Sequence palaeogeography and coal accumulation of inland faulting basin： an example from late Triassic Yangtze platform of China

To unveil formation mechanism of key sequence boundaries of inland faulting basin and coal accumulation charac- teristics of coal seams in isochrohal stratigraphic framework, sequence stratigraphy, palaeogeographic recovery and other methods were used to research the sequence stratigraphy and coal accumulation in the example of Banding Basn in the west margin of Yangtze Platform, and the authors advanced a coal accumulation model of Faulting basin on the basis of accommo- dation space changes in the background of palaeogeography of sequence framework. The results show that： normal lacustrine regression and forced lacustrine regression are the main driving forces for the formation of sequence boundaries of Faulting ba- sin; basement subsidence is the main source of accommodation space of Faulting basin; and subsidence disequilibrium is the main cause for the difference in generation rate of accommodation space of Faulting basin. Coal accumulation in Faulting basin is obviously controlled by accommodation space changes in sequence framework and basin evolution. As Faulting basin evolves into depression basin, both subsidence rate of basin basement and generation rate of accommodation space decrease vertically, it appears as a progradational reverse-graded sedimentary sequence, coal accumulation in secondary sequence framework intensifies first and then weakens, and coal accumulation at the middle stage of highstand system tract is the best. During steady rifting period, minable coal seams were mostly developed in initial lacustrine flooding surface of fourth-order sequence and at the middle-late period of highstand system tract, and coal accumulation center lay in palaeogeographic unit of delta plain with moderate available accommodation space. During shrinking period, minable coal seams gradually migrated to the maximum lacustrine flooding surface and coal accumulation center lay in palaeographical unit of lacustrine with large available accommodation space.

Early and Middle JurassicPalaeogeography of the Turpan-Hami Basin

The Turpan-Hami oil basin is well known for its Jurassic oil-prone coal. The palaeogeograpbical units or the Early and Middle Jurassic coal measures iuclude braided chaunel-alluvial plain, meandering channel-alluvial plain, upper delta plain, lower delta plain, subaqueous delta, inter-deltaic bay,lacustrine bay and sballow lake euvironments. The beneficial environments for coal accumulation were tke inter-delta bay and the lower delta plain where intermediate subsidence was maintaiued and there was little input of coarse graiued ediments.

A Study on Palaeogeography and Metallogenic Conditions of Early Carboniferous Bauxite Deposits of Old Weathered Crust in Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan and Hubei Provinces

There are four subtypes. namely, Ia, Ib, Ic and Id of the Early Carboniferous bauxite deposits of the old weathered crust type in Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan and Hubei provinces. They are all distributed in the Upper Yangtze old land. As a result of the Hunan-Guizhou palaeo-faulting, the crust on the northern side of the fault was uplifted and became land, thus suffering denudation. The bauxitic substances left in the weathered crust evolved and were reworked into bauxite. On the other hand, the crust on the southern side of the fault sank and remained to be part of an ocean. The bauxite deposits of Ia and Ib subtypes were formed by in-situ enrichment of residual bauxitic substances in the weathered crust of the old land, but bauxite deposits of Ic and Id subtypes resulted from transportation, accumulation and sedimentation of allothogenous bauxitic substances on the weathered crust of the old land. The processes of transportation may be distinguished as dry transportation and wet transportation, both of which proceeded under atmospheric conditions.

PALAEOZOIC TECTONIC PALAEOGEOGRAPHY OF THE CATHAYSIA IN EASTERN ZHE JIANG AND NORTHERNFUJIAN, CHINA

Based on the data about sedimentary facies and palaeogeography, this paper proves the existence of the Cathaysia (the part in eastern Zhejiang and northern Fujian, the same hereinafter) and makes a survey about its palaeogeography since Sinian Period. It also discusses the evolution of the tectonic environment of this region during Phanerozoic Eon, according to the features such as the composition of sandstones derived from the old land and alkalinity of volcanic rocks and so on. Continuous uplifting was maintained in Cathaysia during Sinian Period and Paleozoic Era, typically with no significant tectono-magmatic activity being observed. Its northwestern margin belongs to the type of passive continental margin during the middle and late phase of Caledonian Cycle. It showed the characteristics of a steady continent in late Paleozoic era, but was turned quickly into an active continental margin after the middle Jurassic period.

