The Lower-Upper Cretaceous and Cretaceous- Tertiary boundaries in China
HAO YICHUN and GUAN SHAOZENG
Hao Yichun and Guan Shaozeng: The Lower-Upper Cretaceous and Cretaceous-Tertiary boundaries in China. Bull. geol. Soc. Denmark, vol. 33, pp. 129-138, Copenhagen, September, 11th, 1984.
The Cretaceous rocks of China are represented by both marine and nonmarine facies. Correlation of the marine sequences is based in particular in ammonites, foraminifera, rudists and palynomorphs, and that of the nonmarine sequences on reptiles (including dinosaur eggs), fish, bivalves, ostracodes, conchostracans, insects, plants, charophytes and palynomorphs.
Hao Yichun, Beijing Graduate School, Wuhan College of Geology, Beijing 100083, China. Guan Shaozeng, Yichang Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, P. O. Box 502, Yichang, Hubei, China, February 17th, 1984.
Two different facies of Cretaceous are developed former contains Valanginian ammonites, Neo- in China: marine and nonmarine. Marine depos hoploceras, Pterolytoceras (Zhao 1976) and For its outcrop in a few bordering areas. Nonmarine aminifera, Lenticulina frankei Marie, while the deposits include (1) lacustrine-fluvial strata, lo latter yields foraminifers and ammonites of Al- cally coal-bearing, oil-bearing or with interbeds bian age, such as Ticinella roberti (Gandolfi), of evaporites and widespread in most inland Hedbergella trocoidea (Gandolfi), Dipoloceras basins, and (2) lacustrine-fluvial sediments with cristatum (Delug), D. subdelarui Spath and Oxy- pyroclastic and volcanic rocks, exposed in eastern tropidoceras roissyanum (d'Orbigny). The Cha and southern coastal regions belonging to the qeila Formation is overlain by the Lenqinre For Circum-Pacific Belt (Hao et al. 1982a; 1982b) mation containing Early and Middle Cenomanian (fig- 1). forminifers, Rotalipora appeninica (Renz), R. greenhornensis and R. cushmani (Morrow) in as sociation with Cenomanian ammonites, Acantho- Marine Cretaceous ceras sp. and Calycoceras newboldi (Kossmat) (Wan 1984, Zhao 1976, He Yan et al. 1976), so The marine Cretaceous in China is distributed in that the Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary is the western part of the Talimu Basin, along the marked by the contact of the Chaqeila and the Kala-Kunlun and the Kunlun Mountains as well Lenqinre Formations (table 1). as in Tibet and Taiwan. In a few other regions, Along the western border of the Talimu Basin foraminifers, marine bivalves and fishes have in the south of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, been found from marine intercalations in the the Upper Cretaceous Yingjisha Group is divided nonmarine Cretaceous (Hao et al. 1982a). into four formations. In the lowermost one, the Kukebai Formation and the overlying Wuyitak Formation, the foraminiferal Migros-Ammoba- The Lower-Upper Cretaceous culites fauna of Cenomanian-Turonian age and Boundary the Turanian ammonites, Placenticeras placenta Peckay and Thomasites koulabicus (Kler) in asso In Gangba area of southern Tibet, the Lower ciation with the rudist Durania sp. have been Cretaceous is stratigraphically subdivided as the found. Therefore the Lower-Upper Cretaceous Dongshan Formation and its overlying Chaqeila boundary lies between the base of the Kukebai Formation (Hao et al. 1982a, Wan 1984). The Formation and the Kezilesu Formation beneath
9 D.G.F. 33 130 Hao & Guan: Lower - Upper Cretaceous in China Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark, vol. 33 1984 131
it, which was thought to be Lower Cretaceous which is thought to be equivalent to the Cardita terrestrial deposits (table 1). But recently Early Beaumonti Beds in the Sind Province of Cenomanian foraminifers and bivalves have been Pakistan. reported from the uppermost part of the Kezilesu Formation. This calls for a more detailed study of the Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary in the Nonmarine Cretaceous Talimu Basin. The nonmarine Cretaceous in China is abundant in fossil remains represented mainly by reptilians, The Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary fishes, freshwater bivalves and ostracodes, con- chostracans, insects, plants, sporopollen as The Yingjisha Group of the Talimu Basin has its semblages and charophytes (Hao et al. 1982a, two uppermost formations, the Yigeziya Forma 1982b). These faunas and floras serve as one of tion