PALAEOCLIMATES ON THE UPPER YANGTZE PLATFORM DURING THE EARLY CARBONIFEROUS

The formular T℃=17.04-4.34 (δC-δW)+0.16 (δC-δW)~2 (Horibe, 1972) is used in this paper for the calculation of the palaeotemperatures. With the aid of the oxygen isotope data for 16 genera of the brachiopod shells from the Upper Yangtze platform in combination with other climatic indicators such as carbonate rocks, coal, oolitic limestone, bauxite, oolitic hematite, gypsum (Visean), coral reefs (Visean), K-bearing shale (Visean) and plant remains, the palaeotemperatures of sea water in the study area are estimated about 23℃ in the Tournaisian and near 25-27℃ in the Visean, and the surface temperatures of the Yangtze plate are also estimated around 25℃ in the Tournaisian and around 30℃ in the Visean.