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    Volume 51 Issue 7
    Jul.  2026
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    Li Yong, Li Qiang, Liu Le, Ding Rong, Li Yujie, Xu Weikai, 2026. Deep-Time Coal-Forming Evolution and Perspectives on Coal-Forming Environment Analysis. Earth Science, 51(7): 2482-2498. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2026.206
    Citation: Li Yong, Li Qiang, Liu Le, Ding Rong, Li Yujie, Xu Weikai, 2026. Deep-Time Coal-Forming Evolution and Perspectives on Coal-Forming Environment Analysis. Earth Science, 51(7): 2482-2498. doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2026.206

    Deep-Time Coal-Forming Evolution and Perspectives on Coal-Forming Environment Analysis

    doi: 10.3799/dqkx.2026.206
    • Received Date: 2026-06-17
    • Publish Date: 2026-07-25
    • Coal-forming environment analysis is an important basis for understanding coal-measure sedimentary processes, reconstructing paleoenvironmental evolution, and advancing coal geology theory. This paper systematically reviews the evolutionary characteristics of coal-forming environments through geologic time, the distribution and dynamic evolution of peat swamps, and traditional analytical methods for coal-forming environments based on macerals, microlithotypes, mineral-element geochemistry, and biomarkers, and discusses their applicability. The results show that the evolution of coal-forming environments through geologic time was jointly controlled by plant succession, climate change, and adjustments in sedimentary systems, resulting in marked differences in coal-forming plants, peat swamp types, and depositional settings in different periods. Peat swamps are widely developed in delta plains, tidal flat-lagoon systems, fluvial-lacustrine settings, and alluvial plains, and their formation and preservation are jointly constrained by water supply pattern, water-table condition, clastic input, and marine influence. Traditional coal-facies indices play an important role in coal-forming environment analysis, but their environmental significance is readily affected by vegetation composition, decomposition, water-table fluctuations, allochthonous input, and diagenetic-coalification modification. On this basis, it is suggested that coal-forming environment analysis should place greater emphasis on depositional-process constraints and strengthen the integrated identification of key controlling factors such as water supply pattern, water-table condition, clastic input, and preservation conditions. It is further proposed that coal-forming peat swamps can be simplified into three types: low moor mire, transitional mire, and high moor mire. A case study from the Ordos Basin shows that this approach is helpful for revealing the vertical evolutionary pattern of coal-forming environments and can provide a reference for coal-forming environment reconstruction and coal-measure sedimentary research.

       

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