Geological characteristics of potential geoparks in the South central of Viet Nam

Abstract

The coast of South Central Vietnam from Danang city to Binh Thuan province is about 1200 km long, distributing many geological and geomorphic heritages of high scientific values, including representativeness, integrity and rarity, deserving to build a national geopark such as: i) Ly Son volcanic island geopark is formed up of volcanic materials mainly explosive in the late Holocene age; ii) Phu Yen coastal geopark possessed geological and geomorphic diversity with the presence of ancient Pre-Cambrian rocks; iii) Red Sand Plateau and Rocky Coast Ninh Thuan- Binh Thuan geopark has shaped by intrusive and extrusive igneous rock tips and characterized by majestic red sand plateau. The three geological parks will be established as a legal basis for the conservation of geological and geomorphological heritage for the research, education and local economic development.