Objective The distribution patterns of favorable sand bodies in deltaic sedimentary systems serve as the theoretical foundation for oil and gas exploration. Traditional lobe classification and microfacies analysis methods have limitations in revealing the evolution mechanisms of the channel-lobe system， thus restricting the development of studies on lobe morphology and sand body connectivity. Methods Using the Cretaceous delta of the eastern depression of the Doseo Basin as a model， a flume experiment with a movable base was conducted. By capturing Hi-Res time-series images and sand body morphology data， and applying a new lobe classification method， an effective regional sedimentary model was established. Results （1） A consistent overlapping relationship exists between channels and lobes， where the migration， evolution， or disappearance of channels leads to the formation of new lobes. （2） Within the channel-lobe system， three main evolution mechanisms are driven by hydrodynamic strength： erosion of existing lobes， formation of lobes dominated by sandy deposition， and formation of mud layers dominated by fine-grained deposition. （3） The characteristics of channels determine the type of lobe development， whereas lobe morphology is influenced by factors such as sedimentary slope， tectonic activity， base level， and sediment source conditions. （4） The connectivity of sand bodies is affected by the constituent units of lobes， their contact relationships， lobe properties， and the types of lobe complexes. Later channel evolution can improve sand body connectivity to a certain extent. （5） The eastern depression of the Doseo Basin exhibits two sedimentary models： deep-water and shallow-water delta systems. In the deep-water delta model， the channel evolution area is larger， and connectivity improvements are more pronounced. In contrast， the shallow-water delta model features larger lobe deposition areas and wider planar distribution of lobes. Conclusions The new lobe classification method and the channel-lobe system evolution mechanism are applicable to the study of sand body connectivity and sedimentary models in the study area， and they are expected to be widely used in future delta sedimentary simulation research.

Objective The Wuotuo village in Zongdi town， Ziyun county， southern Guizhou province， developed an Early Permian coral reef that is exposed with a thickness of approximately 45 m and lateral exposure of nearly 100 m. The reef displays a positive relief. It is of great importance to the study of the construction of shallow marine organisms and the paleoenvironment. Methods The coral reef in this area was systematically studied from the perspectives of paleontology and sedimentary petrology. Results The fusulinids collected from the reef indicated an Early Asselian age. The primary reef-building organism was identified as the fasciculate colonial coral Fomichevella， whereas biotic compositions of the coral reef included foraminifers， brachiopods， gastropods， and calcareous algae. The coral reef in Wotuo village and its underlying and overlying strata contained a broad variety of microfacies types， including bioclastic wackestone-packstone， coral bafflestone， bioclastic packstone， bioclastic grainstone， phylloid algae-cement framestone， fasciculate coral framestone， bioclastic wackestone， and foraminifer-fusulinid grainstone. Conclusions During the Early Permian， glacial-interglacial cycles were the primary factors influencing the variations in palaeoocean temperature and global sea levels. The vertical microfacies succession in this study provides a record of relative sea-level change. The decline of Late Paleozoic glaciation， which resulted in global warming and a relative rise in sea level， played a pivotal role in the development and flourishing of the coral reefs in southern Guizhou province.

Objective Trace elements in modern and ancient dunes from the southern Mu Us Desert record environmental information related to weathering， transportation， and deposition. Analysis of this information facilitates a better understanding of sediment provenance and climatic evolution in the region. Methods Samples of modern and ancient dunes in the southern Mu Us Desert were collected， and the content characteristics and correlations of 14 trace elements including phosphorus （P）， lead （Pb）， and rubidium （Rb） were analyzed to explore the differences in trace element contents and spatial distribution characteristics among different types of dunes. Results （1） The trace elements in modern and ancient dunes are mainly barium （Ba）， strontium （Sr）， and phosphorus （P）， whereas the contents of arsenic （As）， niobium （Nb）， and copper （Cu） are relatively low. Their distribution patterns show certain regional characteristics. （2） The trace element contents in fixed dunes are significantly higher than those in mobile dunes owing to the nature of the dunes and vegetation coverage； however， the trace element contents in ancient dunes are higher than those in modern dunes， owing to the influence of sedimentary history， climate change， and special geomorphic positions. （3） The values of Sr/Cu， Rb/Sr， and Sr/Ba in modern and ancient dunes are comparable， indicating that they were formed in similar sedimentary environments. Conclusion There are certain similarities and differences in the trace element contents of modern and ancient dunes and different types of dunes. The changes in trace element contents in ancient dunes can provide clues to the sources of modern dunes to a certain extent. The ratios of trace elements in modern and ancient dunes have certain implications for climate and environmental conditions.

