Sedimentary geochemical records of the palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate evolution in the Pinghu Formation, Western Slope Belt, Xihu Sag, East China Sea Basin

Abstract

The sedimentary development of source rocks in marine-continental transitional facies is controlled mainly by the synergistic evolution of palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate. A set of marine-continental transitional coal seams in Xihu Sag of the East China Sea Basin were discovered at the end of the last century, whose lithology is mainly fine-grained sedimentary, with significant non-homogeneity and complex developmental control factors. Although systematic geochemical evaluations and hydrocarbon potential studies have been carried out on the source rocks in the Xihu Sag, few studies have focused on the fine-grained characterization of the palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate evolution during the depositional period. In this study, the palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate of the Pinghu Formation in Xihu Sag have been reconstructed based on biomarkers, pollen abundance, and trace elements. The organic matter of the Pinghu Formation is mainly input from terrigenous higher plants. The biomarkers reveal that gymnosperms gradually increase from the early to late stages of the Pinghu Formation, whereas pteridophytes exhibit the opposite trend. The contribution of gymnosperms to organic matter in the Wuyunting area is higher than in the Pinghu area. Furthermore, the number of temperate deciduous broad-leaved angiosperms (Alnipollenites, Ulmipollenites, Momipites, and Juglanspollenites) and mountain coniferous gymnosperms (Pinuspollenites) increased from the early to late stages of the Pinghu Formation, while the abundance of tropical/subtropical plants (Quercoidites, Taxodiaceaepollenites, and Salixipollenites) decreased. The vegetation succession is characterized by gradually transforming from tall gymnosperms to low-growing pteridophytes from the northern Wuyunting area to the southern Pinghu area. In conclusion, palynological data (including pteridophytes, angiosperms, and gymnosperms) and trace element ratios indicate that from the early to late stages of the Pinghu Formation, the palaeoclimate gradually became colder, with humidity and water depth decreasing.