THE MESOZOIC COAL-FORMING PERIODS IN SOUTH CHINA

The Mesozoic is one of the important coal measures in South China. According to the fossil assemblages and coa-lbearing characters, the Mesozoic coal measures involve the following four coal-forming periods: the early Late Triassic Jiuligang coal-forming period, the middle-late Late Triassic Anyuan coal-forming period （which is the main period）, the late Early Jurassic Xiangxi coal-forming period, and the early Middle Jurassic Wuji coal-forming period. The Mesozoic coal-bearing character shows certain regular regional changes: from south to north the Upper Triassic coal-bearing character becomes gradually poor, while the Lower Jurassic coal-bearing character becomes gradually good. In addition, the relation between the coal-forming periods and the paleogeography is briefly discussed too.