Contact metamorphism adjacent to a teschenite intrusion

Late Permian (early Tatarian, 258 Ma) palaeosols exposed near Kiama and Dapto on the south coast of New South Wales can be recognised from their red colour, clayey and massive texture, and clay‐filled root traces. Harvey pedotype palaeosols are within the upper Jamberoo Sandstone Member of the Broughton Formation. Loveleigh pedotype palaeosols are within the basal Kiama Sandstone overlying columnar jointed flows of the Blow Hole Latite Member of the Broughton Formation. Both kinds of palaeosols are strongly ferruginised with little relict bedding, yet they are little weathered and have surprisingly high amounts of feldspar and pyroxene. Both also show deformation of subsurface layers comparable to the active layer of permafrosted soils. Root traces in these palaeosols are sparse and comparable to those of woody gymnosperms, not chambered like the known roots of Glossopteris. Plausible components of the taiga woodland represented by the palaeosols include Gangamopteris, cordaites, seed ferns, and equisetaleans. Frigid palaeoclimatic indications from the palaeosols are compatible with a palaeomagnetically determined palaeolatitude of 57–85°S, and thus indicate an equator‐pole climatic gradient in the Late Permian generally similar to that of today.     

Landscape ecological shift at the Permian‐Triassic boundary in Antarctica

Palaeosols across the Permian‐Triassic boundary in Antarctica provide evidence of a marked change in ecosystems at this greatest of all extinctions in the history of life on Earth. The boundary can now be recognised from evidence of carbon isotopic (δ¹³C) stratigraphy, reptiles of the earliest Triassic Lystrosaurus zone, and Late Permian glossopterid fructifications and pollen. The boundary is a profound change in palaeosols, with very different suites of pedotypes in Permian compared with Triassic sequences. Permian palaeosols include coals, rooted lithic sandstones and rooted tuffaceous silt‐stones. Triassic palaeosols in contrast are largely rooted, green‐red‐mottled claystones. These palaeosols represent a shift from Late Permian cold temperate broadleaf deciduous swamp woodlands to Early Triassic cool temperate conifer forests. Indications of more intense weathering during the earliest Triassic confirm a significantly warmer palaeoclimate in the earliest Triassic than in the latest Permian. Palaeoclimate remained humid with low evapotranspiration in both Permian and Triassic, but Triassic ecosystems were more oligotrophic, humus‐poor and more oxidised than Permian ones. Yet both Permian and Triassic palaeosols were unpodzolised, unlike soils today under such climates and vegetation. Palaeosols in Antarctica confirm several peculiarities of the earliest Triassic: (i) a global coal gap; (ii) a high‐latitude greenhouse; and (iii) a Gondwanan tuff gap. Palaeosols support evidence from fossil plants and reptiles and from carbon isotopic studies for a shift toward oligotrophic, low‐productivity ecosystems, dominated by opportunistic and stress‐tolerant organisms in the earliest Triassic. Life was difficult on land as well as in the sea following the terminal Permian mass extinction.     

Palaeosols and sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Permian Abo Member,south‐central New Mexico,USA

The relationship between palaeosols and sequence stratigraphy is tested in the Lower Permian Abo Member, south‐central New Mexico, by comparing interfluve and fluvial‐terrace palaeosols with palaeosols that developed within lowstand‐fluvial deposits. Interfluve and fluvial‐terrace palaeosols consist of primary pedogenic features, including vertical root traces, vertic structures, Stage II and III pedogenic calcite and translocated clay (argillans), which are cross‐cut or replaced by low‐aluminium goethite, gley colour mottling, sparry calcite veins and ankerite. The polygenetic character of the palaeosols is consistent with initial development for several thousand to tens of thousands of years on well‐drained interfluves or fluvial terraces, followed by waterlogging due to invasion by a rising water table that locally may have been brackish. In contrast, lowstand‐fluvial sediment that filled incised valleys contains only rooted and vertic palaeosols, whose immaturity resulted from high aggradation rates. Palaeosols similar to those in the Abo Member have been recognized in other ancient strata and, when combined with high‐resolution correlation, provide evidence for interpretation of sequence‐stratigraphic surfaces and systems tracts.     

