Reply to the comment on “Terrestrial Permian-Triassic boundary in southern China: New stratigraphic, structural and palaeoenvironment considerations” by H. Zhang, Z. Feng, J. Ramezanik, S-Z Shen
Abstract In their comment, Zhang et al. (2018) question the existence of the deformation structures that we report for the upper part of the Chahe Permian-Triassic Boundary reference section. These authors further suggest that this deformation contradicts the regional litho, bio- and chemostratigraphic results. Here again, and based on the outcrop picture provided by Zhang et al. (2018), we present new arguments attesting for a major tectonic deformation in the upper part of the Chahe section. We argue that the color pattern of the outcrop, the flora description, the δ13Corg isotope profile showing a negative excursion and the lack of coal bed in the upper part of series cannot be used as definitive arguments for a continuous succession. In consequence, we maintain that, above Bed 66, the succession is affected by numerous fold-accommodation faults, preventing any continuous logging and coherent stratigraphic analysis in the Kayitou and Dongchuan formations along that section.