The Late Paleozoic Lithofacies Palaeogeography of the Benxi and Taiyuan Formation Controls Coal Accumulation in Yuzhou,Henan China

The significance of this paper is to understand the characteristics of Late Paleozoic depositional environment, lithofacies palaeogeography and its distribu- tion pattern in Henan Province,to resolve the issue of basic geological,exploration and prospecting services for the region.Yuzhou in Henan Province

Subscribing Advertisement for Journal of Palaeogeography --To overseas readers

Journal of Palaeogeography will totally publish 4 issues in 2006 with RMB￥25．00 per copy and RMB￥ 100.00 per volume．The overseas readers can subscribe the journal directly from the editorial office．We only charge the corresponding international postage in addition and the average postage is RMB￥30．00 terminally and RMB￥120．00 yearly．

Journal of Palaeogeography

Journal of Palaeogeography, a geoscientific academic periodical started in 1999, is sponsored by China

The Pattern and Evolution of the Permian Palaeobiogeography and Tectonic Palaeogeography in Jilin and Heilongjiang Orogenic Belt

The orogenic belt locates between the North China plate and Siberia plate. The Permian palaeobiogeography and tectonic palaeogeography changed quickly and clearly. The line from Changchun to Yanji is an important palaeobiogeographic provincing line,which may be the collission suture belt of the North China plate and north middle massifs. The orogenic belt has been divided into 2 regions: the North middle massif region and the North Margin of North China plate, the pattern and evolution of Permian palaeobiogeography in the present area were discussed and the Permian biota mixture and its significants were analysed. Then, Based on the above,the Permian tectonic palaeogeography of the orogenic belt is reconstructed.

Middle and Late Tertiary Palaeogeography and Palaeoenvironment on the Northern Continental Margin of the South China Sea

Based essentially on research results of calcareous nannofossils, combined with some other microfossil da-ta and several secondary depositional breaks, this paper discusses the criteria of division and comparison of themiddle and late Tertiary marine sediments, palaeogeographical and palaeoenvironmental evolution andpalaeoclimates on the northern continental margin of the South China Sea, comprising the Tainan basin, PearlRiver Mouth basin. Southeast Hainan basin and Beibu Gulf basin. Study shows that the upper Oligocene toPliocene strata in the whole area consist essentially of marine sediments except in the Beibu Gulf basin. Theyinclude littoral. neritic and deltaic sediments as well as carbonate rock-bioherm limestone. The sea advancedfrom southeast to northwest. During the transgression there appeared three culminations coinciding to thestages of deposition of nannofossil zones NN4-5, NN11 and 13-15.

A remarkable decade of learning and sharing knowledge through the Journal of Palaeogeography(JoP)(2014-2024):Reminiscences from an Associate Editor-in-Chief

In this editorial,an Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Palaeogeography(JoP)reminisces his publication experience in JoP during the period 2014-2024.1)During a period of nine years,he contributed eight review articles,three discussions,two replies,one book review,one glossary,and one tribute to the first Editor-in-Chief Prof.Zeng-Zhao Feng.His contributions totaled 534 printed pages.2)His contributions examined 19 different domains,such as landslides,submarine fans,seismites,SSDS,hyperpycnites,rivers,etc.3)His contributions coincided with the formative years of JoP.4)The impact of his articles is evident from the Stats published by ResearchGate.For example,his review article“The Landslide Problem”has reached11,611 Reads and 186 Citations after nine years of publication in 2015.5)In 2023,the CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure)recognized his article“Submarine fans:a critical retrospective(1950-2015)”as the Top-1%most-highly cited publications in the Journal of Palaeogeography published during a 10-year survey period:2012-2022.6)He was inducted as a Founding Member of the International Society of Palaeogeography(ISP)at Changping District of China University of Petroleum(Beijing),Beijing on July 16,2022.7)His JoP editorship during the past 10 years has been the most challenging,inspiring,and rewarding experience of his global scientific journey spanning over six decades(1962-2024).