Morphology and distribution of fossil soils in the Permo-Pennsylvanian Wichita and Bowie Groups, north-central Texas, USA: implications for western equatorial Pangean palaeoclimate during icehouse–greenhouse transition

Analysis of stacked Permo‐Pennsylvanian palaeosols from north‐central Texas documents the influence of palaeolandscape position on pedogenesis in aggradational depositional settings. Palaeosols of the Eastern shelf of the Midland basin exhibit stratigraphic trends in the distribution of soil horizons, structure, rooting density, clay mineralogy and colour that record long‐term changes in soil‐forming conditions driven by both local processes and regional climate. Palaeosols similar to modern histosols, ultisols, vertisols, inceptisols and entisols, all bearing morphological, mineralogical and chemical characteristics consistent with a tropical, humid climate, represent the Late Pennsylvanian suite of palaeosol orders. Palaeosols similar to modern alfisols, vertisols, inceptisols, aridisols and entisols preserve characteristics indicative of a drier and seasonal tropical climate throughout the Lower Permian strata. The changes in palaeosol morphology are interpreted as being a result of an overall climatic trend from relatively humid and tropical, moist conditions characterized by high rainfall in the Late Pennsylvanian to progressively drier, semi‐arid to arid tropical climate characterized by seasonal rainfall in Early Permian time. Based on known Late Palaeozoic palaeogeography and current hypotheses for atmospheric circulation over western equatorial Pangea, the Pennsylvanian palaeosols in this study may be recording a climate that is the result of an orographic control over regional‐scale atmospheric circulation. The trend towards a drier climate interpreted from the Permian palaeosols may be recording the breakdown of this pre‐existing orographic effect and the onset of a monsoonal atmospheric circulation system over this region.     

湘中南区晚二叠世大隆组牙形刺及其地层意义

通过对湘中南区部分剖面晚二叠世大隆组下部层位的系统采样和分析，获取了珍贵的牙形刺资料，其时限为晚二叠世。以大隆组下部所产Ａｌｔｕｄｏｃｅｒａｓ、Ｐａｒａｃｅｌｔｉｔｅｓ等菊石为依据将龙潭组时代全部划入中二叠世晚期（茅口期）的观点是不适宜的。     

Climate-induced sediment-palaeosol cycles in a Late Cretaceous dry aeolian sand sheet: Marília Formation (North-West Bauru Basin, Brazil)

Aeolian sand sheets, which are characterized by low relief surfaces that lack dunes, are common in arid and semi‐arid climatic settings. The surface of an aeolian sand sheet can either be stable and subject to pedogenetic effects, or unstable such that it is affected by deflation or sedimentation. The Marília Formation (Late Cretaceous) may be interpreted as an ancient aeolian sand sheet area, where alternating phases of stability and instability of the accumulation surface have been recorded. Detailed field studies were carried out in several sections of the Marília Formation, where cyclic alternations of palaeosols and aeolian deposits were evident, using palaeopedological and facies analysis methods, supported in the laboratory by the analysis of rock samples, cut and polished in slabs, thin sections, scanning electron microscope images and X‐ray diffraction data from the clay minerals. The deposits comprise three lithofacies that, in order of abundance, are characterized by: (i) translatent wind‐ripple strata; (ii) flood deposits; and (iii) ephemeral river channel deposits. Palaeosols constitute, on average, 65% of the vertical succession. Three types of palaeosols (pedotypes) are recognized: (i) Aridisols; (ii) Entisols; and (iii) Vertisols. Erosional surfaces due to aeolian deflation divide the top of the palaeosol profiles from the overlying aeolian deposits. The palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the deposits and the palaeosols allows the depositional system of the Marília Formation to be defined as a flat area, dominated by aeolian sedimentation, with subordinate ephemeral river sedimentation, and characterized by a dry climatic setting with occasional rainfall. The climate is the main forcing factor controlling the alternation between episodes of active sedimentation and periods of palaeosol development. A climate‐controlled model is proposed in which: (i) the palaeosols are indicative of a stable surface that is developed during the more humid climatic phases; and (ii) the erosional surfaces and the overlying aeolian sediments attest to periods of deflation and subsequent sedimentation, thereby increasing the availability of sediment during the drier climatic phases. The ephemeral fluvial deposits mark the more humid climatic conditions and contribute to the lagged sediment influx caused during the drier periods by the erosion of previously stored sediment.     