Objective The Permian Jiamuhe Formation in the Zhongguai area of the Junggar Basin contains a suite of proximal coarse clastic deposits developed during the tectonic transition from rifting to depression. However， the depositional system type， depositional model， and formation mechanism of thick conglomerates remain poorly constrained， thereby limiting hydrocarbon exploration of conglomeratic reservoirs in the region. This study aims to clarify the depositional system type of the coarse clastic succession in the Jiamuhe Formation， reveal the controlling factors governing the development of thick conglomerates， establish a depositional model， and discuss its exploration significance. Methods Based on analyses of heavy mineral assemblages， paleogeomorphologic reconstruction， and seismic profile interpretation， combined with results from tectonic evolution and fault characterization， extensive core-based lithofacies analyses were conducted. On the basis of sedimentary microfacies identification and classification， the depositional system was summarized， the geological controls on thick conglomerate formation in the Jiamuhe Formation were clarified， and a depositional model was established. Results Three subfacies—fan delta plain， fan delta front， and pro-fan delta—and nine sedimentary microfacies were identified in the Jiamuhe Formation of the Zhongguai area， indicating an overall progradational fan delta depositional system controlled by multiple syndepositional fault terraces. The depositional development was jointly governed by four major factors： （1） during the rift⁃depression transitional stage， elevated topography， abundant sediment supply， and high topographic potential energy provided sufficient coarse clastic input； （2） under arid to semi-arid climatic conditions， frequent short-duration intense precipitation triggered high-energy transport processes including flood flows， debris flows， and clastic flows； （3） continuous syndepositional fault activity generated large accommodation space， promoting sustained aggradation of thick conglomerates； and （4） the development of multi-stage fault terraces controlled the continuous progradation of subaqueous fan bodies， resulting in basin-filling conglomerate distribution. Based on these characteristics， a fault-terrace-controlled fan delta depositional model was established. Conclusions The fault-terrace-controlled fan delta represents a distinctive fan delta depositional system developed under a rift-depression transitional tectonic setting， controlled by multiple syndepositional fault terraces and characterized by sustained proximal supply of high-energy coarse clastic sediments. It exhibits continuous progradation and aggradation， the combined action of multiple high-energy transport mechanisms， and the superposition of thick， mud-poor conglomerates. This model challenges the traditional perception that “proximal source areas necessarily correspond to poor reservoirs” and provides a depositional analogue for hydrocarbon exploration of deep to ultra-deep conglomeratic reservoirs in basin depressions and slope zones， fault transition belts， and concealed fault-terrace zones in other basins.

Objective Shallow-water deltas are widely observed in petroliferous basins and can form large-scale hydrocarbon reservoirs. Based on the relative proportions of mud and sand in their deposits， they can be classified into three types—sand-rich， sand-mud， and mud-rich deltas—whose geomorphological expression， depositional characteristics， sedimentary architecture， and sediment heterogeneity differ substantially. At present， systematic research on these three types of shallow-water deltas remains limited， which has severely constrained the efficient exploration and development of oil and gas resources. Methods This study employed sedimentary numerical simulation technology to reproduce the depositional evolution processes of the three types of deltas. Their sedimentary architecture and grain size models were reconstructed from the simulated depositional interfaces and grain size data. Subsequently， from a detailed analysis of the evolutionary processes， sedimentary architectural models for shallow-water deltas were established and the characteristics of sedimentary heterogeneity within this model framework were elucidated. ［Results and Conclusions ］ （1） The sediment supply ratio is a crucial influencing factor in deltaic depositional evolution， as it determines the sedimentation rate and erosion resistance of channel margins. On this basis， the evolution and ultimately the resultant architecture and heterogeneity are determined. （2） As the sand-to-mud ratio decreases， distributary channels exhibit reduced quantity， hierarchical complexity and areal proportion， as well as increased sinuosity， greater stability， diminished lateral migration capacity， and a transition from lateral migration-dominated filling to abandonment-dominated filling. （3） Sand-dominated deltas typically exhibit lobate or triangular shapes， with extensively developed distributary channels forming multistage， radial patterns. They frequently display lateral migration characteristics. Sand-mud deltas manifest as multi-fingered， branching forms with fewer distributary channels that are primarily controlled by trunk distributary channels with multi-directional bifurcations at their termini， creating multiple laterally amalgamated finger-like bar assemblages. Mud-rich deltas possess few distributary channels， being characterized by the development of narrow， sinuous， belt-like trunk distributary channels lacking lateral accretion features. These channels are predominantly infilled with muddy sediments following avulsion and abandonment. （4） Sand-rich deltas show near-continuous sand distribution with downstream fining. Coarsest grains occur in trunk channels， with finer grains in mouth bars， yielding weak planar heterogeneity but strong vertical heterogeneity due to multi-stage lateral/progradational fine-grained interbeds. Sand-mud deltas exhibit broad-banded sand bodies with coarse-grained reservoirs in trunk channels and mouth bars， weak planar heterogeneity， and strong vertical heterogeneity from muddy interbeds. Mud-rich deltas display strong planar heterogeneity， with reservoirs being restricted to mouth-bar cores that are laterally isolated by muddy channels， with weak vertical heterogeneity resulting from multi-stage muddy interbeds.