Palaeogeography of China

Palaeogeography is a science that studies the features and evolution of physical geography in geological history and human history. The palaeogeography of China has multiple disciplines and multiple types of palaeogeographic map. These perfectly reflect 'a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought content'. The palaeogeography of China has three characteristics. The first is multiple disciplines flourishing simultaneously. The second is that lithofacies palaeogeography is in a leading position. The third is that palaeogeography of China is closely connected with industrial practice. It is why palaeogeography, especially lithofacies palaeogeography of China, can flourish continually. We have two journals of palaeogeography, i. e. Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition) and Journal of Palaeogeography (English Edition). The former primarily publishes articles of Chinese authors regarding Chinese palaeogeography and related disciplines and has a foothold in China. The latter will publish the articles of both Chinese and international authors and caters to foreign readers. These two journals will cooperate together and display their own expertise, which will effectively make a great contribution to the development and innovation of Chinese palaeogeography and international palaeogeography.

Striving for development and innovation of Chinese and international palaeogeography——launch statement for Journal of Palaeogeography

The Journal of Palaeogeography has three missions. The first is to encourage articles of Chinese palaeogeography to go abroad by the Journal, and let foreign readers know more about Chinese palaeogeography. The second is to encourage articles of foreign palaeogeography to come in China by the Journal, and let Chinese readers know more about foreign palaeogeography. The third is to promote the communication and cooperation between these two aspects, in order to make great contribution to the development and innovation of Chinese and international palaeogeography. Our journal has four advantages. The first is that the published articles are not restricted to one palaeo or three palaeos, but include many palaeos. The second is that most articles will be from China. The high academic level articles of Chinese palaeogeography going aborad will be an excellent contribution to international palaeogeography. The third is the close relationship between the scientific research and industrial practice. The fourth is that we have two journals, i.e. Journal of Palaeogeography (in Chinese) and Journal of Palaeogeography (in English). These two journals coordinate with each other and should promote the development and innovation of palaeogeography more effectively. So long as we can adhere to high academic standards, high English standards and high editorial standards, our journal will present our contribution to the Chinese and international palaeogeography.

General regulations about submitting manuscripts to Journal of Palaeogeography

1.Journal of Palaeogeography is an academic Earth science journal.The journal mainly publishes research results and original academic articles focusing on palaeogeography and relevant disciplines by both Chinese and foreign scholars,including lithofacies palaeogeography,biopalaeogeography,stratigraphic palaeogeography,tectonopalaeogeography,physiogeographic palaeogeography.

Congratulations to the success in launching of Journal of Palaeogeography,First Meeting of Editorial Committee and International Palaeogeography Symposium

On September 8th-11th, 2012, the Celebration Conference of the launching of Journal of Palaeogeography,the First Meeting of Editorial Committee of Journal of Palaeogeography, and the International Palaeogeography Symposium were held in China University of Petroleum(Beijing), Beijing, China.

Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Carboniferous and Permian in the Qinshui Basin, Shanxi Province, China

