Beiling Mountain Sandstone Mortar Cluster

　　During an investigation at Pangukeng in Beiling Mountain, Zhaoqing City, geologists from the 719 Geological Brigade of the Guangdong Provincial Geological Bureau and local experts discovered a cluster of over 50 stone mortars, with the largest group consisting of 18. This is the first discovery of a sandstone mortar cluster in Zhaoqing. Mortars typically form on intact, flat bedrock, but those found on Beiling Mountain are located in steep gullies—an uncommon occurrence. Experts speculate that these mortars were formed 60 to 70 million years ago, after the Quaternary period, through the long-term abrasive action of water carrying sand and pebbles in the depressions of the bedrock. Experts noted that such mortar clusters are extremely rare in Guangdong, and this unique geological phenomenon on Beiling Mountain will add new research dimensions. The striking landscape of the mortar cluster offers a fascinating destination for geology enthusiasts, travelers, and adventurers. The surrounding scenery of Beiling Mountain is also breathtakingly beautiful.