额济纳旗地区晚石炭-晚二叠世地层沉积学和年代学研究及其构造背景分析

对额济纳旗地区红石山-黑鹰山坳陷带和马鬃山-切刀隆起带晚石炭世-晚二叠世地层进行了沉积学和年代学研究。红石山-黑鹰山坳陷带的大狐狸山地区干泉组下段碎屑岩可分为滨海相、前三角洲相和三角洲前缘相等三种沉积相类型,具有向上粒度变粗的特征,表明该带属于以三角洲快速供应为主的滨海带沉积环境。碎屑锆石年代学分析表明其形成时代为322～305Ma,主要集中在428～520Ma和336～373Ma两个时期,分别代表红石山-黑鹰山坳陷带边缘古亚洲洋俯冲及其结束后早石炭世伸展过程的两期岩浆活动记录。马鬃山-切刀隆起带的八道桥地区二叠系由巨厚的紫红色砾岩、砂岩重复组成多个旋回,沉积及层序特征表明该套地层形成于干旱条件下的快速沉积,属陆相洪冲积环境产物,沉积时代为280～268Ma。碎屑锆石年龄谱也记录了早古生代岩浆活动峰期(424～515Ma)和古老基底年龄(950Ma和1700～1900Ma)。阿拉善旗埋汗哈达地区埋汗哈达组从下向上分为洪冲积相、滨海泻湖相和滨海相等三种沉积相,构成从陆相到海相变化的沉积序列,形成时代为279～270Ma。该组的碎屑锆石分析主要记录了三个连续的峰期年龄即280Ma、287Ma和294Ma,说明早二叠世发生频繁的岩浆活动。沉积学及年代学研究揭示哈尔苏海组为滨海环境,形成于晚二叠世,其碎屑锆石年龄分布广泛,除273～329Ma的年龄代表晚石炭世-中二叠世岩浆活动外,其余锆石集中在383Ma、468～517Ma、800～913Ma和1485Ma等四个峰期,表明马鬃山-切刀隆起带在晚二叠世接受了来自早古生代造山带和古老基底的复杂物源。八道桥及埋汗哈达地区的研究揭示晚二叠世马鬃山-切刀隆起带的古地理环境为从陆相到滨海相。上述沉积学和年代学分析表明额济纳旗地区红石山-黑鹰山坳陷带和马鬃山-切刀隆起带对沉积环境和古地理格局有关键控制作用。通过中国北方新疆、甘肃和内蒙古晚石炭世-二叠纪的对比研究揭示,在天山-兴蒙造山带基底上广泛发育以隆起和坳陷相间为特征的盆岭构造,导致形成不同的沉积古地理环境并控制沉积相带的展布,识别这种古构造格局对于追溯我国北方晚古生代沉积古地理具有重要意义。     

Intensifying aeolian activity following the end-Permian mass extinction: Evidence from the Late Permian–Early Triassic terrestrial sedimentary record of the Ordos Basin,North China

Sedimentary successions provide direct evidence of climate and tectonics, and these give clues about the causes of the mass extinction around the Permian–Triassic boundary. Terrestrial Permian–Triassic boundary strata in the eastern Ordos Basin, North China, include the Late Permian Sunjiagou, Early Triassic Liujiagou and late Early Triassic Heshanggou formations in ascending order. The Sunjiagou Formation comprises cross-bedded sandstones overlaid by mudstones, indicating meandering rivers with channel, point bar and floodplain deposits. The Liujiagou Formation was formed in braided rivers of arid sand bars interacting with some aeolian dune deposits, distinguished by abundant sandstones where diverse trough and planar cross-bedding and aeolian structures (for example, inverse climbing-ripple, translatent-ripple lamination, grainfall and grainflow laminations) interchange vertically and laterally. The Heshanggou Formation is a rhythmic succession of mudstones interbedded with thin medium-grained sandstones mainly deposited in a shallow lacustrine environment. Overall, the sharp meandering to braided to shallow lake sedimentary transition documents palaeoenvironmental changes from semi-arid to arid and then to semi-humid conditions across the Permian–Triassic boundary. The die-off of tetrapods and plants, decreased bioturbation levels in the uppermost Sunjiagou Formation, and the bloom of microbially-induced sedimentary structures in the Liujiagou Formation marks the mass extinction around the Permian–Triassic boundary. The disappearance of microbially-induced sedimentary structures, increasingly intense bioturbation from bottom to top and the reoccurrence of reptile footprints in the Heshanggou Formation reveal gradual recovery of the ecosystem after the Permian–Triassic boundary extinction. This study is the first to identify the intensification of aeolian activity following the end-Permian mass extinction in North China. Moreover, while northern North China continued to be uplifted tectonically from the Late Palaeozoic to Late Mesozoic, the switch of sedimentary patterns across the Permian–Triassic boundary in Shanxi is largely linked to the development of an arid and subsequently semi-humid climate condition, which probably directly affected the collapse and delayed recovery in palaeoecosystems.     

