SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS AND COAL-ACCUMULATING PROCESSES IN SOUTHEASTERN HUBEI DURING THE EARLY LONGTANIAN(LATE PERMIAN)

The Upper Permian coal-bearing series in southeastern Hubei were deposited during the early Longtanian (Late Permian). Three facies belts or eight facies are suggested for the coal-bearing series. Two coal measures have also been distinguished:the Longtan coal measures in the northern part of the study area and the Wujiaping coal measures in the southern part of it. The former consist mainly of open sea, restricted sea, barrier bar, lagoon, tidal channel, tidal flat, peat flat and eluvial facies, whereas the latter are composed dominantly of eluvial, tidal flat, peat flat and open sea facies. The coal-bearing series in this region contain three coal seams which were mainly accumulated on the peat flat. The crucial factors to controll coal-accumulating processes include reactivation of basement faults and differential movement of basal fault blocks. The Huangshi-Qiyue mining district is thought to be a coal-accumulating centre in southeastern Hubei because there are favourable conditions for coal accumulation in the region.