by Cheung May Shuen. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-165). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.ii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.vi-ix / LIST OF PLATES --- p.x / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xi / Chapter CHAPTER I - --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Background of Quaternary Studies in Hong Kong --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- The Necessity of Regional and Local Practice --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- The Need for Regional Synthesis --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Linking Onshore Studies with Offshore Ones --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5 --- The Yuen Long Floodplain --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Previous Work --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- The Need for Detailed Study --- p.12 / Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives of the Study --- p.13 / Chapter 1.7 --- Significance of the Study --- p.14 / Chapter CHAPTER II - --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2 --- The Quaternary Period --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3 --- Global Pleistocene Sea-level Reduction --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4 --- Evidence of Pleistocene Sea-level Reduction in South China and Hong Kong --- p.20 / Chapter 2.5 --- The Postglacial Rise in Sea-level --- p.22 / Chapter 2.6 --- Holocene Sea-level Movements in Zhujiang Delta and Hong Kong --- p.23 / Chapter 2.7 --- Hong Kong Quaternary Studies --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.1 --- A Wealth of Offshore Studies --- p.26 / Chapter 2.7.2 --- A Lack of Onshore Studies --- p.27 / Chapter 2.8 --- Methods of Investigation --- p.28 / Chapter 2.9 --- Offshore Quaternary Sediments in Hong Kong --- p.30 / Chapter 2.9.1 --- The Chek Lap Kok Formation --- p.31 / Age of Formation --- p.32 / Seismic Characteristics --- p.33 / Lithology --- p.33 / Sedimentary Environment --- p.34 / Chapter 2.9.2 --- The Sham Wat Formation --- p.36 / Age of Formation --- p.36 / Seismic Characteristics --- p.37 / Lithology --- p.37 / Sedimentary Environment --- p.38 / Chapter 2.9.3 --- The Hang Hau Formation --- p.39 / Age of Formation --- p.39 / Seismic Characteristics --- p.40 / Lithology --- p.40 / Sedimentary Environment --- p.41 / Chapter 2.10 --- Summary of Hong Kong Quaternary Superficial Geology --- p.42 / Chapter CHAPTER III - --- STUDY AREA / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.44 / Chapter 3.2 --- Geographical Setting and Existing Development --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3 --- Relief --- p.47 / Chapter 3.4 --- Climate --- p.47 / Chapter 3.5 --- Surface Hydrology --- p.51 / Chapter 3.6 --- Geology --- p.51 / Chapter 3.7 --- Geomorphology --- p.53 / Chapter 3.8 --- Superficial Deposits --- p.55 / Chapter 3.9 --- The Hong Kong Geological Survey --- p.58 / Chapter 3.10 --- Location of Boreholes BGS 11 and 23 --- p.58 / Chapter CHAPTER IV - --- METHODOLOGY / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2 --- Borehole Collection --- p.61 / Chapter 4.3 --- Analytical Approach --- p.62 / Chapter 4.4 --- Laboratory Logging and Description --- p.64 / Chapter 4.5 --- Sedimentological Analysis --- p.65 / Chapter 4.6 --- Geochemical Analysis --- p.66 / Chapter 4.7 --- Micropalaeontological Analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 4.8 --- Chronological Analysis --- p.73 / Chapter 4.9 --- Stratigraphy and Borehole Comparison --- p.74 / Chapter CHAPTER V - --- BGS 11 - DESCRIPTION AND DISCUSSION / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.75 / Chapter 5.2 --- Geological Description of Borehole BGS 11 --- p.76 / Chapter 5.3 --- Geochemical Results --- p.90 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Soil Reaction pH --- p.91 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Electrical Conductivity --- p.91 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Organic Carbon --- p.93 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Calcium Carbonates --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4 --- Micropalaeontological Results --- p.94 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Diatom Results --- p.94 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Sponge Spicules Results --- p.98 / Chapter 5.5 --- Radiocarbon Dating Results --- p.100 / Chapter 5.6 --- Environmental Interpretations --- p.101 / Chapter 5.6.1 --- The Terrestrial Sequence (20.70 to 8.10m) --- p.101 / The Colluvial Unit (20.70 to 16.50m) --- p.102 / The Floodplain Unit (16.50 to 8.10m) --- p.103 / The Palaeosol Unit (8.10 to 7.26m) --- p.107 / Chapter 5.6.2 --- The Shallow Marine Sequence (7.26 to 4.05m) --- p.108 / Chapter 5.6.3 --- The Coastal Swamp Sequence (4.05 to 2.35m) --- p.111 / Chapter 5.7 --- Conclusion --- p.113 / Chapter CHAPTER VI - --- BGS 23 - DESCRIPTION AND DISCUSSION / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.114 / Chapter 6.2 --- Geological Description of Borehole BGS 23 --- p.114 / Chapter 6.3 --- Geochemical Results --- p.126 / Chapter 6.4 --- Micropalaeontological Results --- p.129 / Chapter 6.5 --- Environmental Interpretation --- p.129 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- The Weathered Shale Sequence (15.90 to 15.00m) --- p.130 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- The Fluvial Sequence (13.65 to 2.85m) --- p.131 / Chapter 6.5.3 --- The Backswamp Sequence (2.85 to 1.73m) --- p.135 / Chapter 6.6 --- Conclusion --- p.137 / Chapter CHAPTER VII - --- STRATIGRAPHICAL INTERPRETATION AND COMPARISON / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.138 / Chapter 7.2 --- Stratigraphical Division in Hong Kong and the Zhujiang Delta --- p.138 / Chapter 7.3 --- Stratigraphical Interpretation of BGS 11 --- p.140 / Chapter 7.4 --- Stratigraphical Interpretation of BGS 23 --- p.142 / Chapter 7.5 --- Stratigraphic Comparison --- p.143 / Chapter 7.5.1 --- Comparison with Onshore Boreholes --- p.143 / Chapter 7.5.2 --- Comparison with Offshore Boreholes in Hong Kong and Zhujiang Delta --- p.147 / Chapter 7.6 --- Conclusion --- p.150 / Chapter CHAPTER VIII - --- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION / Chapter 8.1 --- Summary of Findings --- p.151 / Chapter 8.2 --- Limitations --- p.153 / Chapter 8.3 --- Future Work --- p.155 / REFERENCES --- p.157 / APPENDICES / APPENDIX A The complete logging sheets for BGS11 / APPENDIX B The complete logging sheets for BGS23

