The research progress of lithofacies paleogeography in China

The study of lithofacies paleogeography in China has experienced three stages of development.Early stage:before the 1980s.The main subjects were the paleogeographic atlas of a large area under the theoretical guidance of paleontology stratigraphy, which more reflected the distribution of sea and land. The content of lithofacies was less. A few scholars had carried out the study of lithofacies paleogeography, which opened the prelude of the transformation from paleogeographic map to lithofacies paleogeography map.Rapid development stage:1980s to 2000.Overall in geotectonics, palaeontologic stratigraphy and sedimentology theory as the instruction, a large number of lithofacies palaeogeographic research and mapping works with a variety of mapping thoughts and methods had been carried out, and lithofacies paleogeographic maps of large area have been completed. It was a period of great development of lithofacies palaeogeography and mapping in China, fruitful theoretical and practical achievements had been produced in this stage. These maps not only reflected the academic frontier of active paleogeography, but also strengthened the practicability. Furthermore, the support and guidance of prospect prediction in sedimentary mineral and oil-gas exploration was focused on.Modern stage:2000 to present.Lithofacies palaeogeography research and mapping focusing on supporting oil and gas geological survey and exploration has become the theme in this period, different mapping thoughts and methods have been applied to these lithofacies palaeogeography maps of large areas. There are three main characteristics:first, abundant mapping data and novel technical methods has been used. The second is the advanced mapping idea, which reflects the research idea of tectonics as the main line and restoration of lithofacies paleogeography as the core, and the support of oil and gas exploration as the fundamental.Third, it is characterized by targets on service of oil and gas exploration.Because of the rapid advances in big data, artificial intelligence and other information technology, the development of big data lithofacies palaeogeography has also propelled forward.The digital lithofacies palaeogeography will certainly promote the innovation in mapping ideas and technical methods of lithofacies palaeogeography in China, which can improve the accuracy and predictability of sedimentary mineral prospecting and oil and gas exploration and development.