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Journal of Palaeogeography 2012, 1(2): 91-104 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1261.2012.00008

Palaeogeography

Palaeogeography of China

Feng Zengzhao*, Zheng Xiujuan, Jin Zhenkui China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China

Abstract Palaeogeography is a science that studies the features and evolution of physi- cal geography in geological history and human history. The palaeogeography of China has multiple disciplines and multiple types of palaeogeographic map. These perfectly reflect “a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought content”. The palaeogeography of China has three characteristics. The first is multiple disciplines flourishing simultaneously. The second is that lithofacies palaeogeography is in a leading position. The third is that palaeo- geography of China is closely connected with industrial practice. It is why palaeogeography, especially lithofacies palaeogeography of China, can flourish continually. We have two jour- nals of palaeogeography, i. e. Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition) and Journal of Palaeogeography (English Edition). The former primarily publishes articles of Chinese authors regarding Chinese palaeogeography and related disciplines and has a foothold in China. The latter will publish the articles of both Chinese and international authors and caters to foreign readers. These two journals will cooperate together and display their own expertise, which will effectively make a great contribution to the development and innovation of Chinese palaeoge- ography and international palaeogeography.

Key words palaeogeography, palaeogeography of China, multiple disciplines, multiple palaeogeographic maps, three characteristics, two journals

1 Palaeogeography* However, in December 2002, during the 197th Sympo‑ sium of Xiangshan Science Conference “Reconstruction What is palaeogeography? of Palaeogeography by Multi‑information” supported by According to the traditional definition, palaeogeog‑ the Chinese Academy of Sciences, both in the opening ad‑ raphy is a science that studies the physical geographical dress and in the closing speech, I significantly modified the characteristics and their evolution in geological history pe‑ definition of palaeogeography,i. e., “palaeogeography is a riods (Feng, 1999a, 1999b). The geological history periods science that studies the characteristics and their evolution include all the geological history periods before the Qua‑ of physical geography in the geological history periods and ternary Holocene. The physical geographical characteris‑ in the human history periods. The geological history peri‑ tics are the features and distribution of lands and seas, and ods include all the geological history periods before the those of their secondary units within the lands and seas. Quaternary Holocene. The human history periods are as‑ The evolution refers to the evolutionay rule of lands and signed to the historical periods of humankind activity after seas as well as those secondary units in every geological the Quaternary Holocene. The Quaternary was the transi‑ history period. Obviously, the traditional definition of pal‑ tional time interval for the two historical periods. The two aeogeography fits in the category of geology. historical periods are both “palaeo”. The characteristics of physical geography are the features and distributions of

* Corresponding author: Professor. Email: Jpalaeo2012@163. com. lands and seas, and those of their secondary units within Received: 2012‑06‑09 Accepted: 2012‑06‑30 the lands and seas, for example, the characteristics and 92 JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY Oct. 2012 distributions of the eroded areas and sedimentary areas of important scientific significance, but also has important rivers, lakes, and deserts in the lands and the sedimentary practical implication. In addition, it also closely relates to areas of the littoral sea, the shallow sea, and the deep sea the past and present physical geographic environments on in the seas. On the surface of the Earth, the characteristics which the human beings and all organisms depend for a and distributions of the present physical geographical units living. Thus, palaeogeography is one of the most impor‑ are the evolutionay results of the geological history and tant branches of the Earth sciences. the human history. In other words, the present geographi‑ cal environments have evolved from the palaeogeographic 2 Multiple sources and multiple disci- environments of geological history periods and of human plines of palaeogeography history periods. This is the historical relationship of the “past” and the “present”. The palaeogeography of China has multiple sources Through the open discussion, scientists who attended and multiple disciplines. Since it primarily comes from the 197th Symposium of Xiangshan Science Conference stratigraphy, historical geology, tectonics, palaeontology, have reached an agreement on the modified definition of sedimentology, physical geography, and human historical palaeogeography (Feng, 2003). geography, therefore, the related disciplines of palaeoge‑ This is a significant modification because the charac‑ ography of China, such as stratigraphic palaeogeography, teristics and evolution of physical geography in human tectonopalaeogeography, biopalaeogeography, lithofacies history periods are included in the study domain of palaeo‑ palaeogeography, physiogeographic palaeogeography, and geography. This is an important expansion of palaeogeog‑ human historical palaeogeography, are formed. raphy. Palaeogeography not only belongs to geology, but 2.1 Stratigraphic palaeogeography it also extends into the domain of physical geography. In addition, it also involves the domain of social science (the In Stratigraphy of China (Grabau, 1924-1928), five palaeogeography of human history periods). palaeogeographic maps of the Carboniferous, the Permian, Therefore, since 2003, some new columns appeared in and the Early Triassic were composed. All these palaeo‑ the Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition), such geographic maps were the distribution maps of lands and as “the human history palaeogeography” and “past and seas. These were the first published maps of stratigraphic present geographic environments and human civilization”. palaeogeography in China. Utilizing the documents of human history, the archaeolog‑ In the historical geology textbooks edited by Wang ical materials, and the remote sensing data, the articles that (1956), Wang and Liu (1980), and Liu (1986), the outline study the characteristics and evolution of physical geog‑ of palaeogeography in the geologic periods was discussed raphy (including palaeoclimatology), from the past few and mapped. In this way, the stratigraphic palaeogeogra‑ millennia to the past few centuries, and even to the past phy in China was formed and developed. few decades, appeared in the Journal of Palaeogeography Distribution and Palaeogeography of Coal‑bearing (Chinese Edition) and have been increasing progressively. Stratigraphy of the Upper Paleozoic (Wang, 1959) was This is the beginning of a significant expansion. We are the early monograph of stratigraphic palaeogeography in cheerfully and carefully guiding the occurrence and de‑ China. velopment of this new event to take place and to develop In the 1980s to 1990s, palaeogeographic maps and re‑ within the domain of palaeogeography. lated descriptions which were based on regional stratigra‑ Palaeogeography interacts with numerous disciplines, phy, were available in the Regional Geology of provinces such as historical geology, stratigraphy, palaeontology, and autonomous regions. tectonics, petrology, sedimentology, physical geography, Recently, as a branch of stratigraphy, sequence stratig‑ oceanography, biology, climatology, astronomy, geochem‑ raphy has developed rapidly. In fact, it is a joint discipline istry, geophysics, palaeoanthropology, archaeology, history, of stratigraphy and sedimentology. The articles and mono‑ remote sensing, mineral deposits geology, petroleum geol‑ graphs that discussed the sedimentary facies and palaeo‑ ogy, coal geology, environmental geology, and science of geography from the sequence stratigraphic point of view natural disasters. It is a highly comprehensive discipline have been regularly published and gradually increased; in the Earth sciences. Palaeogeography mainly belongs to for example, Sequence Stratigraphy in Outcrop and the geology, but it also concerns physical geography and hu‑ Devonian Palaeogeography of the Huanan Basin (Xu et man historical geography. Palaeogeography not only has al., 1993), Devonian Sequence Stratigraphy and Sea Level Vol. 1 No. 2 Feng Zengzhao et al.: Palaeogeography of China 93

