As the Quaternary strata of Linfen Basin have not yet been systematically analyzed,in this study,we performed a controlled borehole in the middle of the Linfen depression to expose the Quaternary strata in Linfen Basin.We employed a controlled borehole in this project to detect active faults and assess seismic risk in Linfen City from 2009 to 2014.The final hole depth was 245 m at the coordinates 111°34'56"E,36°3'55"N.Based on the formation of the strata exposed by the borehole,we determined that the strata are divided into 39 composite layers.The sediment in the lower parts of the section is darker and is characterized by a brownish red silty clay layer,which is representative of a strong oxidizing environment.The sediment of the upper part of the section is fine-grained and is dominated by lacustrine deposits.We processed 269 effective pollen samples to analyze the characteristics of the sporo-pollen assemblages in the drilling section.Based on the obvious changes in the pollen content of the spore trees,shrubs,and herbs and from the fern content in the section,we divided the sporo-pollen assemblages into six categories as follows: Ⅰ (245~152 m),Ⅱ (152~84 m),Ⅲ (84~51.5 m),Ⅳ (51.5~25.5 m),Ⅴ (25.5~12.5 m),and Ⅵ (12.5~0.5 m).We collected nine core samples in the upper part of the section to analyze the absolute age of the sediment by optically stimulated luminescence dating.We also collected twelve core samples in the lower part of the section to analyze the absolute age of the sediment by electron spin resonance.Dating results show that the control borehole records the sedimentary formation from approximately 379 ka B.P. Sediments at a borehole buried depth of 0~0.4 m belong to the Holocene strata.Sediments at the borehole buried depth of 0.4~80.8 m belong to the upper Pleistocene.Based on the pollen records,we characterized the paleoclimate as being dry and cold during this period,which then warmed and had increased precipitation near the end-stage of this period.Borehole sediments buried below 80.8 m belong to the middle Holocene strata,in which the paleoclimate was warm and humid.The average subsidence rate since the late Pleistocene was 0.64 mm/a,which is much higher than that of the Quaternary.We suggest that the neotectonic movement of the Linfen Basin has shown an increasing trend since the late Pleistocene.