中国东北地区晚二叠世岩相古地理特征

在6条野外实测剖面和38条收集剖面的基础上, 通过剖面的岩石组合特征及样品的元素地球化学分析, 对中国东北地区晚二叠世的沉积环境和古地理特征进行了研究。结果显示, 东北地区上二叠统样品常量元素具有高Si、Al, 低P、Mn、Ca的特点;微量元素具有高V、Rb、Zr、Ba, 低Be、Mo、Cd、Ta和U的特点;稀土元素表现为轻、重稀土分异显著, 轻稀土相对富集, Eu负异常的特征。沉积环境主体为陆相淡水还原环境;存在北部、东部和西部3个物源, 其中北部和东部为主要物源方向;发育三角洲相、扇三角洲相和湖泊相沉积。此外, 林西组底部样品在常量、微量及稀土元素的异常和杨家沟组底部大量碳酸盐岩砾石的出现, 说明晚二叠世初期局部有海侵发生。中国东北地区晚二叠世沉积初期为海陆交互环境, 主体为陆相湖泊沉积环境。     

Convergence History of the Songliao and Jiamusi Blocks in the Eastern End of Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Evidence from Detrital Zircons of Late Paleozoic Sedimentary Rocks

Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB) is one of the largest accretionary orogenic belts in the world. The eastern segment of CAOB is dominated by Paleozoic Paleo Asian Ocean tectonic regime, Mesozoic Paleo-Pacific tectonic regime and Mongolian-Okhotsk tectonic regime. The Songliao and Jiamusi blocks are located in the easternmost part of the CAOB and are the key region to solve the problem about overprinting processes of multiple tectonic regimes. It is generally believed that the Mudanjiang Ocean between the two blocks was finally closed in the Mesozoic, but the Paleozoic magmatism also developed along the Mudanjiang suture zone, while on both sides of the suture zone, there were comparable Paleozoic strata, indicating that the two blocks had converged during the Paleozoic, and the evolution history of the two blocks in the Late Paleozoic remains controversial. The Carboniferous-Permian terrestrial strata mainly developed in Binxian, Wuchang and Tieli on Songliao Block, Baoqing and Mishan on Jiamusi Block. Samples from the Songliao and Jiamusi blocks in the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian and Late Permian are collected for comparative analysis. The LAICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating results show that the maximum depositional age of Middle Permian Tumenling Formation and Late Permian Hongshan Formation in Songliao Block is ～260 Ma, while that of Tatouhe Formation and Carboniferous strata in Jiamusi Block are ～290 Ma and ～300 Ma, respectively, which supports the previous stratigraphic division scheme. The age peaks of ～290–300 Ma, ～400 Ma, ～500 Ma appeared in the Late Carboniferous to Early Permian strata of Jiamusi Block and the Middle Permian strata of Songliao Block. The age peak of ～500 Ma in the Middle Permian strata of Songliao Block may come from the Cambrian basement, Mashan Complex, of Jiamusi Block, while the age peaks of ～420–440 Ma in the Carboniferous strata of Jiamusi Block may come from the Silurian magmatic arc in Zhangguangcai Range in the eastern margin of Songliao Block, reflects the history that they had been potential sources of each other, indicating that they may have combined in the Paleozoic. The Hongshan Formation of Songliao Block in the Late Permian lacks the age peak of ～500 Ma, which indicate that Jiamusi Block was not the provenance of Songliao Block in the Late Permian, that is, there was a palaeogeographic isolation between the two blocks. Combined with the ～210 Ma bimodal volcanic rocks developed along the Mudanjiang suture zone reported previously, we believe that the oceanic basin between the Songliao and Jiamusi blocks should have been connected in Late Permian and reopened during Late Permian to Late Triassic.     

A New Understanding on South China Permian Coal-bearing Strata and Coal Accumulation Regularity

The Longtan Formation was originally thought to belong to the Late Permian, but this study reveals that the lower part of this formation belongs to the Middle Permian. The study proposes the corresponding chro-nostratigraphic boundary and new schemes for the correlation of geological sections. Based on these schemes a new understanding on the accumulation regularity of Permian coal measures in South China is reached.     