Change of South China (Wu et al., 1997), Sequence Strati‑ gradually increased. The Journal of Palaeogeography graphic Framework and Its Palaeogeographical Back‑ (Chinese Edition) (Vol. 13, 2011) collectively published ground for the Sinian of Upper Yangtze Region (Mei et eight articles about palaeoearthquakes, which included Go al., 2006), Sequence Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography Ahead, Researches on Palaeoearthquake in China (Feng, of South China (Ma et al., 2009). These publications all 2011), in order to further promote palaeoearthquake studies fall into the domain of stratigraphic palaeogeography. in China. By the end of 2011, no less than 123 palaeoearth‑ quake articles were published in Chinese journals. In tec‑ 2.2 Tectonopalaeogeography tonopalaeogeography, this domain not only has theoretical In On Major Tectonic Forms of China (Huang, 1945), significance, but also has important practical influence. T. K. Huang composed five palaeogeographic maps of the At present, the tectonopalaeogeography in China has Cambrian, the Caledonian Devonian, the Variscan Per‑ combined and interacted with many other disciplines, such mian, the Yanshanian Cretaceous, and the Himalayan, to as sedimentology, stratigraphy, palaeontology, plate tecton‑ illustrate the distribution of lands and seas of these tectonic ics, palaeoseismology, and geophysics. The study mainly periods. These were the earliest tectonopalaeogeographic focuses on the reconstruction of global palaeocontinents, maps in China. tectonopalaeogeography of the Tethys archipelagic ocean, The Atlas of the Paleogeography of China (Wang, orogenic palaeogeography, and palaeoearthquakes. This is 1985), which is guided by the plate tectonic theory and a very active discipline of palaeogeography in China. based on the numerous data of regional geologic surveys, 2.3 Biopalaeogeography is a representative work of the tectonopalaeogeography in China. The Atlas of Paleogeography of China (Liu, 1955) The Physical Geography of China·Palaeogeography based on the palaeontology data (mainly locations of ma‑ (Part 2) (Cui, 1986), Evolution of the Tethys Sea of Chi‑ rine fossils) is the formal starting point of palaeogeogra‑ na and Adjacent Regions (Huang and Chen, 1987), Tec‑ phy in China. It created the discipline of biopalaeogeog‑ tonopalaeogeography and Biopalaeogeography of China raphy in China. and Adjacent Regions (Wang et al., 1990), Tectonic Pal‑ The books about biotic–environment cybernetics (Lu, aeogeography Pattern of Tethys Archipelagic Ocean in 1974, 1976, 1979), Biopalaeogeography of China (Yin, Western Yunnan (Liu et al., 1991a), Stratigraphy, Paleo‑ 1988), Coral System Evolution and Biopalaeogeography geography and Plate Tectonic in Northwest China (Zhou of Paleozoic in China (Wang, 1989), Tectonopalaeoge‑ and Lin, 1995), South China Defined as Part of Tethyan ography and Biopalaeogeography of China and Adjacent Archipelagic Ocean System (Yin et al., 1999), Mobilistic Regions (Wang et al., 1990), and various palaeontologic Tectono‑Paleogeography and Marine Hydrocarbon Ac‑ and palaeoecologic papers and monographs discussing cumulation in Superimposed Basins in China (Li, 2006a), palaeogeographic environments all belong to the domain Tectonic‑Lithofacies Palaeogeography of Pre‑Mesozoic in of biopalaeogeography. The biopalaeogeography is an im‑ China (Zheng and Hu, 2010), On Paleogeographic Recon‑ portant discipline of palaeogeography in China. It is thriv‑ struction: An Example for Application in Tibetan Tethys ing at all times. (Wang et al., 2010), and many other monographs and ar‑ Lately, the papers that utilized palaeontologic data and ticles that discussed palaeogeography based on tectonic trace fossils to study the sedimentary environments, sedi‑ data, theory and point of view, all belong to the domain of mentary facies, palaeoclimatology, and palaeogeography tectonopalaeogeography. in present time, in human history periods, and in geologic Recently, some geologists dedicate more attention to history periods, such as Yang (1999), Wu (1999), Yang et the study of palaeogeography in orogenic regions, and al. (2001), Xu et al. (2001), Jin et al. (2003), Yang et al. attempt to reconstruct palaeogeography by restoring the (2004), Yang et al. (2006), Deng (2007), Gao et al. (2007), strata that were disarrayed in geochronology, displaced in gradually increased. This is an energetic trend in the do‑ space, and distorted or even absent in sequences. A new main of biopalaeogeography in China. discipline, orogenic palaeogeography, has thus been cre‑ The monograph of the Rehe Biota (Ji et al., 2004 Zhang ated in the domain of tectonopalaeogeography (Wu, 2003, 2001) the monograph of the Chengjiang Biota (Liu 2005, 2007). 2000) and the monograph of the Guanling Biota (Wang Recently, the articles about the seismic records in strata et al., 2004; Wang, 2005) are associated with the palaeo‑ of geological periods (usually, they are called seismites) geographic environments in which those organisms lived. 94 JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY Oct. 2012

