Earth:Zhoutian Formation
| Zhoutian Formation Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous (Turonian–early Coniacian), 96–90 Ma | |
|---|---|
.png) Outcrops of the Zhoutian Formation in Jiangxi | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Unit of | Ganzhou Group |
| Underlies | Hekou Formation |
| Overlies | Maodian Formation |
| Thickness | Lower unit: 1,435–1,270 metres (4,708–4,167 ft) Upper unit: 1,270–1,100 metres (4,170–3,610 ft)[1] |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Reddish siltstone, sandstone |
| Other | Interbedded halite |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | [ ⚑ ] : 25°30′26″N 115°46′34″E / 25.50722°N 115.77611°E |
| Region | Jiangxi Province |
| Country | China |
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The Zhoutian Formation (Chinese: 周田组; pinyin: zhōu tián zǔ) is a geological formation in Jiangxi, China. It has been dated to the late Cretaceous period, at about 96–90 Ma. Abundant egg fossils are known from the formation, in addition to dinosaurs such as Datai and Gandititan. Invertebrate and plant fossils have also been described from the Zhoutian Formation.
Geology
.jpg)
Layers of the Zhoutian Formation are characterized by a consistent sandy lithology, typically with mauve (reddish to purplish) hues. Most of the formation alternates between fine calcic sandstone and siltstone layers. In some places, other minerals are interbedded, such as calcium, gypsum, halite, and mirabilite.[2][3][4] The Zhoutian Formation dates to around 96–90 million years ago, during the Turonian–early Coniacian ages of the early Late Cretaceous epoch within the Cretaceous period.[5]
Stratigraphy
The Zhoutian Formation is the upper unit of the Ganzhou Group, overlying the Maodian Formation in that group. The Guifeng Group (beginning with the Hekou Formation) overlies the Zhoutian Formation.[6] These two groups comprise the Ganzhou Basin.[7]
Paleoenvironment
The lower unit of the Zhoutian Formation is suggested to have had a predominantly hot-arid climate, punctuated by two cooling events. The upper unit was likely characterized by a predominantly warm-humid climate with frequent climate fluctuations.[1] The environment has been interpreted as a shallow lacustrine (lake) system.[8] While oviraptorid body fossils have not been found in the Zhoutian Formation, they are among the most common dinosaur fossils found in other similar localities, in addition to occasional sauropod and hadrosaurid fossils.[7]
Fossil content
Template:Paleobiota-key-compact
Dinosaurs
| Genus | Species | Region | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Datai[5] |
D. yingliangis |
Jiangxi |
YLSNHM 01002 (holotype) and YLSNHM 01003 (paratype), two articulated, associated specimens including both skulls, as well as some cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, partial pectoral and pelvic girdles, left arm bones, a partial right femur, ribs, and several osteoderms |
An ankylosaurine; possibly closely related to Pinacosaurus |
.jpg) |
|
G. cavocaudatus |
Jiangxi |
JXGM-F-V1, a series of cervical, dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, ribs, and a partial right pelvic girdle |
A basal titanosaur; closely related to Abdarainurus |
 |
Other reptiles
| Genus | Species | Region | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pan-Trionychidae indet.[9] |
Indeterminate |
Jiangxi |
CUGW VH245, a nearly-complete carapace with skeletal fragments, including a femur and both ilia, of a juvenile individual |
A softshell turtle |
.png) |
Ootaxa
| Genus | Species | Region | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wormoolithus[10] |
W. luxiensis |
Jiangxi |
PXMV-0021, a small partial clutch with the remains of at least seven eggs |
Classified as belonging to the Similifaveoloolithidae |
|
|
Undulatoolithus[11] |
U. pengi |
Jiangxi |
PXMV-0016, a well-preserved clutch of eight eggs |
Classified as belonging to the Elongatoolithidae, possibly laid by an oviraptorosaur |
|
|
Parafaveoloolithus[11] |
P. pingxiangensis |
Jiangxi |
PXMV-0009-01, a single partial egg |
Classified as belonging to the Faveoloolithidae |
Invertebrates
| Genus | Species | Region | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N. sp. |
Jiangxi |
A clam shrimp |
Plants
| Genus | Species | Region | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
E. sp. |
Jiangxi |
A flowering plant within the family Celastraceae |
|||
|
F. sp. |
Jiangxi |
A conifer within the family Cheirolepidiaceae |
See also
- List of stratigraphic units with dinosaur body fossils
- List of stratigraphic units with dinosaur trace fossils
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Yan, Kai; Wang, Chun-lian; Mischke, Steffen; Wang, Jiu-yi; Shen, Li-jian; Yu, Xiao-can; Meng, Ling-yang (2021-07-05). "Major and trace-element geochemistry of Late Cretaceous clastic rocks in the Jitai Basin, southeast China" (in en). Scientific Reports 11 (1): 13846. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93125-8. ISSN 2045-2322. PMID 34226583. Bibcode: 2021NatSR..1113846Y.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Peng, Hua (2020). "Geological Structure" (in en). China Danxia. Springer Geography. Singapore: Springer Singapore. pp. 37–53. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-5959-0_4. ISBN 978-981-13-5958-3.