Significance Mires serve as the fundamental environment for coal deposition throughout geological history， offering invaluable insights into Earth’s history， palaeoclimate and environmental evolution， and they are also significant with regards to the global carbon cycle. Numerous geological scholars have conducted a wealth of research on mires. Understanding the research fronts and trends in mire-related studies within coal geology can guide future research. When writing research papers and using professional terminology， scholars may confuse or misuse terminology due to the diverse concepts and English expressions of mires， thus making it particularly crucial to clarify and accurately apply mire-related terminology. Progress Based on data from the Web of Science， common English terms related to “mire” were used as search keywords. A PRISMA flowchart was used to screen out 7479 relevant articles which focused investigations into the temporal evolution and international distribution of mire research in the field of geology. This was further examined using VOSviewer 1.6.20 to conduct keyword co-occurrence analysis on 726 research papers focused on mires in coal geology （selected from the 7479 screened articles）. Subsequently， by integrating English definitions of mire-related terms with studies on mires in coal geology， suggestions are offered for simplifying the application of mire-related terminology. Conclusions （1） From 1943 to 2023， a total of 123 nations and regions worldwide participated in mire research， with the year 2000 marking a significant turning point when mire studies gained momentum and became a subject for detailed discussion. Since then， the number of research publications on mires in geology has generally exhibited an upward trend， with scholars from leading research countries engaging in frequent exchanges and academic discussion. Usage frequencies of English mire-related terminology vary between countries， reflecting particular research emphases on different mire types. （2） By integrating meta-analysis， bibliometrics and visualization techniques， research on mires in the field of coal geology is systematically reviewed and summarized. Research themes linked to the topic include coal depositional environments and their evolution， palaeowildfire， atmospheric deposition， carbon accumulation， palaeoclimate and palaeoecology. （3） “Mire” should be considered as a general term for mire-related concepts. When there is a need to emphasize the spatial distribution of mires， “fen” is an appropriate term for low-lying mire， and “bog” should be used instead of “mire” for raised mires. When the ecological or vegetative characteristics of mires need to be highlighted in research， it is recommended to use the words “swamp” or “marsh”. ［Prospects］ The results offer valuable insights for understanding the deve-lopmental trajectory of international mire research， identifying research fronts of mires in coal geology， and standardizing the application of mire-related terminology in English. Future research on mires in the field of coal geology should actively and effectively utilize big data or machine learning techniques （e.g.， simulation modeling， database construction， statistical data analysis， and image recognition classification）. Additionally， a multidisciplinary approach integrating geochemical， organic petrological， coal petrological， and mineralogical methods should be systematically employed throughout the research process to ensure comprehensive insights.