These studies promoted the development of biopalaeoge‑ Lithofacies Palaeogeography of Guizhou Province (Geol‑ ography in China. ogy Survey Team of Bureau of Geology and Mineral Re‑ In the monograph, Climatic Evolution of the Paleozoic sources of Guizhou Province, 1992), Sedimentary Crust in China (Chen et al., 2001), the authors systematically Evolution and Mineralization of Palaeocontinent in South studied and restored the palaeoclimatology of geological China (Liu et al., 1993), Atlas of the Palaeogeography of periods of the Paleozoic in China by utilizing Climatical‑ South China (Liu and Xu, 1994), Atlas of the Sedimentary ly sensitive sedimentary rocks and sedimentary minerals Facies and Palaeogeography of Yunnan (Geological Min‑ (such as coal, bauxite, evaporite minerals, tillite, oolitic eral Bureau of Yunnan Province, 1995), Sedimentology of limestone, oolitic hematite, and reef) and the data of pal‑ Palaeocontinent and Continental Margin in China (Zeng aeontology. In another monograph, Phanerozoic Global et al., 1996), and Sequence Stratigraphy and Palaeogeog‑ Climatic Reconstruction (Boucot et al., 2009), the authors raphy of South China (Ma et al., 2009). further developed the method of using climatically sensi‑ Feng Zengzhao and his research team sequentially pub‑ tive sediments to reconstruct the palaeoclimatology in the lished many monographs regarding lithofacies palaeoge‑ geologic periods. It seems that the palaeontologists are ography that included the geologic periods of the Cambri‑ more “sensitive” than our sedimentologists about the study an, Ordovician, Carboniferous, Permian, and Triassic, and of palaeoclimatology. that enclosed the areas of North China, South China, and In the monograph, Geobiology of the Earth (Xie et Northwest China (Feng et al., 1988, 1990, 1991a, 1991b, al., 2011), the authors systematically discussed how vari‑ 1994a, 1994b, 1997a, 1997b, 1998a, 1998b, 2000, 2001, ous living organisms and human activity influenced the and 2005). In addition, Feng Zengzhao and his research life system and the environmental system on the Earth team also published monographs of lithofacies palaeoge‑ throughout the geological history and human history. This ography of the whole China, i. e. the Lithofacies Palaeoge‑ book exploited new research ideas and new frontiers in the ography of the Cambrian and Ordovician in China (Feng study of biopalaeogeography. et al., 2004). In these monographs, the lithofacies palaeo‑ At present, the biopalaeogeography in China is devel‑ geographic maps are quantitative. Quantity means that the oping for combining and integrating with palaeogeogra‑ identification of every palaeogeographic unit is based on phy, palaeontology, palaeoclimatology and tectonics. It is accurate quantitative data. It indicated that the study of an important discipline of palaeogeography in China. lithofacies palaeogeography in China was advanced into the stage of quantity. Hence, the quantitative lithofacies 2.4 Lithofacies palaeogeography palaeogeography was established. This was an important The detailed discussions and maps of sedimentary fa‑ and influential development in lithofacies palaeogeogra‑ cies and lithofacies palaeogeography were presented in phy and in palaeogeography. textbooks of Sedimentary Petrology edited by the Mineral‑ In the last twelve years (2000-2011), the Journal of ogy and Petrology Section of Beijing Petroleum Institute Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition) published 230 articles (1961), by the Mineralogy and Petrology Section of East regarding lithofacies palaeogeography, which contained China Petroleum Institute (1982), and by Feng (1993). In more than 20 articles written by Feng Zengzhao et al. . this fashion, the lithofacies palaeogeography or sedimen‑ Also, the Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition) tary palaeogeography was created and developed in China. published 114 articles regarding the prediction, explora‑ In China, the early published works regarding lithofa‑ tion and development of mineral resources (such as petro‑ cies palaeogeography were Lithofacies Palaeogeography leum, natural gas, coal, uranium, and salt) from the view of Carboniferous in North China Platform (Wang, 1964) of lithofacies palaeogeography. and Cambrian Palaeogeography and Lithofacies of China In China, as a discipline of palaeogeography, the re‑ (Lu et al., 1965). search of lithofacies palaeogeography not only contains Additionally, many monographs came out one after the largest group of scientists with plentiful research re‑ another, which greatly enriched and developed Chinese sults, numerous monographs and papers, but also benefits lithofacies palaeogeography. These publications included the associated industry practice. The Changes of Land and Sea, Marine Sedimentary Facies 2.5 Physiogeographic palaeogeography and Hydrocarbon in China (Guan et al., 1984), Research of Lithofacies Palaeogeography of Coal‑bearing Forma‑ The articles of Zhou (1960, 1963, 1983) were the initial tions of Junggar Coal Field (Liu et al., 1991b), Atlas of studies of physiogeographic palaeogeography in China. Vol. 1 No. 2 Feng Zengzhao et al.: Palaeogeography of China 95