- ↑ Xiao, Zeyou; Qi, Fuyong; Fan, Huihu; Wang, Jin (2023). "江西赣州盆地盐湖型锂矿地质特征及找矿前景" (in zh). 华东地质 (East China Geology) 44 (4): 367–375. doi:10.16788/j.hddz.32-1865/P.2023.04.001.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Han, F.; Yang, L.; Lou, F.; Sullivan, C.; Xu, X.; Qiu, W.; Liu, H.; Yu, J. et al. (2024). "A new titanosaurian sauropod, Gandititan cavocaudatus gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous of southern China". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 22 (1): 2293038. doi:10.1080/14772019.2023.2293038. Bibcode: 2024JSPal..2293038H. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772019.2023.2293038.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Xing, Lida; Niu, Kecheng; Mallon, Jordan; Miyashita, Tetsuto (2023). "A new armored dinosaur with double cheek horns from the early Late Cretaceous of southeastern China" (in en). Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology 11. doi:10.18435/vamp29396. ISSN 2292-1389. https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/29396.
- ↑ Xing, Lida; Niu, Kecheng; Zhang, Lijun; Yang, Tzu-Ruei; Zhang, Jianping; Iv, W. Scott Persons; Romilio, Anthony; Zhuang, Yuhui et al. (2020-06-03). "Dinosaur Eggs Associated with Crustacean Trace Fossils from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi, China: Evidence for Foraging Behavior?" (in en). Biosis: Biological Systems 1 (2): 54–59. doi:10.37819/biosis.001.002.0058. ISSN 2707-9783. https://eaapublishing.org/journals/index.php/biosis/article/view/58.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Xing, Li-Da; Guo, Zi-Sheng; Wu, Rui; Du, Chun-Lei; Wang, Dong-Hao; Scott Persons, W. (2023-07-01). "Cretaceous dinosaur and crocodylomorph egg records of the Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province, southern China". Journal of Palaeogeography 12 (3): 401–418. doi:10.1016/j.jop.2023.04.002. ISSN 2095-3836. Bibcode: 2023JPalG..12..401X.
- ↑ Yu, Cheng-tao; Fan, Xiu-jun; Zhong, Liang-yun (2020). "赣南于都盆地恐龙蛋化石产地分布及赋存地层特征". 华东地质 (East China Geology) 41 (4): 396–402. doi:10.16788/j.hddz.32-1865/p.2020.04.011. ISSN 2096-1871. http://en.cgsjournals.com/article/doi/10.16788/j.hddz.32-1865/P.2020.04.011?viewType=HTML.
- ↑ Ke, Y.; Han, F.; Joyce, W. G. (2025). "The first pan-trionychid turtle from the Upper Cretaceous of southern China, with a summary of the turtle succession in the Ganzhou Basin". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 70 (3): 607–612. doi:10.4202/app.01263.2025. https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app012632025.html.
- ↑ Zhu, Xufeng; Fang, Kaiyong; Wang, Qiang; Deng, Li; Liu, Yuchun; Wen, Jun; Wang, Xiaolin; Wang, Xuri (2021-05-04). "The first Similifaveoloolithidae (Wormoolithus luxiensis oogen. et oosp. nov.) from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi Province, China" (in en). Historical Biology 33 (5): 689–698. doi:10.1080/08912963.2019.1658093. ISSN 0891-2963. Bibcode: 2021HBio...33..689Z.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Wang, Qiang; Zhao, Zikui; Wang, Xiaolin; Li, Ning; Zou, Songlin (2013-12-10). "A new form of Elongatoolithidae, Undulatoolithus pengi oogen. et oosp. nov. from Pingxiang, Jiangxi, China". Zootaxa 3746 (1): 194–200. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3746.1.9. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 25113475.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Jun, Cai (1980). "江西留车、吉安盆地晚白垩世早期地层的探讨" (in zh). 石油与天然气地质 1 (3): 248–251. doi:10.11743/ogg19800308. ISSN 0253-9985. http://ogg.pepris.com/CN/abstract/abstract8580.shtml.
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