Ostracods of the non-marine Lower Cretaceous Dabeigou Formation at Yushuxia (Luanping basin, North China): Implications for the early Jehol Biota age

Author(s)
Zuohuan Qin, Dangpeng Xi, Benjamin Sames, Dermeval Aparecido Do Carmo, Xuri Wang, Yankang Xu, Zhiqiang Yu, Feng Wei, Amanda Moreira Leite, Xiaoqiao Wan
Abstract

The Dabeigou Formation in the Luanping basin in northern China is well known for its continuous non-marine Lower Cretaceous deposits and the preservation of the early Jehol Biota, including abundant ostracods. However, the age of the Dabeigou Formation is still disputed. Here, we present a detailed lithostratigraphic analysis and ostracod biostratigraphy of the newly exposed Yushuxia section of the Luanping basin. At this locality, the Dabeigou Formation can be subdivided into 46 layers, which is mainly composed of grey to dark grey fine clastics of semi-deep lake face. Ostracod analysis on samples from the Dabeigou Formation revealed 14 species of nine genera. Biostratigraphically, the ostracods of the Dabeigou Formation belong to the Luanpingella-Torinina-Eoparacypris Zone. Most of the species range from the latest Jurassic to the earliest Cretaceous. However, some species show a closer relation with ostracods from the upper Lower Cretaceous Dadianzi Formation (upper Hauterivian to Barremian), the Yixian Formation (lower Aptian) of North China, and the Purbeck–Wealden Group (uppermost Tithonian to lowermost Aptian) of Britain. Combined with the biostratigraphy of other fossils and the U-Pb age, it is suggested that the ostracod fauna of the Dabeigou Formation and the origin of early Jehol Biota might be of Early Cretaceous age entirely.

Organisation(s)
Department of Geology
External organisation(s)
Universidade de Brasília, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Beijing Shengyuan Jintu Nengyuan Investive Limited Company
Journal
Cretaceous Research
Volume
86
Pages
199-218
No. of pages
20
ISSN
0195-6671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2018.03.010
Publication date
06-2018
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
105123 Stratigraphy, 105118 Palaeontology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Palaeontology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/12a463eb-c66d-4466-a0d9-12b02dc01891