These articles expressed the idea “ Past is the key to the 2009), and Climate Changes Through Dynasties of China present and the future ”. (Ge et al., 2011). The Palaeogeography (Zhou, 1982), Physical Geography Physical Geography of China·Historic Physical Ge‑ of China·Palaeogeography (part I ) (Zhou and Ren, 1984) ography (Tan, 1982) was the representative work of human and Physical Geography of China·Palaeogeography (Part historical physiogeographic palaeogeography in China. II ) (Cui, 1986) are the representative monographs of physi‑ In recent years, many researchers have published more ogeographic palaeogeography in China. and more articles regarding the palaeoenvironment, pal‑ Since the 1980s, physiogeographic palaeogeography aeoclimatology, palaeoecology, and the past and present has expanded into the research of environmental change, geographic environment and human civilization in the which extended the study field from the modern physio‑ Chinese human historical period, from the past few mil‑ geographic environment into the human–earth system (or lenniums to the past few centuries, or even to the past few human–environment system). The Physical Geography in decades. Since 2004, the Journal of Palaeogeography Time Perspective (Fang, 2007), The Climate and Environ‑ (Chinese Edition) has published more than 50 articles in ments of Holocene Megathermal (Shi, 1992), and Study of this study field. Herein, we only select the following nine Environment Changes (Zhang, 1992) are the representa‑ articles as a brief introduction to the readers. These arti‑ tives of this subject. cles are: Progress and prospect of researches on impacts The overlapping and integrating of physiogeographic of environmental changes on Chinese civilization (Fang et palaeogeography and Quaternary palaeogeography is an al., 2004), Impact of Eldgjά eruption of Iceland in tenth important feature of physiogeographic palaeogeography century on palaeoclimate in China (Fei et al., 2004), His‑ in China. torical natural landscape of Tongwancheng Area in North The Quaternary palaeogeography in China includes two Shaanxi Province and migration rate of Mau Us Desert important study fields; one is the uplift of the Tibetan Pla‑ (Sun et al., 2004), Discussion on palaeoclimate of Jinsha teau and the other is the loess sediments. Site in Chengdu in 3000 a BP (Yao et al., 2005), Remote The uplift of the Tibetan Plateau is the critical factor sensing monitoring study for water area change and lake‑ for the Quaternary environmental development in China. shore evolution of Qinghai Lake in last 20 years (Feng and Furthermore, it also imposes a significant influence on the Li, 2006), Climate, vegetation and geomorphology evolu‑ development of the Quaternary physiogeographic environ‑ tion since 8 ka BP recorded by sediments from dish‑like ment in Asia and around the world. The Uplift and Envi‑ depression of Taihu Lake Plain (Zhao et al., 2007), His‑ ronmental Changes of Tibetan Plateau in the Late Ceno‑ torical changes of Yellow River and their impact on devel‑ zoic (Shi et al., 1998) and the Uplift of Tibetan Plateau and opment of the Chinese Nation (Yang, 2008), Abrupt cli‑ Environment Evolution of Asia (Li, 2006b) are the conclu‑ mate change and decline of ancient civilization (Wu et al., sions of the field of study. 2009), and Climate and environment of the Neolithic Age The loess sediments are an important geologic event con‑ in Haidai Region (Jin and Wang, 2010). cerning the Quaternary palaeogeography and sedimentol‑ These articles actively promote the study of human his‑ ogy in China. The Loess Accumulating in China, the Loess torical palaeogeography in China. This new discipline of and Environment, and the Loess and Arid Environment palaeogeography not only has theoretical significance, but (Liu et al., 1965, 1985, 2009) are the distinctive research also has practical implications. works in this field. Finally, we would like to mention The Historical Atlas of China (Part 1 to Part 8) (Tan, 1984-1987). This atlas 2.6 Human historical palaeogeography collected a set of administrative territorial maps of each The Primary Research on Climate Changes in Recent dynasty in the Chinese history. It should belong to a broad 5000 Years of China (Chu, 1972) has the initial research domain of palaeogeography and should fit into the field of work of human historical palaeogeography (mainly pal‑ social science. It does not belong to the domain of palaeo‑ aeoclimatology) in China. geography of natural science. However, it is definitely a The following monographs further developed the study grand monograph in the broad sense of palaeogeography of human historical palaeoclimatology in China: Yearly with important significance. Charts of Dryness/Wetness in China for the Last 500‑Years The scientists who engaged in the study of physiogeo‑ Period (Chinese Academy of Meteorological Science, graphic palaeogeography, Quaternary palaeogeography, and 1981), Study of Historical Climate Change in China (Man, human historical palaeogeography usually are geographers. 96 JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY Oct. 2012

