Constraints of weathering intensity in different climate zones on coal accumulation environment

Abstract

Abstract There are currently multiple hypotheses regarding coal accumulation models, each with certain limitations in applicability. This article investigates the relationship between modern sedimentation, soil and climate to analyze the distribution of coal across different geological periods, aiming to explain the coal accumulation environment within a unified theoretical framework. The research concludes that the intensity of weathering in various climate zones is a determining factor influencing coal formation, which also affects the distribution of two other climate-sensitive sedimentary deposits - evaporite and bauxite. These three types of sedimentary minerals can be considered as paleoclimatic indicators: cold and humid, warm and dry, and hot and humid. Furthermore, the impact of temperature on the mineralization of organic matter is significantly greater than that of redox conditions; in general, the mineralization of organic matter in high-temperature environments at mid-to-low latitudes exceeds productivity, resulting in low carbon sequestration rates. The conclusion drawn is that the optimal environment for peat or coal enrichment exists in a cold-humid climate zone characterized by low primary productivity, rather than in a tropical zone with high primary productivity. Additionally, the latitudinal shifts of cold temperate climate-controlled coal distribution, and the sediment types in these three climate zones sufficiently constrain coal-forming environments.