Intracontinental Collisional Orogeny During Late Permian-Middle Triassic in South China: Sedimentary Records of the Shiwandashan Basin

Sedimentary response to an orogenic process is important for determining whether South China had compressional or extensional orogeny during the period from the Late Permian to the Middle Triassic besides the tectonic and magmatologic evidence. An intracontinental collision event took place between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks in the Late Permian. Beginning at the Late Triassic, the tectonic movement was completely changed in nature and entered a post-collisional extensional orogenic and basin-making process. This paper presents sedimentological evidence from the Late Permian to the Middle Triassic in the Shiwandashan basin at the southwestern end of the junction zone between the Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks.

Rare earth elements stratigraphic significance in late Permian coal measure from Bijie City, Guizhou Province, China

Rare earth elements （REEs） are good geological indicators. In order to understand REEs stratigraphic significance, REEs in Late Permian coal measure from Bijie City, western Guizhou Province, China were studied. The results showed that the contents of both light rare earth element （LREE） and ∑ REE were sharply increased in the boundary between Longtan Formation and Changxing Formation, which resulted from the gyration and discontinuity eruption of Emeishan basalt （REEs source） and frequent transgression-regression during forming coal. The coal measure and strata could be subdivided and correlate, and the sea-level change could be under stood by studying REEs content variation in coal measure.

Study on REEs as tracers for late permian coal measures in Bijie City,Guizhou Province,China

Analyses of Rare Earth Elements （REEs） in 13 coal samples collected from Late Permian coal measures of Bijie City in western Guizhou Province were conducted using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass-Spectrometry （ICP-MS）. The results indicated that REEs patterns were not controlled by materials from the sea, whereas the contribution of land plants was about 1%. The major sources of REEs were from terrigenous material as indicated by negative Eu anomaly. There were similar distribution curves of REEs between Bijie＇s coal and Emeishan basalt. M12 coal seam, which had the highest ∑REE, appeared near the boundary between Longtan Formation and Changxing Formation, which was closely correlated to the eruption of Emeishan basalt. The Emeishan basalt contributed to REEs enrichment of M12. So the sources of REEs were controlled by terrigenous material, and the Emeishan basalt was the predominant source of terrigenous material, which dominated the enrichment and pattern of REEs in Late Permian coal measure from Bijie.

Anomaly and geochemistry of rare earth elements and yttrium in the late Permian coal from the Moxinpo mine,Chongqing,southwestern China

The rare earth elements and yttrium(REY)of the K2 coal from the Moxinpo mine,Chongqing,were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).The results show that REY are enriched in the K2 coal,with the average content up to 462 lg/g,much higher than average values of most coals in the world.The REY distribution patterns indicate that the light REY is enriched and show a well-pronounced Eu minimum.The fractionation of individual light-REY is higher than that of the heavy-REY.The REY distribution through the K2 coal seam shows that the top and bottom portion of the coal seam have a lower content of REY than the middle portion.Goyazite and rhabdophane were identified with a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersed X-ray spectrometer(SEM-EDX).The REY distributions through the coal seam,SEM-EDX data and the correlation analysis between ash yields and the concentrations have revealed that the REY mainly occurs in the organic matter.The K2 coal is a potential rare-metal resource due to its high REY contents,and the coal ash could be regarded as a new and promising raw material for recovery of REY as a by-product.

Molecular Records of Primary Producers and Sedimentary Environmental Conditions of Late Permian Rocks in Northeast Sichuan,China