The Qinshui Basin in the southeastern Shanxi Province is an important area for coalbed methane（CBM） exploration and production in China, and recent exploration has revealed the presence of other unconventional types of gas such as shale gas and tight sandstone gas. The reservoirs for these unconventional types of gas in this basin are mainly the coals, mudstones, and sandstones of the Carboniferous and Permian; the reservoir thicknesses are controlled by the depositional environments and palaeogeography. This paper presents the results of sedimentological investigations based on data from outcrop and borehole sections, and basin-wide palaeogeographical maps of each formation were reconstructed on the basis of the contours of a variety of lithological parameters. The palaeogeographic units include the depositional environments of the fluvial channel, flood basin（lake）, upper delta plain, lower delta plain, delta front, lagoon, tidal flat, barrier bar, and carbonate platform.The Benxi and Taiyuan Formations are composed mainly of limestones, bauxitic mudstones,siltstones, silty mudstones, sandstones, and economically exploitable coal seams, which were formed in delta, tidal flat, lagoon, and carbonate platform environments. The Shanxi Formation consists of sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, and coals; during the deposition of the formation, the northern part of the Qinshui Basin was occupied mainly by an upper delta plain environment, while the central and southern parts were mainly occupied by a lower delta plain environment and the southeastern part by a delta front environment. Thick coal zones occur in the central and southern parts, where the main depositional environment was a lower delta plain. The thick coal zones of the Taiyuan Formation evidently occur in the sandstone-rich belts, located mainly in the lower delta plain environment in the northern part of the basin and the barrier bar environments in the southeastern part of the basin. In contrast, the thick coal zones of the Shanxi Formation extend over the mudstone-rich belts, located in the areas of the lower delta plain environments of the central and southern parts of the Basin.The Xiashihezi, Shangshihezi, and Shiqianfeng Formations consist mainly of red mudstones with thick-interbedded sandstones. During the deposition of these formations, most areas of the basin were occupied by a fluvial channel, resulting in palaeogeographic units that include fluvial channel zones and flood basins. The fluvial channel deposits consist mainly of relatively-thick sandstones, which could have potential for exploration of tight sandstone gas.

Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Late Permian Wujiaping Age in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region,China

The lithofacies palaeogeography of the Late Permian Wujiaping Age in Middle and Upper Yangtze Region was studied based on petrography and the ＂single factor analysis and multifactor comprehensive mapping＂ method. The Upper Permian Wujiaping Stage in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region is mainly composed of carbonate rocks and clastic rocks, with lesser amounts of siliceous rocks, pyroclastic rocks, volcanic rocks and coal. The rocks can be divided into three types, including clastic rock, clastic rock-limestone and limestone-siliceous rock, and four fundamental ecological types and four fossil assemblages are recognized in the Wujiaping Stage. Based on a petrological and palaeoecological study, six single factors were selected, namely, thickness （m）, content （%） of marine rocks, content （%） of shallow water carbonate rocks, content （%） of biograins with limemud, content （%） of thinbedded siliceous rocks and content （%） of deep water sedimentary rocks. Six single factors maps of the Wujiaping Stage and one lithofacies palaeogeography map of the Wujiaping Age were composed. Palaeogeographic units from west to east include an eroded area, an alluvial plain, a clastic rock platform, a carbonate rock platform where biocrowds developed, a slope and a basin. In addition, a clastic rock platform exists in the southeast of the study area. Hydro- carbon source rock and reservoir conditions were preliminarily analyzed based on lithofacies palaeogeography. Sedimentary environments have obvious controls over the development of the resource rocks. With regard to the abundance of organic matter, the hydrocarbon potential of the coastal swamp environment is the best, followed by the basin environment and the carbonate rock platform. The gas reservoir types of the Wujiaping Stage can be classified as conventional and unconventional gas reservoirs, like coal bed gas and shale gas; all of them have well exploration prospects.

Mesozoic lithofacies palaeogeography and petroleum prospectivity in North Carnarvon Basin,Australia

The North Carnarvon Basin, which lies in the North West Shelf of Australia, is highly rich in gas resources. As a typical passive marginal basin, it experienced the pre-rifting, early rifting, main rifting, late rifting, post-rifting sagging and passive margin stages. The basin was mainly filled with thick Mesozoic-Cenozoic sediments, of which the Mesozoic hosts the principal source, reservoir and seal intervals. Mesozoic palaeogeography has an important control on the oil and gas distribution. Triassic gas-prone source rocks of deltaic origin deter-mine the high endowment of natural gases in the North Carnarvon Basin. The more restricted distribution of oil accumulations is controlled by oil source rocks in the Upper Jurassic Dingo Claystone. The Muderong Shale deposited in the Early Cretaceous marine transgression provides the effective regional seal for the underlying oil and gas reservoirs.