and the Tuyiloke Formation in ascending the most important bases for stratigraphic classi order (Hao et al. 1982c), yielding rudists, oysters fication and correlation. and a sporopollen assemblage of Late Cretaceous age. The Aertashen Formation disconformably The Lower-Upper Cretaceous Boundary overlying the Tuyiloke Formation consists of gyp sum mudstones and gypsum beds, almost barren In northeastern China, the Songliao Basin was of fossils. However, in its overlying Qimugen the largest subsiding depression during Cre Formation, a Spiroplectammina-Globigerina- taceous time and received more than 6,000 m of Nonionellina fauna of Foraminifera is found, in chiefly terrestrial clastic deposits, which are strat- dicating Middle to Late Paleocene age (Hao et al. igraphically divided into nine formations (Hao et 1982c). Thus, the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary al. 1982a). The Lower-Upper Cretaceous bound lies between the Tuyiloke Formation and the ary should be put at the base of the Nenjiang Aertashen Formation (table 1), which is correl Formation (table 1) owing to the fact that the ated with the Danian Buhar Beds in the Fergana ostracode genus Talicypridea, which is charac Basin of the Soviet Union, according to both the teristic for Upper Cretaceous of eastern Asia, lithologic character and the stratigraphic posi made its first appearance in it. The ostracode tion. assemblage comprising various species of Tali In the Gangba region of southern Tibet, the cypridea and Cadoniella in association with Maastrichtian algae, Cymopolia tibetica Morellet Cypridea cavernosa Galeeva of this formation and Neomeris cretacea Steinmann are found in (Hao et al. 1974) also occurs in the lower Upper the Jidula Formation and its underlying Cretaceous Nemegt Beds of the People's Re Zongshan Formation. The former also contains public of Mongolia and in the Wangshi Forma Maastrichtian foraminifers, Orbitoides media tion, the Donggou Formation, the Subashen For (d'Archiac), O. apiculata Schlumberger, Ompha- mation and the Paomagang Formation of locyclus macroporus (Lamarck) and echinoids. different regions in China (table 1 and table 2), Hemipneustes compressus Noetling, Bolbaster the Late Cretaceous age of which is ascertained madagascariensis (Cotteau) (He et al. 1976, by their containing fossil dinosaurs. Palaeontolo Zhang et al. 1981). The Cretaceous-Tertiary gists working on nonmarine bivalves also put the boundary here is marked by the contact between Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary between the the Jidula Formation and its overlying first mem Nenjiang Formation and its underlying Yaohia ber of the Zongpu Group (Table 1), represented Formation, according to the biostratigraphic se mainly by massive limestones with Danian gas quence of the bivalve Trigonioides-Plicatounio- tropods, Bermaya expansa d'Archiac et Haime, Nippononaia fauna (Hao et al. 1982a) which is Diconomorpha elegans (Douvillé), Confusiscala characteristic for upper Lower Cretaceous and indica Douvillé (Yu 1976) and Paleocene For the Pseudohyria fauna occurs only in the Upper aminifera, Keramosphaera tergestina (Stache), Cretaceous. But some palaeobotanists assign the Miscellanea miscella (d'Archiac et Haime) and Quantou Formation and the Qingshankou For Operculina subsalsa Davies (He et al. 1976), mation also to the Upper Cretaceous, since a
9* 132 Hao & Guan: Lower - Upper Cretaceous in China primitive angiosperm flora including Trapa? mi- xi-Gansu-Ninxian Basin in the Great Bend area crophylla Lesq., 7? angulata (Newb.) Brown and of the Yellow River, Upper Cretaceous is poorly Dryophyllum subfalcatum Lesq. has been found developed and restricted in distribution; the in the former (Li 1959). Lower Cretaceous is often covered by Tertiary or In the Laiyang Basin of Shandong Peninsula, Pleistocene deposits. the Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary lies be In southwestern China, the Lower-Upper Cre tween the Qingshan Formation and the Wangshi taceous boundary in western Sichuan is marked Formation (table 1). The former, represented by by continuous deposition between the Jiaguan andesites and coarse clastic sediments, contains Formation with an Early Cretaceous fossil as the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur Psittacosaurus semblage including plant, Brachyphyllum sp., os- sinensis Young and