Hekou Group

Hekou Group
Stratigraphic range: Early Cretaceous,[1] Valanginian–Albian
TypeGeologic group
Sub-unitsHuazhuang Formation,
Hongkoucheng Formation,
Yanguoxia Formation,
Zhujiatai Formation
UnderliesUnconformity: Minhe Formation
OverliesUnconformity: Xiangtang Formation
Thickness3,700 m (12,100 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, mudstone, conglomerate
Location
Coordinates35°54′N 103°18′E / 35.9°N 103.3°E / 35.9; 103.3
Approximate paleocoordinates34°48′N 103°06′E / 34.8°N 103.1°E / 34.8; 103.1
RegionGansu
Country China
ExtentLongzhong Basin
Hekou Group is located in China
Hekou Group
Hekou Group (China)
Hekou Group is located in Gansu
Hekou Group
Hekou Group (Gansu)

The Hekou Group is a geological group in Gansu Province, China. It is Early Cretaceous in age. Many dinosaur fossils have been recovered from the Hekou Group, including iguanodonts, large sauropods, and armored dinosaurs. Fossil eggs are rare, but one oogenus, Polyclonoolithus, was discovered in the Hekou Group.[2] Extensive fossil tracks belonging to pterosaurs and dinosaurs have also been described.[3][4] The group spans the Valanginian to Albian and can be subdivided into four formations.[1]

  1. ^ a b Xi, D.; Wan, X.; Li, G.; Li, G. (2018). "Cretaceous integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China". Science China Earth Sciences. 61: 1–31. doi:10.1007/s11430-017-9262-y.
  2. ^ Xie, J.-F., Zhang, S.-K., Jin, X.-S., Li, D.-Q., and Zhou, L.-Q. (2016) "A new type of dinosaur eggs from Early Cretaceous of Gansu Province, China. Archived 2016-01-29 at the Wayback Machine" Vertebrata PalAsiatica, 54(1):1-10.
  3. ^ Lockley, M.; Harris, J.D.; and Mitchell, L. 2008. "A global overview of pterosaur ichnology: tracksite distribution in space and time." Zitteliana. B28. p. 187-198. ISSN 1612-4138.
  4. ^ Li, Dawing; Azuma, Yoichi; Fujita, Masato; Lee, Yuong-Nam; Arakawa, Yohei (2006). "A preliminary report on two new vertebrae track sites including dinosaurs from the Early Cretaceous Hekou Group, Gansu Province, china". Journal of the Paleontological Society of Korea. 22 (1): 29–49.