They study mainly the sediments, palaeoenvironments, pal‑ scientific and social effects. This situation of palaeogeog‑ aeoclimatology, and palaeogeography of the Quaternary raphy in China is unique in international palaeogeography. and of the human historical period. These study fields form a series of conjunctional points between geology and geog‑ 3 Various palaeogeographic maps raphy, between geologic historical palaeogeography and hu‑ man historical palaeogeography, between past and present. In the study of palaeogeography, the palaeogeographic These are important conjunctions. We should pay more at‑ map is the most important. It is the concentrated expres‑ tention to them and promote their development. sion of study results. It is the growing point of palaeoge‑ In general, the disciplines discussed above are only di‑ ography. vided by their primary aspects or primary characteristics. There are many types of palaeogeographic map, such Actually, each palaeogeographic monograph and related as the map of stratigraphic palaeogeography, the map of palaeogeographic maps have covered several research dis‑ tectonopalaeogeography, the map of biopalaeogeography, ciplines, which could not be embraced by one or two dis‑ the map of lithofacies palaeogeography, the palaeogeo‑ ciplines alone. The later the published palaeogeographic graphic map in small scale and large scale, the qualita‑ monographs and maps, the more they contain various dis‑ tive or schematic palaeogeographic map, the quantitative ciplines. For example, the Atlas of the Palaeogeography of palaeogeographic map, the palaeogeographic map of pre‑ China (Wang, 1985), not only used tectonics as the prima‑ sent boundary, the palaeogeographic map of non‑present ry theory, but also adopted many ideas and data from other boundary, the palaeogeographic map of “fixism”, the pal‑ disciplines, such as stratigraphy, historical geology, palae‑ aeogeographic map of “mobilism”, the palaeogeographic ontology, petrology and sedimentology. Another example, map of different periods, and the palaeogeographic map of The Changes of Land and Sea, Marine Sedimentary Facies different areas. and Hydrocarbon in China (Guan et al., 1984), not only In general, the map of stratigraphic palaeogeography, used sedimentary facies as the principal hypothesis, but the map of tectonopalaeogeography, and the map of bio‑ also applied the opinions and data from tectonics, stratig‑ palaeogeography, especially the map made in the early raphy, and petroleum geology. Furthermore, the hypothesis times, are the qualitative or schematic palaeogeographic of the Tethys archipelagic ocean in South China proposed maps in small scale. The small scale map means that the by Liu et al. (1991a) and by Yin et al. (1999), was primar‑ scale of map is less than 1:18,000,000 or even smaller. The ily developed on the foundation of biopalaeogeography. qualitative map means that the map lacks quantitative data In the book Atlas of the Palaeogeography of South China regarding the classification and boundary of each major (Liu and Xu, 1994), tectonopalaeogeography was applied. palaeogeographic unit. The schematic palaeogeographic In the book Sequence Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography map is much plainer, which is no more than an outline dia‑ of South China (Ma et al., 2009), tectonopalaeogeography gram. Most of these palaeogeographic maps are the dis‑ and sequence stratigraphy were utilized. These examples tribution map of lands and seas or the distribution map of confirm that palaeogeography is a highly comprehensive palaeontologic division. The inadequacy of these palaeo‑ branch in Earth sciences. geographic maps is caused by the lower standard of entry Over all, the palaeogeography of China has multi‑ level during the early time of palaeogeography in China. ple sources, multiple disciplines and multiple research From the historical point of view, under the circumstance domains. From different points of view, theories, and of that time, it was not easy and even rather difficult for methods, based on different purposes, and on different geologists to compose these small scales, qualitative, or data, various authors conducted scientific researches and schematic palaeogeographic maps. made palaeogeographic maps of different areas, of dif‑ Later, along with the progress of research work in ferent geologic periods and of human historical periods. the field of palaeogeography and geology, and because Furthermore, according to the study results and maps, the of the requirement from industry, especially the demand authors wrote monographs and theses, which made great from oil and gas exploration, some large scale palaeogeo‑ contribution to the prediction and exploration of mineral graphic maps and quantitative palaeogeographic maps be‑ resources, and for protecting and improving the geograph‑ gan to appear. Generally speaking, the map of lithofacies ic environments on which human beings and other organ‑ palaeogeography has large scales, such as 1:5,000,000, isms depend. Thus, the palaeogeography of China displays 1:2,500,000, 1:1,000,000 and even larger scale. an inspiring situation of fruitful research results with both The maps of lithofacies palaeogeography that were Vol. 1 No. 2 Feng Zengzhao et al.: Palaeogeography of China 97 composed by Feng Zengzhao and his research team are in old lands can be moved along the palaeolatitude randomly. large scale. These maps are quantitative maps with multi‑ Most palaeogeographic maps of non‑present boundary ple ranks and multiple types. Quantity means that the clas‑ are the global maps, or at least, the maps of one or a few sification and identification of each palaeogeographic unit plates. The scale of these maps is very small. They are all are supported by reliable quantitative data and the quanti‑ schematic maps. tative single factor maps. Multiple ranks mean that in the Some palaeogeographers called the palaeogeographic palaeogeographic map, the palaeogeographic units can be map of non‑present boundary as the palaeogeographic classified into three ranks or more ranks. For instance, the map of “mobilism”. On the other hand, they called the lands and seas are first defined and they are the first rank. palaeogeographic map of the present boundary as the pal‑ In the sea, the platforms, basins and slopes can be defined aeogeographic map of “fixism”. Moreover, they also fa‑ and they are the second rank. In the platform, the flats, vor the palaeogeographic map of “mobilism” and belittle banks, reefs and so on, can be defined and they are the the palaeogeographic map of “fixism”. Actually, the terms third rank. In some cases, in the flat, the lakes or lagoons “mobilism” and “fixism” are inadequate, and the inclina‑ can be defined and they are the fourth rank. Multiple types tion of favor and belittle is inappropriate as well. mean that according to the lithologic characteristics, the Mostly, the palaeogeographic map of “mobilism” dis‑ platform can be classified into the clastic rock platform, plays the moving path of some old lands or plates along the carbonate rock platform, etc. ; the basin can be classified geologic timeline, which is very visual and very imaginative, into the mudstone basin, the carbonate rock basin, the which is praiseworthy. However, it certainly has problems, chert basin, the volcanic clastic rock basin, etc. ; the flat the biggest problem is too “mobile” and too random. can be classified into the mudstone flat, the dolostone flat, All types of palaeogeographic maps emerged during etc. ; the bank can be classified into the sand‑sized intra‑ the establishment and development of the disciplines of clast bank (penebank, embryonic bank), the bioclast bank palaeogeography of China. Every type has its own char‑ (penebank, embryonic bank), the oolite bank (penebank, acteristics. They are supplementary to each other. The oc‑ embryonic bank). Compared with the small scale, qualita‑ currence of multiple types of palaeogeographic maps per‑ tive or