Significance The study of the provenance of fine-grained sedimentary rocks is a crucial first step in the "source-to-sink" system theory of fine-grained sedimentary rocks. It is important for restoring the ancient sedimentary environment， understanding the formation mechanism of fine-grained sedimentary rocks， and predicting the distribution of unconventional oil and gas resources. Fine-grained sedimentary rocks are characterized by small particle size， complex composition， and difficulty in observation and research， with different material components corresponding to a variety of sources and origins. A review of the existing research results worldwide shows that currently there is a lack of systematic organization and summary of research outcomes regarding the provenance and origins of fine-grained sedimentary materials. Progress This paper synthesizes current research findings and categorizes the sources of fine-grained sedimentary rocks into three major types： terrigenous， endogenic， and volcanic-hydrothermal. It provides an in-depth summary and conclusion on the common sources and origins of fine-grained sediments， pointing out： （1） Clay minerals are of detrital weathering origin， diagenetic transformation from other minerals， transformation among clay minerals themselves， hydrolysis of submarine volcanic materials， and biologically mediated by extracellular polymeric substances； （2） Quartz mainly originates from the weathering of terrigenous materials， intra-basin biological activity， devitrification of volcanic ash materials， and authigenic formation； （3） Feldspar originates from the weathering of terrigenous detritus， input from volcanic-hydrothermal activity， and recent studies have also indicated that feldspar can be formed through microbial chemical processes； （4） Carbonate minerals are primarily endogenic， formed through chemical， bio-chemical， biological， and re-transport and deposition processes within the basin， and the input of terrigenous and volcanic-hydrothermal materials not only directly provides carbonate minerals for fine-grained sedimentary rocks but also promotes the formation of carbonate minerals within the basin； （5） Pyrite is mainly formed by the two ore-forming elements， iron and sulfur， through dissimilatory iron reduction and iron shuttling mechanisms， microbial reduction， and thermogenic reduction of sulfate within the basin； （6） Organic matter can be divided into terrigenous vitrinite， inertinite， and some liptinite， as well as endogenic liptinite， zooclastic organic debris， and secondary organic matter. ［Conclusions and Perspectives］ Future research on the provenance and origins of fine-grained sedimentary rocks will develop in a multidisciplinary and high-precision direction， and there is still an urgent need for a systematic approach suitable for the study of the provenance of fine-grained sedimentary rocks.This paper aims to clarify the provenance and origins of fine-grained sedimentary rocks， enhance the understanding of the sources and formation mechanisms of fine-grained sediments， and thus promote the development of fine-grained sedimentology theory. It provides a solid theoretical foundation and scientific basis for identifying the distribution characteristics of fine-grained sedimentary strata and predicting the distribution of unconventional oil and gas resources.

Objective The uplift of the Tibetan Plateau is a direct expression of the Earth’s interior geodynamic processes caused by the impact of the collision of the India-Eurasia Plates. Investigating the uplift history is essential to clarify the deformation mechanisms of the continental lithosphere， and remains a central scientific issue in deciphering interactions of the Earth’s multiple spheres. Despite extensive studies， intense debate continues regarding the plateau uplift and expansion. The timing of the uplift in the northern Tibetan Plateau is pivotal for resolving these questions； the Eastern Kunlun Mountains are a crucial geomorphic boundary， since they form the southern margin of the northern plateau and were a critical conduit for the northward propagation of collision-related stresses. The Eastern Kunlun range is an ideal area for studying the uplift processes of the northern Tibetan Plateau， but the timing of their initial uplift remains highly debated. Methods A comprehensive low-temperature thermochronological analysis of the bedrock in the Eastern Kunlun Mountains was conducted to constrain the Cenozoic uplift history. It included integrating the results of 37 low-temperature studies in the region comprising 203 apatite fission track data points and 142 apatite （U-Th）/He data points. Sample selection criteria for low-temperature thermochronology were strictly followed during dataset compilation， and a series of rigorous data-screening strategies were established to minimise disturbances from experimental errors， sample characteristics and complex thermal histories to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the dataset. The analysis involved three steps： （1） the low-temperature thermochronological age distribution was visualised； （2） the relationship between mean track length and age was established； and （3） thermal history modelling results were compiled. Integrating these enabled a detailed， comprehensive low-temperature thermochronology framework to assess the uplift history of the Eastern Kunlun Mountains in the Cenozoic. ［Results and Conclusions］ Since the Upper Cretaceous， the surface rocks of the Eastern Kunlun Mountains have generally remained in a relatively stable or slowly cooling state within the apatite fission track partial annealing zone and the apatite （U-Th）/He partial retention zone. The Eastern Kunlun Mountains did not form a significant topographic barrier during the Paleogene， and the drainage systems of adjacent basins were likely interconnected. Although the possibility cannot be entirely excluded that sporadic highlands in local areas of the Eastern Kunlun Mountains provided sediment sources for adjacent basins， the data indicates that widespread uplift of the Eastern Kunlun Mountains did not begin to occur until about 20 Ma， when rapid uplift took place causing an estimated rock displacement not less than approximately 2 km relative to the surface， corresponding to the length of the rock column recording Early Miocene apatite （U-Th）/He （22-17 Ma） and apatite fission track （23-15 Ma） age components. This finding provides new evidence for understanding the timing of the paleo-Qaidam Basin disintegration， the paleo-elevation history of the northern Tibetan Plateau in the Early Miocene， and the uplift processes and dynamic mechanisms involved.

