phong Nha - Ke Bang - Hin Nam No and its Geomorphological and Geological Values

A groundbreaking discovery of paleokarst landforms in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (Vietnam) and Hin Nam No National Park (Laos) reveals karstification dating back to the Triassic, predating previous estimates by millions of years. This study, confirmed through field surveys and thin-section analyses, identifies buried karst surfaces and filled fissures/caves developed on Devonian to Carboniferous-Permian limestones, providing critical evidence for karst evolution from the Triassic to Middle Jurassic. The findings suggest a new direction for karst research in Vietnam and propose that these paleokarst sites could represent significant Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) for the combined PNKB HNN region.

Tan, M. T., Thi Minh Nguyet, V., Van Tha, H., Van Thom, B., The Phuc, L., & Thi Tuat, L. (2024). Paleokarst in Phong Nha - Ke Bang - Hin Nam No and its Geomorphological and Geological Values. VNU Journal of Science: Earth and Environmental Sciences. https://doi.org/10.25073/2588-1094/vnuees.5065