MIOCENE SCLERACTINIA FROM WELL XK-1,XISHA ISLANDS,SOUTH CHINA SEA

About 19 genera of scleractinian corals were found in the interval 374.95 m to 1257.52 m of the Well XK-1 from Xisha Islands, South China Sea. They are Acropora, Antillophyllia, Astreopora, Caryophyllia,Coenangia, Cricocyathus, Cyphastrea, Diploastrea, Enallopsammia, Favia, Favites, Fungia, Goniastrea, Leptastrea, Meandrina, Montipora, Phyllangia, Porites, Turbinaria. The scleractinian corals mainly occurred in the member 2 and at the top of member 1 of Huangliu Formation, ranging from the upper part of member 2 to member 1 of the Meishan Formation and in the member 2 of the Sanya Formation as well. Among them, the genus Antillophyllia has hitherto been known from Oligocene to Miocene, while the genus Cricocyathus has been recorded from Eocene to Miocene. It means that the age of the strata is not younger than Miocene. Concluding from the stratigraphic division of foraminifera, calcareous algae and calcareous nannofossils, the interval of 374.95—1257.52 m of the Well XK-1 is assigned to the Miocene in age. Furthermore, the main characteristics of solitary corals such as Cricocyathus, Antillophyllia, Phyllangia and the compound coral Goniastrea are described in this paper.

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