Significance Sepiolite is a clay mineral with a unique fibrous crystal structure； it has a significant potential application in the geological field due to its high adsorptive capacity and thermal stability. Progress The genesis types for sepiolite include direct deposition， terrestrial transport sedimentation and diagenetic alteration. Direct deposition is influenced by chemical conditions such as element concentration and pH. Terrestrial transport sedimentation is closely related to the geological environment and climatic conditions. Diagenetic alteration of sepiolite is affected by the burial depth and the properties of the hydrothermal fluids. Sepiolite is generally formed in an alkaline reducing environment rich in Mg and Si， but with a low Al content. During the thermodynamic evolution process， it undergoes mineral phase transitions and is transformed into minerals such as talc or montmorillonite， which imply different depositional and diagenetic evolutionary paths. In terms of geological applications， sepiolite has an excellent adsorptive behavior， and thus it can efficiently enrich organic matter， providing a basis for the formation of hydrocarbon source rocks with significantly enhanced oil- and gas-generating potential and quality. The diagenetic fluids of the sepiolite layer help promote the transformation of high-energy beach limestone at the edge of a depression into a high-quality dolomite reservoir， thereby giving rise to either of two oil and gas accumulation models： self-generation and self-storage， or lower generation and greater storage. In addition， the thickness and distribution of sepiolite strata inverts undulating paleolandforms and is also an effective indicator of oil and gas reservoir regions， thus providing an important basis for oil and gas exploration. In terms of paleoenvironment， the formation process of sepiolite also records a range of information （e.g.， evaporation environment， water level changes， climate evolution and anoxic events） that can be used to reveal major geological events in the region. Conclusions and prospects Sepiolite has shown significant research value in oil and gas exploration， paleogeomorphic reconstruction and paleoenvironmental restoration. Future development trends of sepiolite will include its use in defining paleoenvironmental conditions， enhancing the analytical ability of seismic data on the thickness of sepiolite strata， and developing the exploration of oil and gas in sepiolite strata.

Objective Xinying Bay， Hainan province， has retained a relatively complete sedimentary record of marine stratigraphy since the Pleistocene. Owing to its closure and stability， it serves as a good window to reflect the paleoenvironmental changes since the Pleistocene in the northern South China Sea. Methods Based on the analysis of whole rock major elements and Sr-Nd isotopes， the source of sediment material and the evolution of paleoclimate in this area since the Pleistocene were reconstructed， and the driving mechanism was discussed. Results The borehole has three sections from bottom to top. The bottom section， U1， has a relatively low ε_Nd（0） value and a relatively high ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr value. The middle section， U2， has relatively high ratios of Al/Ti， K/Ti， Fe/Ti， and Mg/Ti. The results of provenance analysis show that the sediments of the borehole come from the intermediate source area， and the U1 section contains more older sedimentary materials， and the Sr-Nd isotope ratio is similar to that of the Red river sediments， whereas U2 and U3 are similar to the Cretaceous-Permian feldspar granite in Hainan Island. The paleo-environmental analysis shows that this region has experienced changes from dry cold to warm wet， and then to dry cold since the Pleistocene. Conclusions The sedimentary period of section U1 corresponds to the coldest period， MIS16， in the Northern Hemisphere， which combined with previous chronological studies， the dry and cold climate， and relatively low sea level， enable the clastic sediments of the Indochina continent to be transported to Xinying Bay. Then， the East Asian summer monsoon strengthened， and the climate changed from cold and dry to warm and humid. As a result， the source area of U2 was dominated by granitic rocks in Hainan Island because the sea level increased. U3 has undergone regional tectonic uplift， and the sedimentary source area is dominated by granite in the island.