overlies the Laiyang Forma tracods, Latonia yunnanensis (Hou et al.), L. tion with a fauna consisting mainly of Cypridea subovata (Hou et al.), Cypridea (Cypridea) angu- koskulensis Mandelstam, Yanjiestheria sinensis sticaudata Cao et Yang in association with dino (Chi), Coptoclava longipoda Ping, Mesotendipes saur footprints and fishes and the Guankou For melanura (Ping) and Lycoptera sinensis Wood mation yielding Upper Cretaceous ostracodes ward and of Early Cretaceous age. The Wangshi and charophytes, such as Talicypridea longa Formation is represented by mudstones and (Hou), T. latiovata (Hou), Cypridea (Pseudocy- sandstones, and yields a Late Cretaceous fauna pridina) tera Su and Grambastchara longiconica including bivalves represented by the Pseudohy- Wang. The Jiaguan Formation is disconformably ria assemblage, ostracodes by the Talicypridea- underlain by the Tianmashan Formation con Cypridea-Candona assemblage and dinosaurs by taining fossil remains of early Early Cretaceous Tyrannosaurus cf. rex Osbom,Tanius sinensis age (table 1) (Hao et al. 1982a, Li 1979, Ye, Wiman, T. chingkankouensis Young, Tsintaosau- 1982). rus spinorhinus Young, Shantungosaunis gigan- In western Yunnan, strata equivalent to the teus Hu, and dinosaur eggs by Oolithus elongatus Jiaguan Formation are divided into two units, the Young (Hao et al. 1982a, 1982b). Mangang Formation below and the Bashahe For In northwestern China, the Lower Cretaceous mation above. An Early Cretaceous biota consis is well developed in a lot of inland basins, but the ting mainly of charophytes, Atopochara trivolvis Upper Cretaceous is poorly developed and scat Peck; bivalves, Trigonioides (Trigonioides) sinen tered. The Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary sis Gu et Ma, Nakamuranaia chingshanensis has been studied in greater detail in the Zhungeer (Grabau); ostracodes, Latonia yunnanensis (Hou Basin of Xinjiang, where the Upper Cretaceous et al.), Rhinocypris jurassica jurassica (Martin) Donggou Formation disconformably overlying together with conchostracans, plants and spores the Lower Cretaceous Tugulu Group (table 1), and pollen has been found in the former, while contains the ostracode Talicypridea assemblage, no organic remains have ever been found in the dominated by Talicypridea amoena (Liu) and T. latter, which is represented mainly by arkosic gemma (Galeeva). The Tugulu Group, on the sandstone. The Mankuanhe Formation con other hand, contains the ostracode assemblage of formably overlying the Bashahe Formation con Early Cretaceous age, represented by Cypridea sists of fine clastic deposits with salt beds and unicostata Galeeva, C. koskulensis Mandelstam, contains a Late Cretaceous biota predominated Clinocypris scolia Mandelstam and the reptilian by ostracodes, Talicypridea cf. amoena (Liu), Cy fauna of early Early Cretaceous age, including pridea (Cypridea) cavernosa Galeeva, Ziziphocy- Psittacosaurus mongoliensis Young, Wuerhosau- pris simakovi (Mandelstam) and charophytes, rus homheni Dong and Drungaripterus weii Porochara anluensis Z. Wang, P. sphaerica Z. Young (Young 1973). There is probably a gap Wang and Charites tenuis Z. Wang. The Lower- from the uppermost lower part to the lowermost Upper Cretaceous boundary therefore lies be upper part of the Cretaceous. A similar gap also tween the Bashahe and the Mankuanhe Forma exists between the Lower Cretaceous Hekou For tions (table 1) (Hao et al. 1982a, Ye & Jiang mation and the Upper Cretaceous Minghe For 1981, Nanjing Inst. 1975). mation in the Minghe Basin of Gansu. In the In central China, the Cretaceous is better de Guyang Basin of Inner Mongolia and the Shan- veloped in the Jianghan Basin of Hubei and the -^sedimentary S/^*^^^fa?ies Marine fades Nonmarine facies ^V area Eastern Inner Tulufan Basin Zhungeer stage v. Western Western Western Xinjiang Tibet Taiwan Songliao Basin Shandong Mongolia of of Basin Sichuan Yunnan Xinjiang Xinjiang Naomugen Taizichun
Uppe r Cretaceou s Turonian Form. Nenjiang Form. Cenomanian Lenqunre, Form. Albian Chaqeila Form. Yaojia Form. Bashahe Form. I Jiaguan Form. Aptian Oingshankou Mangang Form. Form. Qianshan Form. Barremian Kezilesu Quantou I 1 Form. Formation Dongshan 9 Dengloku Hauterivian (k,?) Form. Tugulu Group Tugulu Group Form. 1 1 i Yingcheng Lowe r Cretaceou s Valanginian Form. Lishangou Tianmashan Form. Form. Berriasian Shahezi Form.