A series of biomarkers were identified in the aliphafic and aromatic fractions of the extracts from Late Permian Dalong （大隆） and Wujiaping （吴家坪） formations in Shangsi （上寺） Section, Northeast Sichuan （四川）, South China, on the basis of the analysis of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MC）. The dominance of lower-molecular-weight n-alkanes throughout the profile suggests the dominant contribution of algae and bacteria to the organics preserved in the marine section. Wujiaping Formation is characterized by the elevated contribution from algae as well as other photoautotrophs such as photosynthetic bacteria as shown by the molecular ratios of hopanes to steranes or tricyclic terpanes as well as the ratio of pristane （Pr） and phytane （Ph） to C17 and C18 n-alkanes. This is in accord with the data from the microscopic measurement on the calcareous algae. In contrast, Dalong Formation is featured by enhanced contribution from bacteria and probably terrestrial organics indicated by the enhanced C24 tetracyclic terpanes relative to tricyclic terpanes. The two formations also show a distinct discrimination in sedimentary environmental conditions including redox condition and salinity. The anoxic condition was only found in the middle of the Dalong Formation as shown by the ratios of Pr/Ph and dibenzothiophene to phenanthrene, consistent with the reported data of Mo and U. An enhanced salinity indicated by the homohopane index is observed at the shallow Wujiaping Formation. On the basis of the composition of primary productivity and the redox condition, Dalong Formation is proposed, herein, to be potential hydrocarbon source rocks in the study site. It is notable that the topmost end-Permian is characterized by a large perturbauce in both the redox condition and salinity, with oxic conditions being frequently interrupted by short-term anoxia, likely showing a causal relationship with the episodic biotic crisis across the Permian-Triassic boundary.

Composition and mode of occurrence of minerals in Late Permian coals from Zhenxiong County,northeastern Yunnan,China

Minerals in the Late Permian coals from the Niuchang-Yigu mining area,Zhenxiong County,northeastern Yunnan,China,were investigated using optical microscopy and low temperature ashing plus X-ray diffraction(LTA?XRD).The results showed that minerals in the coal LTAs are mainly quartz,kaolinite,chamosite,mixed-layer illite/smectite(I/S),pyrite,and calcite,with trace amounts of marcasite,dolomite,and bassanite.The authigenic quartz generally occurs in collodetrinite or as a filling in cleats or cell cavities.This silica was mainly derived from aqueous solutions produced by the weathering of basaltic rocks in the Kangdian Upland and from hydrothermal fluids.The presence of b-quartz paramorph grains in collodetrinite probably indicates that these grains were detrital and came from a volcanic ash.Clay minerals are generally embedded in collodetrinite and occur as cell-fillings.Pyrite occurs as framboidal,anhedral,and euhedral grains and a cell-filling.The coals are high in pyrite and the high pyrite content probably results from seawater invading during the stage of peat accumulation.Calcite generally occurs as vein-fillings,indicating an epigenetic origin.

Correlation and analysis of well-log sequence with Milankovitch cycles as rulers: A case study of coal-bearing strata of late Permian in western Guizhou

Based on the well-logging data of typical wells of Zhijin,Panxian and Weining areas in western Guizhou,the well-logging data GR of late Permian coal-bearing strata were processed and wavelet transform technique was used to carry out the sequence stratigraphy division and correlation.The study mainly focuses on the controlling effects which Milankovitch had on high frequency sequence,Milankovitch cycle can be used as a ruler of sequence stratigraphy division and correlation to ensure the scientifcity and the unity of sequence stratigraphy division.According to well-logging signal of the ideal Milankovitch cycle,the corresponding relation between the wavelet scales and the cycles is determined by wavelet analysis.Through analyzing analog signals of subsequence sets to search the corresponding relation between various system tracts and the features of time-frequency,the internal features of wavelet transform scalogram could be made clearly.According to ideal model research,features of Milankovitch curves and wavelet spectrum can be seen clearly and each well can be classifed into four third-order sequences and two system tracts.At the same time Milankovitch cycle can realize the division and correlation of stratigraphic sequence in a quick and convenient way.

Characteristics of Late Permian Deep Water Sedimentary Environments: A Case Study of Shaiwa Section, Ziyun County, Guizhou Province, Southwestern China

Sediments of carbonate gravity flows and terrigenous debris turbidites, and normal bathyal deposits were found at the Shaiwa Section, Ziyun County, Guizhou Province, southwestern China. Through grain size analysis of some typical sediments at this section, the changing patterns of the grain parameters and the grain size cumulations were recovered. Results show that the study area was deposited under turbidite control during the Late Permian period, which we also recognized at the outcrop section upon sedimentary characteristics of the sediments. In addition, fossils are abundant in the Upper Permian of the Shaiwa Section, including radiolarians, sponge spicules, bivalves, brachiopods, ammonoids and trace fossils. Radiolarians and siliceous sponge spicules are typical deep water assemblages. Bivalves are dominated by genera of Hunanopecten and Claraia , both showing deep water living characteristics. Ammonoids are composed of planktonic types, showing characteristics of smooth and flat shells. Brachiopods are dominated by a small and thin shelled assemblage, which are commonly flat in shape and usually of slight ornamentations on shells. In addition, trace fossils found at the Shaiwa Section are also common types of deep water facies. Thus, the fossil evidence of the Shaiwa Section also suggests a deep water environment, possibly from the bathyal slope to the basin margin facies, of the studied area during the Late Permian period.

Geochemical anomaly and the causes of transition metal accumulations in late Permian coal from the eastern Yunnan-western Guizhou region

The concentration of 39 trace elements in coal from the late Permian taken from the eastern Yunnan-western Guizhou region was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. It was found that the mean content of Ti, V, Cr, Mo, Co, Ni, Y, and Zr is higher than the national average. The occurrence of Mn, Ni, and Co in the different coalfields is distinctly different. Most of the enriched transition metal elements exist mainly as inorganic minerals. In the Zhina coalfield, Co, Ni, and Nb are primarily associated with sulfur. Mn, Cs, and Mo are mostly sulfides. Almost all Co was organic and a significant part of the Ni is also organic in the Liupanshui coalfield. Cs, Co, and Ni are related to sulfur in the coal taken from eastern Yunnan. Carbonate is the main form of Mn in the coal from eastern Yunnan and the Liupanshui coalfield. Ti is the oxide in the coal samples where Ti is enriched. Zr is in the form of zircon in the samples where Zr is enriched. The situation for most of the transition metal elements is consistent with terrestrial genesis. Coal seams are universally influenced by the sea. The strongly seawater effected peat bog with a reductive and alkaline environment favors the relative enrichment of Mn. A reducing environment is conducive to transition metal element enrichment.

Analysis of Sedimentary Environment and Sequence Stratigraphy of Middle-Late Permian Sediments in Coastal Fars, Iran (Zireh Gas Field, Well ZH-A)

The current paper is focused on the facies, sedimentary environment and depositional cycles study of the Middle-Late Permian sediments in the South Fars Zireh Gas Field, the subsurface section of well ZH-A. Four hundred thin-sections obtained from cores and cuttings were examined under standard petrographic microscope. For this study research, Corel Draw X6, Corel Photo-Paint, DN2 Microscopy Image Processing System, Scope Photo, Autodesk Map, Geocalc and Auto Cad 2014 were utilized. Based on microfacies analysis and significant founa and flora, fourteen major facies in four facies associations comprising tidal flat (A), lagoon (B), shoal (C) and open marine (D) identified in the well ZH-A. This formation was deposited in inner part of a homoclinal ramp. Based on depositional cycles, seven main 3rd order sequences were revealed in the Well ZH-A. The ooid grainstone facies with interparticle and oomoldic porosity has high reservoir potential. The diagenetic processes like dolomitization and dissolution have significant effect in the reservoir quality. Based on research results, a major framework can be weaved and used to correlate reservoir layering.

Xinjiangoxylon Gen.Nov.,a New Gymnosperm from the Latest Permian of China

Following the greatest known end-Permian mass extinction plants have low diversity. Lycopsids and conifers dominated on land. A new gymnosperm Xinjiangoxylon gen. nov. is proposed based on a woody stem specimen collected from the Upper Permian （latest, Changhsingian） Upper Guodikeng Formation of the Taoshuyuan section, Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Northwest China. The decorticated stem is characterized by a complex pith, endarch primary xylem and a thick secondary xylem cylinder. Numerous petrified woods were found in the Changhsingian at this section. However, there are rare wood fossils in the Early Triassic. The abrupt decrease of fossil woods worldwide relates to the crisis at the end of the Permian. Xinjiangoxylon turpanense gen et. sp. nov. appears to represents one gymnosperm that existed in the latest Permian.

Carbon Isotope Records Indicative of Paleoceanographical Events at the Latest Permian Dalong Formation at Shangsi,Northeast Sichuan,China

Paired organic and carbonate carbon isotope compositions of Late Permian Wujiaping （吴家坪） and Dalong （大隆） formations at Shangsi （上寺）, Northeast Sichuan （四川） were analyzed by MAT 251. An abrupt negative excursion in the two isotope records was observed in the middle part of Dalong Formation, in association with a drop in the carbon isotope difference of the two records and an increase of total organic carbon （TOC） content. The negative drop of the paired carbon isotope records is suggestive of the input of 12C-enriched CO2. The molecular ratios of pristane to phytane and dibenzothiophene to phenanthrene indicate the anoxic condition in this interval. The enhanced TOC content is indicative of the elevated preservation of organic matter due to the anoxic condition. These isotopic and organic geochemical data probably infer the occurrence of the upwelling in this interval. The additional contribution of volcanism activity observed in South China cannot be excluded to the input of 12C-enriched CO2 and the negative shifts in carbon isotope composition of bulk organic matter and carbonate.

Geochemistry and mineralogy of the Late Permian coals from the Songzao Coalfield, Chongqing, southwestern China

Mineralogy and geochemistry of the four main workable coal seams (No.6, No.7, No.8, and No.11) of Late Permian age from the Songzao Coalfield, Chongqing, Southwest China, were examined using in- ductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), cold-vapor absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS), ion-selective electrode (ISE), scanning electron mi- croscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The results showed that the main workable No.8 Coal that accounts for about 60% of the total coal reserves in the Songzao Coalfield was not enriched in hazardous trace elements. The No.11 Coal has high concentrations of alkaline elements, Be (9.14 μg/g), Sc (12.9 μg/g), Ti (9508 μg/g), Mn (397 μg/g), Co (23.7 μg/g), Cu (108 μg/g), Zn (123 μg/g), Ga (32 μg/g), Zr (1304 μg/g), Nb (169 μg/g), Hf (32.7 μg/g), Ta (11.4 μg/g), W (24.8 μg/g), Hg (0.28 μg/g), Pb (28.1 μg/g), Th (24.1 μg/g), and rare earth elements (509.62 μg/g). The concentration of Nb and Ta in the No. 11 Coal is higher than the industrial grade, and their potential utilization should be further studied. Besides pyrite, quartz, calcite, and clay minerals, trace minerals including chalcopyrite, marcasite, siderite, albite, mixed-layer clay minerals of illite and smectite, monazite, apatite, anatase, chlorite, and gypsum were found in the No.11 Coal. It should be noted that alabandite of hydrothermal origin and anatase occurring as cement were identi- fied in coal. In addition, the clayey microbands derived from alkaline volcanic ashes were identified in the coal. The dominant compositions of these clayey microbands were mixed-layer clay minerals of illite and smectite, which were interlayered with organic bands. The modes of occurrence of alkaline volcanic ash bands indicate that the volcanic activities were characterized by the multiple eruptions, short time interval and small scale for each eruption during peat accumulation. The alkaline volcanic ashes were the dominant factors for the enrichment of alkaline elements, Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf, and rare earth elements, and the sulfide minerals are the main carriers of Ga, Cu, and Hg in the No. 11 Coal.

Evolution of strontium isotopic composition of sea-water from Late Permian to Early Triassic based on study of marine carbonates,Zhongliang Mountain,Chongqing,China

Collected from a Late Permian to Early Triassic sedimentary section in the Zhongliang Mountain of Chongqing, Southwest China, sixty marine carbonate samples were measured for the 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and corresponding evolution curve was constructed. The concentrations of SiO2, CaO, MgO, Mn and Sr are used to evaluate reservation of strontium isotopic composition for original seawater and the credi-bility of the dissolution method for sample preparation. The results show that most of the samples (except seven samples with the Mn/Sr ratios higher than 2) contain the original geochemistry signa-tures of ancient seawater. Compared to the published 87Sr/86Sr ratios from the Late Permian to Early Triassic, our database reported here is the largest and the curve constructed is the most complete. The strontium isotopic curve from Late Permian to Early Triassic is consistent globally and exhibits a gen-eral trend of steady increase during this period. The minimum of 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.707011) occurs in the Late Permian (30 m in thickness below the Permian-Triassic boundary), and the maximum (0.708281), near the Early-Middle Triassic boundary. The lack of land plants and the rapid continental weathering result in the increase of 87Sr/86Sr ratios during the interval. The Permian-Triassic boundary in Zhongli-ang Mountain Section has been accepted internationally. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of six samples near the boundary vary from 0.70714 to 0.70715 with an average of 0.70714, which is consistent with the value of 0.70715 (samples are from articulate brachiopod shells) from Korte et al. published in 2006 (within the error range in experiment). Accordingly, the strontium isotope composition in the Permian-Triassic boundary in this paper is of global significance. It can be confirmed that the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the sea-water in the Permian-Triassic transition are in the range of 0.70714―0.70715.

Discovery of a Late Permian Angara-Cathaysia mixed flora from Acheng of Heilongjiang,China,with discussions on the closure of the Paleoasian Ocean

This work documents a new flora from the Upper Permian Hongshan Formation of Acheng County, Heilongjiang Province, Northwest China. The flora consists of 20 species: Paracalamites sp., Pecopteris tangwangheensis Huang, Callipteris obese Huang, Callipteris shenshuensis Huang, C. tangwangheensis Huang, C. heilongjiangensis Huang, C. zeilleri Zalessky, C. sp., Comia yichunensis Huang, C. tenueaxis Huang, Iniopteris sibirica Zalessky, Supaia teiliensis Huang, Compsopteris tchirkovae Zalessky, C. cf. adzvensis Zalessky, Nilssonia sp. 1, Nil. sp. 2, Taeniopteris cf. densissima Halle, T. cf. nystraemii Halle, T. sp. and Noeggerathiopsis derzavinii Neub. It is dominated by Angara species but mixed with some typical Cathaysian elements. The age of the flora is assigned to late of the Late Permian according to the stratigraphic ranges of the known species and the comparisons of it with the similar floras. The new discovery indicates that the final collision between the North China Plate and Siberian Plate occurred in Late Permian along the Xar Moron River-Changchun-Yanji sutured zone, and the Paleoasian Ocean was finally closed at the end of the Permian.

Late Carboniferous-Early Permian Volcanic Event Deposits and Stratigraphic Correlation in Shandong Province and Its Adjacent Regions

Deposits of 10 volcanic events of 6 stages have been discovered by the authors after detailed field and lab studies of the Benxi and Taiyuan Formations in Shandong Province and its adjacent regions. They show certain temporal-spatial distribution characteristics. Volcanic fragments were probably derived from two different volcanic sources north and south of the North China Platform, while the magma of the two volcanic sources was probably derived from the lower crust. A new stratigraphic correlation scheme is put forward for the Benxi and Taiyuan Formations in this region on the basis of previous biostratigraphic work with the regionally widespread volcanic event layers as the marker bed for the isochronous stratigraphic correlation on a super-regional scale and in conjunction with the maximum transgressive event layers.

Environmental and tectonic significance of Late Permian reefs in the Linxi and adjacent areas in Inner Mongolia of China

Many plateau-edge reefs and reef mounds of the Late Permian have been discovered in Linxi County and adjacent areas of Inner Mongolia, China. These reefs verify that the Hinggan-Inner Mongolia Area was an open and unobstructed sea-trough in Late Permian. Facies and sequences of reef strata in Member 4 and Member 5 of the Linxi Formation were studied for information to reconstruct the closing process of the Linxi-Jiutai chasm in the sea-trough, i.e., to constrain subsidence, uplift, and final closing. Ages of the reef-bearing strata have been determined to be late and end of Late Permian, based on ranges or abundances of diverse fossils. Six reef-building organic assemblages were distinguished, representing different ecologic conditions, according to morphological functions and paleoecological adaptations of organisms including primarily sponges, bryozoans, and calcareous algae. Two types of shelf slopes, the gentle slope and the steep slope, have been interpreted for Member 4 and Member 5 of the Linxi Formation, based on the assemblages. The locations of outcrops, and types of these reefs delineate the north margin of Sino-Korea Platform, and define uplift and final closing of the Linxi-Jiutai chasm at the end of Late Permian.

Geochemistry of the Middle to Late Permian limestones from the marginal zone of an isolated platform(Laibin,South China)

Major,trace and rare earth elements were measured in 27 samples of the Middle to Late Permian limestones from the Tieqiao section located on the marginal zone of an isolated platform(Laibin,South China).Shale-normalized REE+Y patterns of all samples show notably negative Ce anomalies(0.21–0.66,average 0.33),slightly positive Gd anomalies(1.08–1.30,average1.20),and positive Y anomalies with superchondritic Y/Ho ratios(36–91,average 55),which are consistent with those of modern shallow seawater.Their relative LREEs enrichment with higher NdSN/YbSN ratios(0.58–1.80)than those of modern shallow seawater(0.21–0.50)suggests complicated sources of REEs for all samples.Compared with geochemical features of sediments influenced by terrigenous particles and hydrothermal fluids,it is concluded that ambient shallow seawater was the primary source of REEs in these limestones.Comparing the indicators of REE+Y elements(REE,NdSN/YbSN,Ce/Ce*,Gd/Gd*,Eu/Eu*and Y/Ho)in limestones with those in bedded cherts from the Tieqiao section,we consider that limestone and bedded chert have similar sources of REE+Y elements:ambient shallow seawater with more or less hydrothermal fluids.In addition,there is a completely negative correlation between CaCO3and SiO2contents in limestones and bedded cherts.These results imply that precipitation of CaCO3was inhibited by that of SiO2which was derived mainly from hydrothermal fluid,especially in bedded cherts from the Tieqiao section.

Study on the Late Permian Claraia in South China

There are different opinions on whether Claraia appeared in the Late Permian or not. Itis convinced that Claraia had turned up in the Late Permian through the study on the Upper Per-mian in South China. Pseudoclaraia, Claraioides and Claraia are compared and they are found tobear basically the same features. According to the rule of nomenclatural priority, Pseudoclaraiaand Claraioides should be attributed to the genus Claraia. Late Permian Claraia lived in the mid-dle-lower part of the bathyal continental slope as epifauna, which could swim occasionally. Thestudy on Claraia of the Permian-Triassic transition shows that Triassic Claraia was evolved fromPermian

Using geophysical logs to identify Milankovitch cycles and to calculate net primary productivity(NPP) of the Late Permian coals,western Guizhou,China

Milankovitch periodicities of 123 kyr(eccentricity), 35.6 kyr(obliquity), and 21.2 kyr(precession) were identified in geophysical logs of three Late Permian coals: 17#, 18#, and 17 + 18#, from the Songhe mining area in western Guizhou Province. Based on the astronomic temporal framework, the periods of deposition of the 17#(5.6 m), 18#(6.4 m), and 17 + 18#(5.4 m) coals were constrained to 140.8–119.8 kyr, 160–136.2 kyr, and 135–114.9 kyr,respectively. The overall depositional period of the 18# coal of 160–136.2 kyr was further subdivided using the wavelet analysis method, into short and precise periods corresponding to the Milankovitch periodicities. It includes one eccentricity periodicity(123 kyr), three obliquity periodicities(35.6 kyr), and five precession periodicities(21.2 kyr). Different thicknesses of the subdivided coal sections, equivalent to the same time span of deposition, indicate different rates of coal deposition, i.e., thicker sections imply higher rates while the thinner sections represent lower rates. The combination of the measured average carbon concentration with the density of the coals gave rise to long-term average values of carbon accumulation rates for the Late Permian coals, in the range of 42.4–50.6 g?C?m^(-2)?a^(-1). This range corresponds to the long-term average carbon accumulation rates for the initial peat in the range of 60.6–72.3 g?C?m^(-2)?a^(-1). Based on the known quantitative relation between net primary productivity(NPP)values and long-term average carbon accumulation rates for the Holocene tropical peatlands, the range of NPP values for the Late Permian tropical peatlands was estimated as 242.4–433.8 g?C?m^(-2)?a^(-1).A comparison of existing information about peatland NPP levels of various ages and latitudes indicated that when conditions of high rain and high humidity prevail in the palaeo-peatland at given latitude, the NPP rates will vary with changes in atmospheric concentration of CO_2 and O_2. This relationship may lead to the use of coals as an indicator for the concentration of these gases(CO_2 and O_2) in the contemporaneous atmosphere encompassing the long records of coal deposition.