2. Regolith-covered terrains and concealed mineral deposits in
China
2.1. Diverse regolith-covered terrains in China
China lies between latitudes 18° and 54° N, and longitudes 73° and
135° E. Consequently China's regolith-covered terrains vary significantly
as shown in Fig. 1. The regolith-covered terrains mainly include arid
deserts (Gobi desert), loess plateaus, forest and swamps, alluvial plains,
semi-arid grasslands and laterite. Northern and north-western China is
dominated by windblown sand-covered terrains including the arid desert
basins, desert peneplains, semi-arid grassland and loess plateaus,where the soils are composed mostly of windblown sand