schematic distribution maps of lands and seas, the fectly reflected the palaeogeography of China to adhere to lithofacies palaeogeographic maps with large scale quan‑ the principle “a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred titative, multiple ranks and multiple types, are much more schools of thought content”. Therefore, the palaeogeogra‑ detailed and much more fine, which have the guidable sig‑ phy in China displays a flourishing scene. nificance to the prediction and exploration for petroleum, coal and other mineral resources. This is the basic reason 4 Characteristics of the palaeogeogra- why lithofacies palaeogeography is exceptionally successful. phy of China The palaeogeographic map of present boundary adopts the coordinate system of present latitude and longitude, The palaeogeography of China has three characteristics. and the boundary of the map is in accordance with the First, multiple disciplines flourish simultaneously. These present boundary of countries, provinces, some definite disciplines are stratigraphic palaeogeography, tectono‑ areas, or even with the tectonic boundary. Most lithofacies palaeogeography, biopalaeogeography, lithofacies palaeo‑ palaeogeographic maps are the palaeogeographic maps of geography, physiogeography palaeogeography, and hu‑ the present boundary. The palaeogeographic maps of the man historical palaeogeography. After their establishment present boundary are most useful for the prediction and and development, these disciplines have progressed to the exploration of mineral resources. mature stage in their research fields with the representative The palaeogeographic map of non‑present boundary publications. They all contribute to the development and represents the relative positions of old lands during the innovation of palaeogeography of China from different as‑ certain geologic period based on the palaeolatitude data pects. Now, they all proceed actively along their own path. of those old lands. The palaeolatitude information of old This is the flourishing of multiple disciplines. lands are determined by the palaeomagnetic data. How‑ Second, one discipline is in a leading position. Litho‑ ever, it is impossible to determine the accurate positions of facies palaeogeography, especially quantitative lithofacies old lands if only based on the palaeolatitude data without palaeogeography, is in a leading position among many dis‑ the palaeolongitude data. Thus, in this kind of palaeogeo‑ ciplines of palaeogeography in China. At present, quan‑ graphic map, the positions of old lands are relative and the titative palaeogeographic maps and monographs of some 98 JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY Oct. 2012 geological periods of some regions and of all of China are Petrology and Geochemistry and the Sedimentary Geol‑ published. These maps and monographs were made and ogy Committee of Geological Society of China. This is the compiled by Feng Zengzhao et al. . The quantitative meth‑ first national palaeogeographic conference in China. odology “single factor analysis and multifactor compre‑ After that, the second to eleventh national conferences hensive mapping method” has matured (Feng, 1977, 1979, were continually conducted. Table 1 shows the details of 1987, 1989, 1992, 1994, 2004). Thus, quantitative palaeo‑ these academic meetings. geography has been established, which has been applied The Twelfth National Conference of Palaeogeography to the exploration and development of petroleum industry and Sedimentology will be carried out in Qingdao, Shan‑ with excellent study results. This is one leading discipline. dong Province, in October, 2012. However, this is only an initial phase for the leading The second to fifth national conferences were spon‑ position, because in the broad region of China, the maps of sored by the Sedimentology Committee of the Chinese quantitative lithofacies palaeogeography for the Cambrian Society for Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry. The and the Ordovician are merely finished. It has a long way sixth to eleventh national conferences were sponsored by to go and it requires more enormous investments in order the Lithofacies Palaeogeography Committee of the Chi‑ to compile the maps of quantitative lithofacies palaeoge‑ nese Society for Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry. ography of major geologic periods for all of China. This is The twelfth national conference will also be sponsored by “not half of my pioneering enterprise” (Feng, 2006). the Lithofacies Palaeogeography Committee of Mineral‑ Third, it is a guide to mineral resources exploration. ogy, Petrology and Geochemistry. In more than twenty More than half a century ago, Xie Jiarong (a famous Chi‑ years, the sub‑units of the Chinese Society for Mineralogy, nese geologist) proposed the “palaeogeography as a guide Petrology and Geochemistry, i.e. the Sedimentology Com‑ to mineral exploration” (Hsieh, 1948). The “mineral ex‑ mittee and the Lithofacies Palaeogeography Committee, ploration” is referred to the prediction and exploration of sponsored more than ten sessions of national conferences mineral resources; the “guide” means to direct. At that and will sponsor the conferences continuously. In the field time, the mineral exploration examples that Mr. Xie point‑ of Earth sciences of China, this is unique. ed out in his article are coal (the Huainan Coal Field was In the more than twenty years, the conference name discovered by Mr. Xie), bauxite, sedimentary phosphorite, was changed two times. The first conference name was sedimentary iron deposits, and sedimentary copper depos‑ the National Conference of Lithofacies Palaeogeography. its. It was the first time that a Chinese geologist openly The second conference continued to use the same name. proposed the directional proposition “palaeogeography as But in the third conference, its name was changed to the a guide to mineral exploration”. At present, the mineral National Conference of Sedimentology and Lithofacies resources explorations that are guided by palaeogeography Palaeogeography. It is reasonable to add the sedimentol‑ have spread to all kinds of mineral resources, especially to ogy, because sedimentology has close relation with litho‑ the oil and gas. The Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese facies palaeogeography. However, it is unsuitable to po‑ Edition) has a column on “palaeogeography and mineral sition sedimentology before lithofacies palaeogeography, resources” and it publishes articles discussing how the because this arrangement doesn’t fit the original intention palaeogeography guides the prediction and exploration of to establish the National Conference of Lithofacies Palae‑ oil and gas and other mineral resources. Palaeogeography ogeography. Owing to some reason, this unsuitable name closely connected to industrial practice is one of the most was used in the fourth and fifth conferences continuously. important characteristics of Chinese palaeogeography (es‑ In the sixth conference, the Lithofacies Palaeogeography pecially lithofacies palaeogeography). It is the important Committee as the new first sponsor, changed the confer‑ reason that the palaeogeography of China, especially the ence name to the National Conference of Palaeogeog‑ lithofacies palaeogeography, can flourish continually. raphy and Sedimentology. This was the second time to change the conference name. This change is reasonable 5 Conferences of palaeogeography and suitable. It is an important expansion and progress. From this time on, the succeeded conferences all used this In the October, 1985, the National Conference of Lithofa‑ name. cies Palaeogeography was in session in Guiyang, Guizhou These national conferences of palaeogeography greatly Province. This conference was sponsored by the Sedimen‑ promoted the development and innovation of Chinese pal‑ tology Committee of the Chinese Society for Mineralogy, aeogeography. Vol. 1 No. 2 Feng Zengzhao et al.: Palaeogeography of China 99