内蒙古林西地区晚二叠世—早三叠世沉积演化及构造背景

在林西地区新发现的叶肢介和介形虫等化石，证实了大兴安岭南部存在早三叠世地层。这套地层为具有红层性质的河—湖环境产物，与下伏上二叠统林西组沉积有较大的差异。林西组中—下部以海相沉积为主，并发育浊流沉积，反映直到晚二叠世中期大兴安岭南部仍有残余海盆存在，应是造成晚二叠世南北植物化石仍保持区系特征的主因。林西地区晚二叠世—早三叠世的沉积—构造演化特征揭示，大兴安岭南部的晚古生代板块构造活动一直到印支构造旋回才结束。     

滇黔桂盆地及其邻区二叠系与三叠系之交的淹没不整合面

滇黔桂盆地及其邻区在晚二叠世长兴晚期发生快速海侵,导致了第I幕淹没事件,研究区内的连陆台地大部分被淹没,形成大隆组硅质泥页岩系凝缩段地层和其下相对局限发育的第I幕淹没不整合面;在早三叠世印度初期发生更大规模的快速海侵,导致更大的第Ⅱ幕淹没事件,研究区内的连陆台地和孤立台地均被淹没,形成罗楼组、马脚岭组等同时异相沉积地层底部的钙质泥页岩系凝缩段地层和其下全区普遍发育的较为典型的第Ⅱ幕淹没不整合面。这两幕淹没不整合面合称二叠系与三叠系之交的淹没不整合面,它们是三级层序SQ₂₆的底界面,具有明显的穿时性;凝缩段是它们的主要标志。中二叠世冷坞末期和晚二叠世吴家坪末期的两幕东吴运动导致的研究区古地理背景的重大改变对淹没不整合面的发育有重要的影响。淹没不整合面的形成与二叠纪末期发生的全球淹没事件基本同步,是全球海平面急剧上升的结果,它对研究区的石油勘探具有积极的地质意义。     

四川盆地北部晚二叠世-早三叠世碳酸盐岩斜坡相带沉积特征

四川盆地东北部宣汉县樊哙以东地区晚二叠世-早三叠世飞仙关期碳酸盐岩台地相-海槽相剖面均出露地表。分隔台地相和海槽相的碳酸盐岩斜坡相的鸡唱剖面距台地边缘相剖面不足１ｋｍ。根据地面露头碳酸盐岩斜坡相带的特征,可在四川盆地北部环开江-梁平海槽的地震反射剖面上有效地识别出碳酸盐岩斜坡相,并划分出浅水、深水碳酸盐沉积区。斜坡相具有明显的倾斜反射,海槽相区大隆组及飞仙关组底部泥岩的强振幅反射在斜坡下部向台地上超并消失。深水相区上二叠统地震波双程反射时间都小于１００ｍｓ且明显短于飞仙关组,而台地相区上二叠统双程反射时间多大于１５０ｍｓ,且与上覆飞仙关组地震波反射时间相近或略长。碳酸盐岩斜坡相倾斜反射的特征表明环海槽的碳酸盐岩斜坡开始发育于晚二叠世中期,并随海侵向碳酸盐岩台地方向迁移,在晚二叠世末期海侵达到顶峰时形成最陡峭的斜坡。飞仙关期斜坡随海平面缓慢下降而逐渐向海槽方向迁移并变缓。晚二叠世末期海槽南端梁平地区斜坡坡度在３°左右,向北东、北西方向变陡,宣汉地区约２０°,苍溪、仪陇地区最高达４０°以上,海槽呈向北逐渐加深的箕形。根据晚二叠世末期斜坡倾斜反射高度计算,开江-梁平海槽的水深在３５０～４５０ｍ左右。苍溪、仪陇及梁平地区飞仙关组斜坡进积明显,宣汉地区的斜坡以加积为主。目前钻遇的最厚鲕滩储集层位于宣汉加积斜坡附近的台地边缘,单井的鲕粒白云岩储集层厚度超过３００ｍ。     

