Palynofacies analysis examines acid-resistant organic matter (phytoclasts, amorphous organic matter (AOM), and palynomorphs) from sedimentary rocks to interpret depositional environments, organic matter provenance, thermal maturity, and hydrocarbon potential. This review synthesizes the application of palynofacies in three core domains: source rock evaluation, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and sequence stratigraphy. In source rock evaluation, palynofacies complements Rock-Eval pyrolysis, offering a particular advantage where vitrinite is absent. In paleoenvironmental reconstruction, different organic matter components serve as sensitive indicators of depositional conditions, including redox status, water depth, hydrodynamic energy, transport distance, and marine versus terrestrial influence. In sequence stratigraphy, palynofacies parameters help identify systems tracts and maximum flooding surfaces, especially in marginalmarine and non-marine settings lacking traditional marine indicators. This review also clarifies fundamental differences between palynofacies and coal petrological classifications, cautioning against uncritical use of terminology from other disciplines. Through case studies, the versatility and limitations of palynofacies analysis are demonstrated. Future directions include standardized classification, artificial intelligence (AI)- assisted identification, application to unconventional reservoirs, and integration with stable isotopes and event stratigraphy.

The Late Pleistocene–Holocene transition was a pivotal interval of climate–environment reorganization. The Nihewan Basin in northern China, where more than 400 archaeological sites are distributed, provides an ideal setting for investigating prehistoric human–environment interactions. Based on 12.5 m DEM data, this study used GIS-based spatial analysis to extract environmental variables, including elevation, aspect, slope, TRI, and distance to rivers. Non-parametric tests, Cliff’s Delta effect size analysis, and principal component analysis were employed to compare environmental preferences between the late stage of the Late Pleistocene and the Early–Middle Holocene and to explore the mechanisms underlying human–environment coupling. The results show that (1) occupations in both periods were concentrated at elevations of 800-1 000 m and within 2 km of rivers. In the Early–Middle Holocene, settlement preference shifted toward areas with lower surface roughness (<4), gentler slopes (<7°), and sunny aspects. (2) PCA further indicates that prehistoric human activities were mainly concentrated in areas close to water, with gentle slopes and relatively flat terrain. During the Early– Middle Holocene, the environmental adaptation range of prehistoric humans narrowed compared with that in the Late Pleistocene, and they showed a greater preference for more humid environments and lower topographic positions. (3) The habitat selection and subsistence strategies of prehistoric humans shifted from highly mobile hunter-gathering to agricultural production with a degree of sedentary settlement, providing new quantitative evidence for understanding how prehistoric populations in East Asia adapted to environmental change.

This article aims to reveal the control rules of pre-existing faults in the Cambrian-Ordovician carbonate rocks in the Manjiaer Sag of the Tarim Basin on the development density of structural fractures, and to provide geological basis for reservoir fracture prediction and oil and gas exploration and development. This study is based on cores, FMI imaging logging and regional geological data, and uses quantitative characterization of fracture surface density, curve fitting analysis and mechanical property comparison methods to systematically analyze the control effects of fault distance, length, dip angle and mechanical properties on fracture density. The results show that the fracture surface density decays exponentially as the fault distance increases, and the fitting coefficient of determination reaches 0.999 7. The density in the near-fault area can reach up to 2.81 m-1, and the far-end area is stable at 0.96~1.03 m-1. The fracture density increases linearly with the fault length and slowly increases with the fault inclination angle. The fitting coefficients of determination are 0.999 7 and 0.9160 7 respectively, both of which are secondary control factors. There are differences in the control effects of faults with different mechanical properties. The median fracture surface densities in tension, torsion, and compression fault control areas are 2.75 m-1, 2.00 m-1, and 1.30 m-1, respectively. Pre-existing faults control the spatial distribution of fracture density through stress redistribution and damage zone development, and the fault mechanical properties determine the control strength and attenuation mode. The research results can provide support for carbonate reservoir evaluation and exploration deployment in the study area.

The accuracy and universality of the application of remote sensing images in water surface extraction have been significantly improved, while the complexity and difficulty of remote sensing data processing have also been brought about. Based on the computing platform Google Earth Engine, this study focused on the key rivers in the arid and semi-arid regions of western Northeast of China, and carried out rapid quantitative calculation and analysis of water surface dynamics. By comparing various indexes, this study evaluated the differences in river water surface recognition accuracy, selected the most suitable index for this type of water body, extracted river water surface information combined with field investigation data, and further calculated the length and duration of the river with water to determine the annual cut-off situation of the river. This study aims to provide scientific basis and new technical ideas for river water restoration.