Table 1. Correlation of Cretaceous and Paleocene in China. 134 Hao & Guan: Lower - Upper Cretaceous in China
Ffengyang Basin of Hunan, but the lower part of better studied in Jiangsu, southern Anhui and the Lower Cretaceous is lacking in both regions western Zhejiang. In the Jurong region of Ji (table 2) (Hao et al. 1982a). The lowermost divi angsu, the Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary sion of the Cretaceous in the Hengyang Basin, lies at the base of the Pukou Formation, which the Dongjing Formation, contains the Trigonioi- possesses an early Late Cretaceous biota mainly des (Trigonioides) kodairai Kobayashi et Suzuki, represented by the Schizaeoisporites-Wel- which is a guide fossil of middle Lower Cre witschiapites assemblage of spores and pollen and taceous and occurs in association with the cha- ostracodes, Tangxiella extrana Yu, Talicypridea rophytes, Perimnest ancora L. Grambast and Tri- cf. parallela (Hou). It unconformably overlies the clypella calcitrapa L. Grambast, ostracodes and Gechun Formation with Early Cretaceous fossils, sporopollen assemblages. The overlying Shen- such as Pseudofrenelopsis cf. parceramosa (Fon huangshan Formation yields the late Early Creta taine), Flabellochara jurongica S. Wang et ceous sporopollen assemblage together with the Zhang, Euaclistochara mundula (Peck), Djunga- ostracode Mandelstamia recta Guan and plant, rica stolida Jiang, Cypridea (Cypridea) pos- Pseudofrenelopsis parceramosa (Fontaine). The tiangusta Chen etc. Above the Pukou Formation Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary lies at the is the Chishan Formation, in which occurs a late top of the Shenhuangshan Formation, because in Late Cretaceous biota represented mainly by Ta the Daijiangpin Formation above it, a typical licypridea obesa (Li), T. elliptica He, Cypridea Late Cretaceous fauna is found, dominated by (Pseudocypridina) vulgaris Yang, C. (P.) ostracodes, Cypridea (Cypridea) cavernosa chishanensis Yang, Eucypris subscalariformis He, Galeeva, C (C.) profusa Liibimova, Talicypridea Pseudohyria aff. gobiensis MacNeil, Porochara amoena (Liu), T. hemiseleneata Guan, Clinocy- anluensis Z. Wang, P. jingshanensis Z. Wang, pris aculeata Guan (Guan 1979) together with Mesochara yanbianensis Z. Wang et al. and Ne- teeth of Tyrannosaurus and dinosaur eggs. megtichara prima Karcz & Ziemb (table 2) (Hu The Cretaceous strata along the western 1979, Hou et al. 1982, Wang et al. 1979, Song et border of the Jianghan Basin are divided, in as al. 1982). cending order, into the Shimen Formation, the In southern Anhui the Lower-Upper Cre Wulung Formation, the Lojingtan Formation, the taceous boundary is indicated by a break between Honghuatao Formation and the Paomagang For the Qifangchun Formation equivalent to the mation (table 2). In the Shimen Formation, the Gechun Formation and the Xuannan Formation Tricolpites-Cicatricosisporites-Exesipollenites as