Carbon Isotope Gradient of the Ediacaran Cap Carbonate in the Shennongjia Area and Its Implications for Ocean Stratification and Palaeogeography

The geochemistry and paleogeography of the Doushantuo succession in the Shennongjia area have been insufficiently studied. Here, we report on the carbon and oxygen isotope compositions of Ediacaran Doushantuo cap carbonates from four sections（Longxi, Muyu, Yazikou and Songluo） in the Shennongjia area. A large C-isotopic gradient（~5‰） between the Longxi and Songluo sections, here identified for the first time, is inferred to have been dynamically maintained by photosynthesis in surface waters and anaerobic oxidation of dissolved organic carbon（DOC） in deep waters. Spatial variation in C-isotope chemostratigraphy among the four sections was related to Marinoan post-glacial sea-level elevation changes. At Longxi, a positive δ^（13）C_（carb） shift below the horizon containing tepee-like structure resulted from intense photosynthesis during early regression. A negative δ^（13）C_（carb） shift within the tepee-horizon was triggered by sulfate reduction and freshwater mixing with ^（13）C-depleted dissolved inorganic carbon（DIC） during late regression. A positive δ^（13）C_（carb） excursion in the uppermost part of the cap carbonate was related to enhance primary productivity and organic matter burial during early transgression. At Muyu, the carbon isotopic variation tendency, which is similar to that at Longxi, may have been mildly influenced by the surface water environment. At Songluo, the positive δ^（13）C_（carb） excursion, up to-4‰ in the lower part of the cap carbonate, was probably associated with methanogenesis in deep waters during late transgression to early regression and subsequently disappeared due to decomposition of methane hydrate during late regression. At Yazikou, the consistently stable δ^（13）C_（carb） values around-4‰ indicate that the cap carbonate may have deposited at intermediate water depths. As evidenced by diagnostic sedimentary characteristics of the study sections, the palaeogeographic framework of the Shennongjia area exhibited deepening from SE to NW during the Early Ediacaran Period in the aftermath of Snowball Earth.

Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Upper Permian Changxing Stage in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region,China

Based on the petrological study,according to single factor analysis and multifactor comprehensive mapping method,the quantitative lithofacies palaeogeography of the Upper Permian Changxing Stage of the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region was studied.The Changxing Stage in the Middle and Upper Yangtze Region is mainly composed of carbonate rocks;in addition,clastic and siliceous rocks occur with rare coals and pyroclastic rocks.Lithofacies can be divided into five types,including clastic rock assemblage,clastic rock-limestone assemblage,limestone assemblage,limestone-siliceous rock assemblage,and siliceous rock-clastic rock assemblage.Four fundamental ecological types and five fossil assemblages were recognized in the Changxing Stage.On the basis of the petrological and palaeoecological study,eight single factors were chosen including thickness,content of marine rocks,content of shallow water carbonate rocks,content of bioclasts with limemud matrix,content of bioclasts with sparry cement,distribution of reefs,content of thin bedded siliceous rocks and content of deep water sedimentary rocks.And eight single factor maps and one lithofacies paleogeographic map of the Changxing Stage were compiled.Paleoenvironments from west to east include an erosional area,fluvial plain,clastic platform,carbonate platform and reefs that developed there,slope and basin,low energy organic banks,and high energy organic banks.Sedimentary environments have an obvious control on the development of the source rocks,and the excellent source rocks are developed in the Dalong Formation.Changxing Stage reservoirs should be dominated by the reef and platform surrounding the GuangyuanLiangping Basin rim area,and is the most favorable exploration area of the reef petroleum reservoirs of the Changxing Formation.

Lithofacies palaeogeography as a guide to petroleum exploration

Lithofacies palaeogeography as a guide to petroleum exploration is a very important topic.By using the following five exploration examples,this paper discusses the guide of lithofacies palaeogeography or of sedimentary facies to petroleum exploration.These examples include the dolostone of the Lower Ordovician Majiagou Formation 5 in the Ordos area,the Donghe Sandstone of the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous in the Tarim Basin,the reef of the Upper Permian Changxing Formation in the Sichuan Basin,the oolitic bank of the Lower Triassic Feixianguan Formation in the Sichuan Basin,and the lacustrine delta sediments and gravity flow sediments of the Middle and Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin.