Coal Accumulation Patterns and Paleoclimates in a Carboniferous–Permian Cratonic Basin, North China

This field trip examines the Carboniferous-Permian strata of the Shuiyuguan section in the vicinity of Taiyuan City, and the Palougou section along the Yellow River as the main investigation subjects, and the trip also includes visits to the Antaibao Open Pit Coal Mine at Pingshuo and the Yungang Buddhist Grottoes at Datong City. The aim of this field trip is to investigate the important geological phenomena preserved in the Late Paleozoic strata of the North China plate, in relation to coal-forming models for cratonic paralic environments, channel sand body types representing different coefficients of discharge variance, coal-bearing cyclothems in response to the Gondwanan glacial periods, and end-Permian boundary events. On the basis of investigating the geological phenomena of the Late Paleozoic strata in the North China Plate, the scientific significance will be discussed: (1) Types of Carboniferous-Permian coal-forming environments; (2) Carboniferous-Permian paleoclimate evolution; (3) Geological events and sedimentary characteristics near the Permian-Triassic boundary; (4) Carboniferous-Permian fluvial deposit characteristics based on interpreted peak discharge variability; (5) Milankovitch cycle signals recorded in Late Paleozoic strata. This route is a pre-congress route, including four days of investigation.