which most likely is equivalent to the Chishan semblage of spores and pollen is found, the age of Formation of Jiangsu and may also comprise the which is Aptian to Early Albian. From the uppermost part of the Pukou Formation (table Wulong Formation, the Early Cretaceous dino 2). The Qujiang Group developed in the Jinqu saur, Prodeinodon and plant, Pseudofrenelopsis Basin of western Zhejiang probably includes the parceramosa (Fontaine) and the Middle to Late uppermost Lower and the Upper Cretaceous. It Albian Wulongspora reticulata-Hubeipollis plica- is appropriate to lay the Lower-Upper Cre tus-Tricolpites micromunus sporopollen as taceous boundary between its 2nd and 3rd mem semblage are reported. The Lojingtan Formation bers, the late Early Cretaceous dinosaur, Chilan- overlying the Wulong Formation consists of mas taisaurus zhejiangensis Dong being found in the sive conglomerates and constitutes the basal part former and the Tangxiella-Talicypridea as of a continuous cycle of sedimentation together semblage of ostracodes (Gou et al. 1978) Pseudo with the Honghuatao and Paomagang Forma hyria cf. gobiensis MacNeil and Sphaerium shan tions. In the Paomagang Formation, late Late tungerne (Grabau) of bivalves together with the Cretaceous Oolithus, ostracodes, charophytes charophyte flora represented mainly by Euacli and sporopollen assemblage are found. There stochara mundala (Peck) in the latter. fore, the Lower-Upper Cretaceous boundary In the provinces Guangdong and Guangxi al should be drawn between the Wulong and Lo ong the southeastern border of the country, more jingtan Formations (table 2). complete exposure of Cretaceous is known in the Along middle and lower reaches of the Shanshui Basin and the Siwandashan Mountains Yangtze River, the Cretaceous stratigraphy is region (Hao et al. 1982a). The Lower-Upper -^sedimentary s. ^^facies Nonmarien facies Hengyang stage \. area Luanchuan Jianghan Nanxiong Chijiang Shanshui Hepu Southern Western Basin of Jiangsu Basin of Basin of Basin of Basin of Basin of Basin of Anhui Zhejiang Western Henan Hubei Hunan Guangdong Jiangxi Guangdong Guangxi Dazhang Chijiang Chengzhuang Funing Group Thanetian Xialushi Form. Nonshan Form. Formation Form. Form. 1 Form. Gongjiachong Sangyang Shuangta Montian Gaoyugou Form. Dongtang Shizikou Dalangshan Form. Group Taizhou Shanghu Form. Form. Form. Form. Form. Form. Paleocen e Oanian
Maestrichtian Paomagang Qiuba Form. Form. 5 Campanian e Nanxiong Nanxiong Shanshui Xuannan Form. Form. Form. Wujia Form. Form. Chishan Form. Santonian S Hunghuatao Daijiapin D 4 Form. Form. Coniacian Qujiang Group
Uppe r Cretaceou s Turonian É Lojingtan Baihedong Xidong Form. | Form. 2 Form. Pukou Form. 3 Cenomanian J i Albian Wulong Form. 2 Senhuangshan Form. Aptian Shimen Form. 1 Qifangchun Gechun Form. Form. Barremian Dongjing Bozoshan Form. Group Hauterivian Guangde Lowe r Cretaceou s Valanginian Form. Berriasian Kedoushan Form.
