[O-06_30PO1] Geoparks in Japan

[O06-P10] Networking of geology, history and culture in the Izumo region

*Nomura RITSUO¹, Akira TAKASU¹, Toshiaki IRIZUKI¹, Masahisa HAYASHI¹, Ikuo TASAKA¹, Akira TSUJIMOTO¹ (1.Kunibiki Geopark Project Center, Shimane University)

Keywords:Izumo region, Culture and Geography of Izumo, Kunibiki legend, Shimane Peninsula, Tatara iron industry

The ground of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, was formed in association with the creation of the Chugoku Mountains, the Sea of Japan and the largest brackish lakes, Shinjiko and Nakaumi, in Japan, all of which were episodic in the Earth history. A lot of geologists have investigated such characteristic features of Izumo area and have found its unique geological figures such as magnetite-rich granite of the late Mesozoic and early Cenozoic Era, severely deformed Neogene sediments, huge alluvial plane, and the Quaternary volcanoes. A varied nature of such geologic basements leads the birth of local industry, using diversified biological and mineral resources, and as a consequence led to the formation of so called “Izumo culture.” There was much folklore in a long human history, such as well known “Kunibiki legend.” Izumo is thus very famous as the place of mythical world. We enhance interdisciplinary research on the geological, geographical and biological nature linking to the history and culture of the Izumo region. Main goal of our project is to make a plan of national and international geo-park for the Izumo region Our research project is based on the fruits resulted from the active investigation that mainly carried out by the geologists in the Department of Geoscience, Shimane University, as a plan to make a geopark for the San’in and Shimane districts. The 38 geological places in the Izumo region were introduced in the publication, “100 geosites selected in the San’in and Shimane districts,” that was published in 2013. On our schedule, we will set up a social organization to promote our geopark project in coming April, 2014.