Yixian Formation
editResearch history
editGeologic history
editStratigraphy
editThe Yixian Formation is broadly subdivided into several geological subunits. In ascending order (lowest to highest):[6]
- Lujiatun Unit: 20–40 metres (66–131 ft) thick; composed of sandstone, conglomerate, and breccia
- Lower Lava Unit: unknown thickness; composed of basalt and andesite (also sometimes called the Xiatulaigou member)[7]
- Jianshangou Unit: 230–420 metres (750–1,380 ft) thick; composed of shale and tuff
- Upper Lava Unit: more than 600 metres (2,000 ft) thick; composed of basalt and andesite
- Upper Yixian: 360–650 metres (1,180–2,130 ft) thick; composed primarily of conglomerate with breccia, but also contains strata of shale and tuff, tuffaceous sandstone, and sandstone conglomerate (parts of the Upper Yixian are also sometimes called the Dawangzhangzi and Huang unit)[8]
- Huanghuanshan Unit: 200–300 metres (660–980 ft) thick; composed primarily of conglomerate with breccia with some sandstone conglomerate in the lower strata
The lower units (Lujiatun, Lower Lava, and Jianshangou) were originally grouped separately from the Yixian Formation under the names "Sihetun Formation" or "Chaomidianzi Formation" in the late 1990s. Various revisions to this arrangement have been made by several authors in the period from 2000 to 2010, including the consolidation of the Jiulongsong and Hengdaozi members into what is today called the Jianshangou Unit. Since 2010, most authors have used the same nomenclatural scheme (shown above). Although the nomenclature of the uppermost units has been inconsistent, these composition of these members have been generally agreed upon in the literature. Some authors do not consider the Dawangzhangzi and Huanghuanshan units to be distinct enough to separate, opting instead to call this interval the "Undivided Upper Yixian Formation".[7][8][6]
The relative ages of these subunits has been a subject of considerable scientific debate. In particular, the lower members of the Yixian Formation have been the subject to considerable revision over the last three decades. They were originally interpreted as a traditional chronological sequence, with the Lujiatun Unit being deposited first, followed by a major volcanic deposition event creating the Lower Lava Unit, and then the deposition of the Jianshangou Unit.[7] However, more recent measurements have suggested slightly overlapping or even fully contemporaneous deposition of the Lujiatun and Jianshangou Units.[9] The relative ages of these beds at present is unresolved and different researchers have yet to reach a consensus.[6][9]
Table
edit| Publication | Lujiatun | Lower Lava | Jianshanggou | Upper Lava | Dawanzhangzi | Jinggangshan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chang et al. 2009 | 129.7 Ma at the oldest | Up to 122.1 Ma | ||||
| Chang et al. 2017 | ~124—123 Ma | 125.6—125.4 Ma | ||||
| Qin et al. 2019 | ||||||
| Zhong et al. 2021 | 125.755—125.684 Ma | Up to 124.122 Ma | ||||
| Li et al. 2022 | 125.541—125.793 Ma | 125.374—125.572 Ma | ||||
Localities
edit- Anjiagou
- Dajianshanzi
- Hengdaozi
- Huangbanjigou
- Jingangshan
- Liujiawopu
- Mashenmiao-Songbahu
- Sanguanmiao
- Sihetun
- Weijialing
Fossil content
editGeography and human use
editReferences
edit- ^ Wang, Tiehui; Gong, Enpu; Liang, Yue; Cui, Ying; Huang, Wentao (2022). "Varves in the Yixian Formation, western Liaoning: Constraining the palaeoclimate in the Early Cretaceous". Geological Journal. 57 (1): 166–185. Bibcode:2022GeolJ..57..166W. doi:10.1002/gj.4289.
- ^ Tian, Xing; Gao, Yuan; Ma, Jian; Huang, He; Pan, Jinjiang; Wang, Chengshan (2024). "Lacustrine varves in the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, Northeast China: Implications for seasonal to sub-decadal palaeoclimate variability associated with the Jehol Biota and "Dinosaur Pompeii"". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 646. Bibcode:2024PPP...64612241T. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112241.
- ^ Cui, Ying; Gong, Enpu; Wang, Tiehui; Guan, Changqing; Zhang, Yongli; Liang, Junhong (2015). "Palynomorph assemblages and paleoclimate records from the Zhuanchengzi Bed of the Yixian Formation, western Liaoning Province, China". Science China Earth Sciences. 58 (9): 1538–1552. Bibcode:2015ScChD..58.1538C. doi:10.1007/s11430-015-5147-x.
- ^ Wang, Yaqiong; Olsen, Paul E.; Sha, Jingeng; Yao, Xiaogang; Liao, Huanyu; Pan, Yanhong; Kinney, Sean; Zhang, Xiaolin; Rao, Xin (2016). "Stratigraphy, correlation, depositional environments, and cyclicity of the Early Cretaceous Yixian and ?Jurassic-Cretaceous Tuchengzi formations in the Sihetun area (NE China) based on three continuous cores". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 464: 110–133. Bibcode:2016PPP...464..110W. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.06.043.
- ^ Chen, P.; Wang, Q.; Zhang, H.; Cao, M.; Li, W.; Wu, S.; Shen, Y. (2005). "Jianshangou Bed of the Yixian Formation in west Liaoning, China". Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences. 48 (3): 298–312. Bibcode:2005ScChD..48..298C. doi:10.1360/04yd0038. S2CID 130825449.
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
argonnewwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c Wang, Yaqiong; Olsen, Paul E.; Sha, Jingeng; Yao, Xiaogang; Liao, Huanyu; Pan, Yanhong; Kinney, Sean; Zhang, Xiaolin; Rao, Xin (2016). "Stratigraphy, correlation, depositional environments, and cyclicity of the Early Cretaceous Yixian and ?Jurassic-Cretaceous Tuchengzi formations in the Sihetun area (NE China) based on three continuous cores". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 464: 110–133. Bibcode:2016PPP...464..110W. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.06.043.
- ^ a b Chang, Su-Chin; Gao, Ke-Qin; Zhou, Chang-Fu; Jourdan, Fred (2017). "New chronostratigraphic constraints on the Yixian Formation with implications for the Jehol Biota". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 487: 399–406. Bibcode:2017PPP...487..399C. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.09.026.
- ^ a b Li, Youjuan; Jicha, Brian R.; Yu, Zhiqiang; Wu, Huaichun; Wang, Xiaolin; Singer, Brad S.; He, Huaiyu; Zhou, Zhonghe (2022). "Rapid preservation of Jehol Biota in Northeast China from high precision 40Ar/39Ar geochronology". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 863. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117718.