"April 2002" Includes bibliographical references and list of the publications and papers submitted. Pt. 1: section 1. Ostracod taxonomy and ecology -- section 2. Limnology of salt lakes -- section 3. Ostracod palaoecology - Quaternary environments -- section 4. Palaolimnology - Quaternary paleoenvironments and geology -- pt. 2: section 5. Geochemistry of ostracod shells -- section 6. Palaeoceanography Contains the majority of the author's scientific publications. Aims at reconstructing Quaternary paleoenvironments, mostly from the Australian region, using the fossil remains of organisms as well as new geochemical techniques.

"April 2002" / Includes bibliographical references and list of the publications and papers submitted. / 2 v. (various pagings) : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Contains the majority of the author's scientific publications. Aims at reconstructing Quaternary paleoenvironments, mostly from the Australian region, using the fossil remains of organisms as well as new geochemical techniques. / Thesis (D.Sc.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, 2002

Numerous flights of Quaternary marine terraces are present around the island of Cyprus, in the Eastern Mediterranean. These terraces are a result of the global eustatic sea-level curve and local tectonism. Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 through MIS 13 terraces are identified, mapped and dated. Palaeoshoreline elevation, an excellent indicator for a past sea–level, and new numerical geochronology are used to calculate an Upper Pleistocene uplift rate for various coastal sectors. Southwestern Cyprus presents the highest uplift rates of 0.35-0.65 mm/year with other sections suggesting uplift of 0.07-0.15 mm/year. This Upper Pleistocene tectonic signal is attributed to an active offshore subduction/collision system to the southwest of Cyprus, evidenced from the seismic activity offshore and the surface expression of a blind thrust fault in the Pafos region. Soil chronosequences and geology in southwestern Cyprus are studied in order to understand the Quaternary development on this uplifting landscape. Soil profile properties are used to calculate a profile development index (PDI), a method often applied to geomorphic surfaces as a relative dating method. Well-developed red and clayey soils occur in the coastal sector, on broad and low-angle surfaces, specifically on marine terraces and alluvial fans. Higher elevations of steep slopes consisting of carbonate and ophiolite lithologies host poorly developed soils. Results show variable PDI's on uplifted terraces, obscured by transported materials, active alluvial fan buildup and hillslope erosion. Calcium carbonate build-up in soil profiles in the form of nodular and laminar accumulations are used as another relative dating method. Geochronology of marine terraces is used as an age range approximation for carbonate stages. Geomorphologic mapping focuses on the southeastern part of the Pafos thrust fault, the only point on the landscape where this otherwise blind fault is exposed on the surface. This is the location of Palaipafos, an important Ancient polity, today the site of the village of Kouklia. Geoarchaeological study suggests little landscape change over the last 4000 years in the vicinity of the urban core of Palaipafos, this being attributed to bedrock and landscape resistance of its location, a plateau at 80 m amsl. Copper deposits in the Palaipafos hinterland had provided a valuable resource at one time. Soil and water resources continue to sustain agriculture.Tectonic uplift in this part of the Pafos thrust fault is estimated to be 2.1mm/year, considered, together with Late Holocene sea-level change responsible for the shifting locations and eventual abandonment of the Palaipafos harbor in the coastal lowlands. / Graduation date: 2013

The parallel development of archaeology and Quaternary geology in several regions of the world is reviewed, and common problems in dating and correlating alluvial sequences are discussed. Buried archaeological remains and radiometric dates provide a chronological framework for the sequence of Late Quaternary alluvial deposits in the central Jordan Rift. While previous studies emphasized a simple, two-stage model of Late Quaternary alluvial deposition, regional comparisons of the geomorphological contexts of archaeological sites of different ages indicate complex, multiple depositional and erosional cycles. These cycles were influenced by tectonism, climatic changes, human land use, and natural geomorphic thresholds, sometimes in combination. The stratigraphy and chronology of early agricultural settlements in the valley are summarized, and investigations at a protohistoric agricultural town are described. Major regional shifts in prehistoric and protohistoric patterns of agriculture and settlement are interpreted in terms of the impacts of changes in alluvial regimes. These correlations have implications for models of agricultural origins, and the stability and resilience of sedentary settlements in dry lands.