Table 1 The National Conferences of Palaeogeography

Number Number of Name of Conference Time Location Hosts of Chairmen Field Trips Attendees Articles

National Conference 6 field trips October, Geological Society of of Lithofacies Guiyang 288 181 Liao Shifan in Guizhou 1985 Guizhou Palaeogeography Province

2nd National China University Feng Zengzhao, Conference April, 1990 Xuzhou of Mining and 234 240 Wang Yinghua, Lianyungang of Lithofacies Technology Liu Huanjie Palaeogeography

3rd National Conference Chengdu Institute of of Sedimentology October, Chengdu Geology and Mineral 305 358 Liu Baojun Jiuzhaigou and Lithofacies 1992 Resource Palaeogeography

4th National Conference of Sedimentology August, China University of Shanhaiguan, Beijing 228 164 Feng Zengzhao and Lithofacies 1995 Petroleum (Beijing) Luanhe Palaeogeography

5th National Conference Karamay, Bureau of Petroleum of Sedimentology August, Wang Yilin, Turpan, Urumqi Management of 158 134 and Lithofacies 1997 Feng Zengzhao Tianshan Xinjiang Palaeogeography Mountain

6th National Conference August, Liu Junrong, Dalian, of Palaeogeography and Panjin Liaohe Oilfield 103 94 2000 Feng Zengzhao Jinshitan Sedimentology

7th National Conference August, Huang Ligong, Yumenguan, of Palaeogeography and Dunhuang Qinghai Oilfield 124 122 2002 Feng Zengzhao Yangguan Sedimentology

8th National Conference August, Hou Qijun, Wudalianchi, of Palaeogeography and Daqing Daqing Oilfield 133 242 2004 Feng Zengzhao Miaohe Sedimentology

9th National Conference Northwest University Zhu Kexiao, Huangling, August, of Palaeogeography and Xi′an and Changqing 173 249 Yang Hua, Yichuan, 2006 Sedimentology Oilfield Feng Zengzhao Yan’an

10th National Ganxi, Conference of Southwest Oil and Ma Yongsheng, September, 193 185 Emeishan, Palaeogeography and Chengdu Gas Field of Sinopec Bao Zhidong 2008 Jiuzhaigou Sedimentology 11th National Yangtze University Zhang Changmin, Zhangjiajie, Conference of October, and Jianghan Oilfield Yi Jizheng, Shennongjia Palaeogeography and 2010 Jingzhou 312 326 Bao Zhidong Sedimentology

Notice: The first sponsor for 1st – 5th conferences was the Sedimentology Committee of the Chinese Society for Mineralogy Petrology and Geochemistry. The first sponsor for 6th – 11th conferences was the Lithofacies Palaeogeography Committee of the Chinese Society for Min‑ eralogy Petrology and Geochemistry. 100 JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY Oct. 2012

Chinese palaeogeography and international palaeogeogra‑ 6 Two journals of palaeogeography phy!

