The Permian-aged Wolfang Basin in Queensland, Australia, formed as a rift-controlled half graben containing significant coal resources. Recently, the use of high-resolution zircon ages has allowed for a recalibration of the eastern Australian palynostratigraphy, necessitating a re-examination of the timing of deposition in the Wolfang Basin relative to the glacial episodes that mark the end of the Late Palaeozoic Ice Age in Australia. Four coal seams were selected for palynological and organic carbon isotope analysis: the Wolfang Main, Wolfang Upper, Prospect and Gowrie seams. Palynostratigraphy from the Wolfang Basin yields an APP3.2 age for the Wolfang Main and Upper seams (Kungurian-Roadian), an APP3.3 age for the Prospect seam (mid-upper Roadian), and an APP4.2 age for the Gowrie seam (Wordian). This indicates the timing of formation of the Wolfang Main and Upper seams preceded the P3 glaciation, whereas the Gowrie and possibly the Prospect seams were contemporaneous with the glaciation. Palynofloras show an overall dominance of trilete spores (Leiotriletes, Microbaculispora, Acanthotriletes), particularly in the Wolfang Main and Wolfang Upper seams, however pollen grains (Protohaploxypinus, Scheuringipollenites, Marsupipollenites) increase in abundance in the Prospect and Gowrie seams. The Gowrie seam also shows a higher abundance of monosaccate pollen (Plicatipollenites, Cannanoropollis). Organic carbon isotopes of vitrain bands show subtle enrichment from a mean of −24‰ in the Wolfang Main seam to –23.3‰ in the Prospect seam. The Gowrie seam shows upsection depletion from –23.2‰ to –23.9‰. These trends are comparable to existing records and may reflect a shift to cooler conditions related to the P3 glaciation, though local tectonic and environmental regimes still allow for periods of peat-formation.

中文翻译：

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二叠纪沃尔方盆地（澳大利亚昆士兰州）的古地层学重新评估 - 对气候和煤炭形成时间的影响


澳大利亚昆士兰州的二叠纪年龄的 Wolfang 盆地形成于一个裂谷控制的半地堑，其中包含大量的煤炭资源。最近，高分辨率锆石年龄的使用允许重新校准澳大利亚东部古岩石地层学，因此有必要重新检查沃尔方盆地的沉积时间，相对于标志着澳大利亚晚古生代冰河时代结束的冰川事件。选择了四个煤层进行古生物学和有机碳同位素分析：Wolfang Main、Wolfang Upper、Prospect 和 Gowrie 煤层。Wolfang 盆地的古地层学得出 Wolfang 主上层（Kungurian-Roadian）的 APP3.2 年龄，Prospect 煤层（中上部公路）的 APP3.3 年龄，Gowrie 煤层（Wordian）的 APP4.2 年龄。这表明 Wolfang Main 和 Upper 煤层的形成时间早于 P3 冰期，而 Gowrie 煤层和可能的 Prospect 煤层与冰期同时期。Palynofloras 显示出三叶孢子（Leiotriletes、Microbaculispora、Acanthotriletes）的整体优势，特别是在 Wolfang Main 和 Wolfang 上层接缝中，但花粉粒（Protohaploxypinus、Scheuringipollenites、Marsupipollenites）在 Prospect 和 Gowrie 接缝中的数量增加。Gowrie 接缝还显示出较高的单囊花粉（Plicatipollenites、Cannanoropollis）的丰度。vitrain带的有机碳同位素显示出微妙的富集，从Wolfang Main煤层的平均-24‰到Prospect煤层的-23.3‰。Gowrie 接缝显示从 –23.2‰ 到 –23.9‰ 的上切损耗。 这些趋势与现有记录相当，可能反映了与 P3 冰川作用相关的凉爽条件的转变，尽管当地的构造和环境状况仍然允许泥炭形成期。