Table 2. Correlation of Cretaceous and Paleocene in China. 136 Hao & Guan: Lower - Upper Cretaceous in China
Cretaceous boundary of the latter lies between Therefore the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary is the Napai Formation below and the Bali Forma between the lower and upper members of the tion above. The Napai Formation contains the Minshui Formation (table 1) (Hao, Yu, Guan & dinosaur Prodeinodon kwangshiensis Hou et al. Sun 1979). of late Early or middle to late Early Cretaceous In northwestern China, the Cretaceous-Terti age, together with the bivalves Trigonioides (Tri- ary boundary is well marked in the Tulufan Basin gonioides) trigonus Hoffet, Plicatounio (Plicatou- of Xinjiang. Here, the Subashen Formation nio) aff. suzukii Hoffet and the Bali Formation proved to be of middle to late Late Cretaceous yields angiosperm remains, Cinnamomum hespe- age by its fossil content including dinosaurs, rium Knowlton and Nectandra prolifica Berry of Shanshanosaurus houyanshanensis Chao, Tyran- Cenomanian-Turonian age and the bivalves, Tri nosaurus turfanensis Chao, Nemegtosaurus pachi gonioides (Diversicostata) aff. diversicostata Hof Chao, Euaplocephalis sp.; dinosaur eggs, Oolit- fet and Pseudohyria hoffeti Kobayashi. In the hus elongatus Young and ostracode Talicypridea- Hepu Basin of Guangxi, the stratum equivalent Cypridea assemblage. This is overlain with no to the Bali Formation is the Xidong Formation, indication of depositional break by the Taizichun but the Lower Cretaceous is lacking (table 2). Formation containing Late Paleocene mam malians, such as Jiaoluotherium turfanensis The Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary (Chao), Prodinoceras diconicus Tong, Pseudic- tops chaii Tong and Dilambda speciosa Tong; the In the Songliao Basin of northeastern China, horizon of their occurrence lies only 5 m above above the lower Upper Cretaceous Nenjiang For the horizon yielding dinosaur skeletons. mation (see above), are the Sifangtai Formation In the Erlian Basin of Inner Mongolia, the and the Minshui Formation in ascending order Upper Cretaceous Erliandabushu Formation (Hao et al. 1982a). The Sifangtai Formation and containing dinosaurs, Manchurosaurus mongoli- the lower member of the Minshui Formation pos ensis Gilmore, Bactrosaurus johnsoni Gilmore, sess the same biota predominated by Talicypridea Ornithomimus asiaticus Gilmore and the ostra amoena (Liu), Cypridea (Cypridea) eximia (Ye), code Talicypridea-Cypridea (Pseudocypridina)- C. (C.) cavernosa Galeeva, C. (Pseudocypridina) Candona assemblage, is overlain by the Upper apiculata Cea, Candona disjuncta Hao (Hao et al. Oligocene Shannaogandai Formation or by the 1982c), Porochara anluensis Z. Wang, Nemegti- Naomugen Formation, the age of which is proba chara prima Karcz. et Ziemb., Collichara cf. taiz- bly Late Paleocene to Early Eocene (table 1). houensis S. Wang et Zhang as well as the Schizae- In southwest China, a continuous sequence of oisporites-Aquilapollenites assemblage of spores Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene is developed in and pollen. Meanwhile, the Sifangtai Formation the Sichuan Basin and western Yunnan (Hao et also yields Pseudohyria cardiiformis (Martinson), al. 1982a). The Upper Cretaceous Guankou For which is especially characteristic for the Upper mation (see above) of western Sichuan is super Cretaceous, and the Schizaeoisporites-Aquilapol- posed in continuous deposition by the Mingshan lenites assemblage bears a close resemblance to Group. The upper part of the latter contains the Maastrichtian assemblage reported from the Eocene ostracodes, Pinnocypris alata Zhow, P. Chagayansk Formation in Zeisko-Bureinsk Basin postacuta Zhow, Limnocythere hubeiensis Ye, in the Far East of Soviet Union and from the llyocypris manasensis Mandelstam, but no Lance Beds of the United States. But the spo- organic remains of stratigraphic significance have ropollen assemblage found in the upper member been found in its lower part. The Cre of the Minshui Formation is represented by Del- taceous-Tertiary boundary is probably at the top toidospora-Ulmipollenites, which is correlative of the Guankou Formation (table 1). The Jiading with that which occurs in the Kivdensk Forma Group in southern Sichuan has Talicypridea latio- tion of the Zeisko-Bureinsk Basin, in the Horse vata (Hou) and Tangxiella subrotunda Yu in its shoe Canyon Beds of Canada and in the Fort middle member, which is probably equivalent to Union Beds of the United States. The age of the the Guankou Formation and has Limnocythere Kivdensk Formation is ascertained to be Pal- hubeiensis Ye in its upper member, which is prob eocene with its basal part assigned to the Danian. ably equivalent to the upper part of the Mingshan Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark, vol. 33 1984 137