内蒙古西部北山地区甜水井-青山一带双堡塘组时代讨论

通过对神螺滩双堡塘组生物地层的研究、对比,神螺滩双堡塘组中所产菊石Uraloceras是北山地区双堡塘组的特征分子,广泛分布于俄罗斯、加拿大、澳大利亚和中国的上石炭统—下、中二叠统;腕足Neospirifer ravana,Schizodus subquadratus,S.cf.elongatas,Parallelodon olseni,Pseudomonotis mongoliensis,Streblochondria?sp.,Palaeolima sp.,Myalinella cf.falcata等均见于内蒙古中部的早、中二叠世哲斯组。神螺滩双堡塘组的化石中没有发现典型的晚二叠世的特征分子。这一化石组合面貌显示神螺滩双堡塘组的时代应为早二叠世晚期—中二叠世,而不是晚二叠世。     

上扬子地区晚二叠世沉积演化及聚煤

位于上扬子板块的贵州、滇东、川南地区发育着丰富的晚二叠世煤炭资源,本文对该区晚二叠世地层、沉积环境和古地理进行系统研究,提出该区岩石地层划分对比方案,在沉积环境方面,提出本区三大相区、五种沉积体系和多种沉积相类型。分龙潭早期、龙潭晚期和长兴期。论述了研究区晚二叠世古地理演化。并对聚煤作用控制因素进行分析,认为煤层发育层位受幕式聚煤作用控制,煤层厚度则与下伏沉积物的沉积环境有关,聚煤有利部位为位于海陆交互相区的黔西地区,有利聚煤的沉积体系为三角洲-潮坪体系。     

松辽盆地北部黑富地1井晚二叠世孢粉组合特征及意义

首次在松辽盆地北部黑富地1井上二叠统四站板岩组采获孢粉化石,称为Protohaploxypinus fertilis-Piceaepollenites opimus-Alisporites communis组合,该组合裸子植物花粉占绝对优势地位,蕨类植物孢子含量低且属种贫乏. 裸子植物花粉以无肋双囊粉含量最多,其次为具肋双囊粉,单气囊花粉含量较少,可与新疆北部准噶尔盆地、塔里木盆地晚二叠世和大兴安岭地区林西组孢粉组合对比,时代为晚二叠世. 孢粉化石赋存井段岩性组合特征与林西组相似,因此松辽盆地西部大兴安岭地区的林西组可引入松辽盆地内, 原四站板岩组改称林西组.     

豫西宜阳上二叠统孙家沟组孢粉组合及其地质意义*

豫西宜阳上二叠统孙家沟组为一套陆相碎屑岩,在该组中部土门段砂泥互层中发现大量的植物化石碎片和孢粉化石。文中依据孙家沟组沉积特征及孢粉组合区域对比,厘定了土门段的地质时代,并依据孢粉化石的亲缘植物关系和信息函数,结合微量元素Sr/Cu值指标,定性和半定量分析了宜阳地区的古气候特征。结果显示: 土门段共发现52属孢粉化石,以裸子植物花粉占优势,与华北地区晚二叠世孢粉组合特征有很大的相似性,推测其地质时代相当于晚二叠世长兴期。孢粉化石属种的植物亲缘关系与欧美镁灰岩统植物成分类似,表明整体上为较炎热的半干旱古气候。该成果可为华北地区晚二叠世晚期的陆相沉积环境、古植物背景以及古气候演化研究提供参考依据。     

Paleo‐fires and Atmospheric Oxygen Levels in the Latest Permian: Evidence from Maceral Compositions of Coals in Eastern Yunnan,Southern China

Inertinite maceral compositions of the Late Permian coals from three sections in the terrestrial and paralic settings of eastern Yunnan are analyzed in order to reveal the paleo-fire events and the atmospheric oxygen levels in the latest Permian. Although the macerals in the studied sections are generally dominated by vitrinite, the inertinite group makes up a considerable proportion. Its content increases upward from the beginning of the Late Permian to the coal seam near the Permian-Triassic boundary. Based on the microscopic features and the prevailing theory that inertinite is largely a by-product of paleo-fires, we suggest that the increasing upward trend of the inertinite abundance in the latest Permian could imply that the Late Permian peatland had suffered from frequent wildfires. Since ignition and burning depend on sufficient oxygen, a model-based calculation suggests that the O2 levels near the Wuchiapingian/Changhsingian boundary and the Permian-Triassic boundary are 27% and 28% respectively. This output adds supports to other discoveries made in the temporal marine and terrestrial sediments, and challenges the theories advocating hypoxia as a mechanism for the Permian-Triassic boundary crisis.