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Article Navigation >  CARSOLOGICA SINICA  > 2026  > Accepted Manuscript
XU Mo, HUANG Jingyu, CHENG Haojie, GUO Jian, QI Jihong, ZHANG Qiang. Large Karst Springs in the Topographic Steep-Drop Zone of the Sichuan−Yunnan Rhombic Block: Development and Distribution[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA. doi: 10.11932/karst2026y043
Citation: XU Mo, HUANG Jingyu, CHENG Haojie, GUO Jian, QI Jihong, ZHANG Qiang. Large Karst Springs in the Topographic Steep-Drop Zone of the Sichuan−Yunnan Rhombic Block: Development and Distribution[J]. CARSOLOGICA SINICA. doi: 10.11932/karst2026y043
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Large Karst Springs in the Topographic Steep-Drop Zone of the Sichuan−Yunnan Rhombic Block: Development and Distribution

doi: 10.11932/karst2026y043

  • State Key Laboratory of Geological Hazard Prevention and Geological Environmental Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, Sichuan 610059, China

Funds:  These findings provide a regional synthesis of karst water systems in an active tectonic setting and offer empirical support for water resource evaluation and risk identification in major engineering projects within the study area.
  • Received Date: 2026-08-15
  • Accepted Date: 2026-09-20
  • Rev Recd Date: 2026-09-20
    • Available Online: 2026-10-22
    Abstract
  • The central part of the Sichuan−Yunnan Rhombic Block, located along the border between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, represents a prominent topographic steep-drop zone where the Tibetan Plateau rapidly descends toward the Yunnan−Guizhou Plateau. This zone is tectonically situated at the boundary between the Songpan−Garzê orogenic belt and the Yangtze Block. Dense faulting, intense neotectonic activity, and deep incision by the Jinsha River system have together shaped a landscape characterized by highland planation surfaces, fault-bounded basins, and deep gorges. These conditions have profoundly influenced the formation and evolution of regional karst water systems. Clarifying the development and distribution of large karst springs in this steep-drop zone is therefore of considerable scientific importance for understanding karst systems in active tectonic settings, and also of practical value for regional water resource assessment and engineering safety.Previous investigations in this area have largely focused on isolated spring fields or specific engineering sites, such as the Lijiang Basin and the Yalong River bend, where relatively detailed hydrogeological surveys have been conducted. However, these studies are generally site-specific and have not treated the entire steep-drop zone as a unified tectonic−geomorphic unit. Consequently, a systematic regional-scale synthesis of karst water systems in this zone is still lacking. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap by integrating data from regional hydrogeological maps, field surveys, and recent engineering practice.For this study, a total of 156 concentrated karst groundwater discharge points with a flow rate equal to or greater than 50 L/s were identified within the study area. These points include 119 large karst springs and 37 subterranean rivers. In order to distinguish between these two types, all discharge points were systematically re-examined based on their outcrop characteristics. Points with clearly developed conduits and river-like flow features were classified as subterranean rivers, while the remaining concentrated discharge points were grouped as large springs. Because the original flow data were mostly single measurements with uncertainties arising from different estimation methods, discharge magnitudes were grouped into three classes for statistical analysis: medium (50−100 L/s), large (100−500 L/s), and extra-large (>500 L/s). The spatial distribution, discharge magnitude, and geological controls of these discharge points were then analyzed. In addition, typical engineering case studies were used to explore the structural characteristics of the karst water systems and their potential engineering hydrogeological implications.The results reveal several important features. First, the soluble rocks in the study area, which range in age from Proterozoic to Mesozoic, cover an area of approximately 1.27×104 km2. Mesozoic strata are the most widely distributed. Among the 156 discharge points, large springs predominate, accounting for 119, while subterranean rivers number 37. The aquifer media are predominantly of the fissure−cavity type, indicating a fissure−cavity dominated karst water system.Second, in terms of stratigraphic distribution, the Mesozoic strata host the largest number of discharge points. However, when normalized by outcrop area, the Upper Paleozoic strata have the highest density of large and extra-large discharge points, indicating a more mature karst water system in that unit. Subterranean rivers also show a stronger lithological selectivity compared with large springs, being preferentially developed in thick, pure carbonate rocks. Vertically, the number and discharge magnitude of the discharge points reach their peak at elevations between 2200 and 2600 m, which corresponds closely to the main distribution elevations of fault-bounded and tectonic solution basins in the region. This piedmont−basin contact zone is thus identified as a key area for concentrated karst water discharge.Third, multi-phase fault activity and intense folding have created favorable conditions for groundwater flow and enrichment, leading to the widespread development of large springs. The steep-drop zone exhibits a dual character of "inheritance" and "modification." On the one hand, it preserves remnants of ancient karst structures formed during the disintegration of the plateau planation surface; on the other hand, it has been strongly reshaped by the high hydraulic gradients and differential uplift associated with the topographic transition. As a result, the karst water systems in this zone display three prominent characteristics: multi-stage conduit structures in valley areas, a tendency toward conduit development in basin-margin aquifers, and significant discharge surges driven by allogenic recharge. These characteristics are closely linked to potential engineering hydrogeological problems, including reservoir leakage, tunnel water inflow, and negative environmental effects such as spring attenuation.

     

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