Group (Ye 1982). In western Yunnan, the Upper Formation due to the close resemblance of fossil Cretaceous Mankuanhe Formation (see above) biota to the Nanxiong Formation in Guangdong. with the first salt bed is overlain conformably by Its overlying Shizikou Formation is correlative the Mengyejing Formation with the second salt with the Shanghu Formation (Wang & Ding bed and containing the Paleocene ostracode 1979). The Upper Cretaceous Daijiaping Forma fauna consisting of Parailyocypris changzhouen- tion (see above) in the Hengyang Basin and the sis Yang et Hou, P. jiangchengensis Ye et Jiang, Paomagang Formation (see above) in the Jiang- Cypris (Cristocypris) zhengdongensis (Ye) and han Basin, the Xuannan Formation in the Cypridea cryptorostrata Ye et Jiang (Ye & Jiang Qianshan Basin of southern Anhui as well as the 1981). Chishan Formation in northern Jiangsu are To the south of the Yangtze River, the equivalent to the Nanxiong Formation, and the lithologic character and fossil content of both Dongtang Formation, the lower and middle parts Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene in different lo of the Gongjiachong Formation, the lower and calities are very similar. The Cretaceous-Tertiary middle parts of the Shuangta Group and the Tai- boundary is well studied in the Nanxiong Basin of zhou Formation overlying them respectively are Guandong (Hao et al. 1982a) (table 2). There the correlative with the Shanghu Formation, on the Lower and the lower Upper Cretaceous are not basis of close resemblance of both fossil biota and developed, the upper Upper Cretaceous Nanx lithologic character (table 2). iong Formation is very rich in fossil content, which consists mainly of dinosaurs, Tarbosaurus sp., Nanshungosaurus brevispinus Dong; dino Dansk sammendrag saur eggs, Oolithus spheroides Young, O. rugu- stus Young, O. elongatus Young; ostracodes, Ta- Kinas kridtaflejringer er delt i to hovedfacies: marint, begræn set til nogle marginale bassiner; og ikke-marint som dækker licypridea amoena (Liu), T. hemiseleneata Guan, store områder. De marine aflejringer er korreleret især på basis Cypridea (Cypridea) cavernosa Galeeva, C. (C.) af ammonitter, foraminiferer, rudister og palynomorfer, hvor imod de ikke-marine sekvenser er korreleret på basis af kryb profusa Liibimova and the Porochara anluensis- dyr (incl. dinosaur æg), fisk, muslinger, muslingekrebs, concho- Latochara cylindrica-Charites tenuis flora of stracer, insekter, planter, charophytter og palynomorfer. charophyta. From the Shanghu Formation res ting conformably upon the Nanxiong Formation, abundant fossil mammals have been reported, most important among them are Bemalambda References nanhsiungensis Chow et al., B. pachyoesteus Gou Yunxian et al. 1978: Jurassic-Cretaceous ostracods from Chow et al. and Dissacusium shanghoensis Chow southern Anhui. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 17, 43-68, pis. 1-3. et al., which are characteristic for Paleocene Guan Shaozeng. 1979: Ostracods and stratigraphic classification (Minchen M. Chow et al. 1973). The mammalian and correlation of Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary in Central fauna occurs in association with the ostracode South China, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Red Beds of South China. 121-131, pi. 1, Science Press, Beijing. assemblage dominated by Cypridea (Morinina) Hao Yichun et al. 1974: Cretaceous-Tertiary Ostracoda ofSong- nanxiongensis Guan, C. (Pseudocypridina) sub- liao Basin. 