Table 2. Percentage of palynomorphs found in each sample through Longling section

The Longling Coal Mine (W. Yunnan) is situated in an area of substantial geotectonic activity. Its Late Pliocene palynoflora is of considerable interest, since the area represents a centre of biodiversity. Eighty-two palynomorphs belonging to 61 families were recovered from the lignite. The palynoflora is dominated by angiosperms (68.3%), with ferns (24.4%), gymnosperms (4.9%) and algae (2.4%). Comparisons indicate that most of the palynoflora was derived from the Montane Humid Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest, with lesser contributions from the Tsuga dumosa Forest and Evergreen Coniferous Broad-leaved Mixed Forest, as well as the Montane Mossy Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest. This indicates that the Late Pliocene climate was cooler than that of the present. In the course of the accumulation of the lignite, the climate underwent five major phases of warming and cooling.

云南西部龙陵煤矿位于地质构造活动（geotectonic activity）强烈的区域。其上新世晚期孢粉植物群（palynoflora）具有重要研究价值，因该区域为生物多样性中心。从褐煤中鉴定出61科共82种孢粉形态（palynomorphs）。孢粉植物群以被子植物（angiosperms）为主（占比68.3%），其次为蕨类植物（ferns，24.4%）、裸子植物（gymnosperms，4.9%）及藻类（algae，2.4%）。对比分析显示，孢粉植物群大部分来源于山地湿润常绿阔叶林，少量来自云南铁杉林（Tsuga dumosa Forest）、常绿针阔混交林及山地苔藓常绿阔叶林。这表明上新世晚期气候较现今更为凉爽。在褐煤堆积过程中，气候经历了五次冷暖交替的主要阶段。