We have two journals of palaeogeography, i. e. Journal Acknowledgements of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition) and Journal of Pal‑ aeogeography (English Edition). We sincerely thank Professor Liu Benpei, Professor The Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition) was Yang Shouren and Professor Fang Xiuqi. They provided launched in 1999 (Feng, 1999a). It was the only academic some important data in tectonopalaeogeography, biopalae‑ periodical in the domain of palaeogeography of China. ogeography, physiogeographic palaeogeography and hu‑ Now it is one of the core journals in China and has made man historical palaeogeography. These data enriched and great contribution to the development and innovation of improved this paper in those disciplines. palaeogeography of China (Feng, 1996, 2003, 2009). We also sincerely thank Professor Ian D. Somerville, However, due to the language barrier, the scientific Professor Spencer G. Lucas, Professor A. J. (Tom) van communication with foreign countries was insufficient. Loon and Ms. Dechin Wang. They made many contribu‑ This shortage to some extent, hindered not only the devel‑ tions to the English language. opment of palaeogeography in China, but also the contri‑ bution to international palaeogeography. References Now, the Journal of Palaeogeography (English Edi‑ tion) has been launched in 2012 (Feng and Bao, 2012). Boucot A. J., Chen Xu, Scotese C. R., Fan Junxuan, 2009. Phan‑ It has three missions. The first mission is to encourage erozoic Global Climatic Reconstruction. Beijing: Science Press, - articles of Chinese palaeogeography to go abroad by the 1 173, 27 attached pictures (in Chinese). Chen Xu, Ruan Yiping, Boucot A. J., 2001. Climatic Evolution of the journal, and let foreign readers know more about Chinese Paleozoic in China. Beijing: Science Press, 1-325 (in Chinese). palaeogeography. The second mission is to encourage ar‑ Chinese Academy of Meteorological Science, 1981. Yearly Charts of ticles of foreign palaeogeography to come to China by the Dryness/Wetness in China for the Last 500‑Year Period. Beijing: journal, and let Chinese readers and foreign readers know Cartographic Publishing House, 1-332 (in Chinese). more about the palaeogeography of other countries and ar‑ Chu Kozhen, 1972. Primary research on climate changes in recent eas. The third mission is to promote the communication, 5000 years of China. The Chinese Journal of Archaeology, (1): cooperation and integration between these two sides, in 15-38 (in Chinese). order to make a great contribution to the development and Cui Kexin, 1986. Physical Geography of China · Palaeogeography innovation of Chinese and international palaeogeography. (Part 2). Beijing: Science Press, 1-173 (in Chinese). The three missions are important and glorious but dif‑ Deng Shenghui, 2007. Palaeoclimatic implications of main fossil ficult. plants of the Mesozoic. Journal of Palaeogeography, (Chinese - These two journals have different aims, emphases and Edition) 9(6): 559 574 (in Chinese with English abstract). Fang Xiuqi, Ge Quansheng, Zheng Jingyun, 2004. Progress and characteristics. The Journal of Palaeogeography (Chi‑ prospect of researches on impacts of environmental changes on nese Edition) primarily publishes the articles of Chinese Chinese civilization. Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edi‑ authors regarding the Chinese palaeogeography and has a tion), 6(1): 85-94 (in Chinese with English abstract). foothold in China. The Journal of Palaeogeography (Eng‑ Fang Xiuqi, 2007. Physical geography in time perspective. Journal of lish Edition) will publish the articles of both Chinese and Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition), 9(6): 669-674 (in Chinese international authors and it mainly caters to foreign read‑ with English abstract). ers. These two journals will co‑operate together and will Fei Jie, Zhou Jie, An Zhisheng, 2004. Impact of Eldgjά eruption of display their own expertise, which will effectively make a Iceland in tenth century on palaeoclimate in China. Journal of great contributions to the development and innovation of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition), 6(2): 241-251 (in Chinese Chinese palaeogeography and international palaeogeog‑ with English abstract). raphy. Naturally, one journal of a single language cannot Feng Zengzhao, 1977. A preliminary discussion on the Lower Ordo‑ accomplish these tasks simultaneously. vician lithofacies and paleogeography in North China. Journal of East China Petroleum Institute, (3): 57-79 (in Chinese). Congratulations on the two journals of palaeogeography! Feng Zengzhao, 1979. A preliminary discussion on the Early Ordovi‑ Congratulations on the launch of the Journal of Palaeo‑ cian lithofacies and paleogeography in North China. Scientia Ge‑ geography (English Edition). ologica Sinica, (4): 302-313 (in Chinese with English abstract). Congratulations on the development and innovation of Vol. 1 No. 2 Feng Zengzhao et al.: Palaeogeography of China 101

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