1-93, pis. 1-30, Geological Publishing House, tera Hou, C. (Guangdongia) speciosa Guan, Pa Beijing. Hao Yichun, Yu Jingxian, Guan Shaozeng & Sun Mengrong railyocypris taizhouensis Yang, Porpocypris orbi- 1979: Some Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary as culata Guan, P. sphaeroidalis Guan; the semblages of Ostracoda, spores and pollen in China. Pro charophytes assemblage mainly represented by ceedings of the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary Events Sym posium, 1979, Copenhagen, 251-255. Stephanochara micrococca Z. Wang, Grovesi- Hao Yichun et al. 1982a: The Cretaceous System of China, chara changzhouensis Huang et Z. Wang, Lato Stratigraphy of China, No. 1. An Outline of the Stratigra phy in China, edited by the Chinese Academy of Geo chara curtula Z. Wang and the Ulmoideipites- logical Sciences, 343-382. Quercoidites assemblage of spores and pollen. Hao Yichun et al. 1982b: Stratigraphical division of nonmarine Therefore the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary lies Cretaceous and the Juro-Cretaceous boundary in China. Acta Geologica Sinica, 56, 3, 187-199. along the contact of the Nanxiong Formation and Hao Yichun et al. 1982c: Late Cretaceous and Tertiary strata the Shanghu Formation (Guan 1979). and Foraminifera in Western Talimu Basin. Special Paper on Stratigraphy and Paleontology (I), Earth Science. Jour In the Chijiang Basin of Jiangxi, the upper part nal of the Wuhan College of Geology, 17, 2, 1-142, pis. of Upper Cretaceous is also named the Nanxiong I-XXV. 138 Hao & Guan: Lower - Upper Cretaceous in China
He Yan et al, 1976: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Foraminifera from Wang Zhen et al. 1979: Stratigraphic division and correlation of the Qomolangma region. Report on Scientific Expeditions Cretaceous and Early Tertiary Red Beds in south China on to the Qomolangma region in 1966-1968, Paleontology, 2, the basis of charophyte fossils. Mesozoic and Cenozoic Red 1-129, pis. I-XXXVI, Science Press, Beijing. Beds in South China. 98-110, Science Press, Beijing. Hou Youtang et al. 1982: Cretaceous-Quaternary ostracode Ye Chunhui. 1982: Ostracodes from the Jiading Group of fauna from Jiangsu. 1-251, pis. 1-88, Geological Publish Southern Sichuan and northern Guizhou. Bulletin of the ing House, Beijing. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology Academia Hu Chunli. 1979: Charophyte fossils and age of charophytes- Sinica, 5, 155-176, pis. 1-2. bearing strata in the Luzhi Basin of Jiangsu. 206-217, pis. Ye Chunhui & Jiang Zhiwen. 1981: Ostracodes from the Late I—III, Geological Publishing House, Beijing. Cretaceous-Early Tertiary salt-bearing deposits in Lanp- Li Xinxue. 1959: Trapa? microphylla Lesq., the first occurrence ing-Simao area, Yunnan. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica, 20, from the Upper Cretaceous formation of China. Acta Pal- 2, 162-167, pis. 1-3. aeontologica Sinica, 7, 1, 33-^(0, pi. 1. Yu Wen. 1976: Gastropod fossils from the Qomolangma re Li Yuwen. 1979: Discovery of Cretaceous brackish water For gion. Report on Scientific Expeditions to the Qomolangma aminifera and Ostracoda in Sichuan Basin and its signifi region, Paleontology, 1, 127-138, pis. I-XVI, Science cance. Geological Review, 25, 1, 2-9, pis. 1-2. Press, Beijing. Minchen M. Chow et al. 1973: New Mammalian Genera and C. C Young. 1973: Pterosaurian fauna from Wuerho Sinkiang Species from the Paleocene of Nanhsiung (Nanxiong). Ver- (Xinjiang), Memoirs of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleon tebrata Palasiatica, 11, 1, 31-35. tology and Paleoanthropology Academia Sinica, No. 11, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology Academia Sin Reports of Paleontological Expedition to Sinkiang (II), ica et al. 1975: Mesozoic Red Beds in Yunnan. Science 18-36, pis. I-VI. Press, Beijing. Zhang Binggao et al. 1981: New observations on the Cre Song Zhishen et al. 1982: Cretaceous-Tertiary sporopollen as taceous of Baingoin and Xianza areas, northern Xizang semblages from Jiangsu. 1-188, pis. 1-54. (Tibet). Journal of Stratigraphy, 5, 4, 313-315. Wan Xiaoqiao. 1984: Cretaceous strata and Foraminifera of Zhao Jingke. 1976: Jurassic-Cretaceous ammonites from the Gangba region in Xizang (Tibet). Contribution to the Geol Qomolangma region. Report on Scientific Expeditions to ogy of the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibet) Plateau. 16,181-193, pis. the Qomolangma Region in 1966-1968, Paleontology, 3, 1-4 (in press). 503-545, pis. 1-18. Science Press, Beijing. Wang Banyue & Ding Suying. 1979: Bemalambda from the Chijiang Basin of Jiangxi. Mesozoic and Cenozoic Red Beds in South China. 151-153, pi. 1, Science Press, Beij ing.