Ziliujing Formation

Ziliujing Formation
Stratigraphic range: Sinemurian-Toarcian, 199–174 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Sub-unitsDongyuemiao Member, Maanshan Member, Daanzhai Member
UnderliesXintiangou Formation
OverliesZhenzhuchong Formation
ThicknessDongyuemiao M. 5 to 11.2 metres (20 to 40 ft), Maanshan M. 131 to 180 metres (430 to 590 ft) Daanzhai M. 18 to 45.2 metres (60 to 150 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone
OtherSandstone
Location
Country China
ExtentSichuan Basin
Type section
Named forZiliujing District

The Ziliujing Formation is a geological formation in China, It is Early Jurassic in age. It is part of the stratigraphy of the Sichuan Basin. The dinosaur Gongxianosaurus and indeterminate theropod material are known from the Dongyuemiao Member of the formation, as well as dinosaur footprints, Zizhongosaurus and indeterminate prosauropods from the Da'anzhai Member.[1] The basal sauropod Sanpasaurus is known from the Maanshan Member.[2] An possible unnamed stegosaur and the pliosauroid plesiosaur Sinopliosaurus are also known from this formation but they were found an indeterminate member.[2] An unnamed teleosaurid known from a complete skull has also been found in the formation, pending a formal description.[3] The deposition environment during the Da'anzhai Member in the lower Toarcian is thought to have been that of a giant freshwater lake encompassing the whole of the Sichuan basin, around 3 times larger than Lake Superior, coeval with the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event around 183 Ma.[4] The Sinemurian-Pliensbachian boundary event (192.9 Ma) has been recorded on the top of the Dongyuemiao Member, while lower parts of this member are of Earliest Sinemurian age (around 199 Ma).[5][6]


  1. ^ Xing, Lida; Peng, Guangzhao; Ye, Yong; Lockley, Martin G.; Klein, Hendrik; Persons, W. Scott; Zhang, Jianping; Shu, Chunkang; Hao, Baoqiao (2014-04-03). "Sauropod and Small Theropod Tracks from the Lower Jurassic Ziliujing Formation of Zigong City, Sichuan, China, with an Overview of Triassic–Jurassic Dinosaur Fossils and Footprints of the Sican Basin". Ichnos. 21 (2): 119–130. doi:10.1080/10420940.2014.909352. ISSN 1042-0940. S2CID 129220218.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference young1944 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Johnson, Michela M.; Young, Mark T.; Brusatte, Stephen L. (2020). "The phylogenetics of Teleosauroidea (Crocodylomorpha, Thalattosuchia) and implications for their ecology and evolution". PeerJ. 8: e9808. doi:10.7717/peerj.9808. PMC 7548081. PMID 33083104.
  4. ^ Xu, Weimu; Ruhl, Micha; Jenkyns, Hugh C.; Hesselbo, Stephen P.; Riding, James B.; Selby, David; Naafs, B. David A.; Weijers, Johan W. H.; Pancost, Richard D.; Tegelaar, Erik W.; Idiz, Erdem F. (February 2017). "Carbon sequestration in an expanded lake system during the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event". Nature Geoscience. 10 (2): 129–134. Bibcode:2017NatGe..10..129X. doi:10.1038/ngeo2871. hdl:10871/24965. ISSN 1752-0894.
  5. ^ Franceschi, Marco; Jin, Xin; Shi, Zhiqiang; Chen, Bin; Preto, Nereo; Roghi, Guido; Corso, Jacopo Dal; Han, Lu (2022-04-08). "High-resolution record of multiple organic carbon-isotope excursions in lacustrine deposits of Upper Sinemurian through Pliensbachian (Early Jurassic) from the Sichuan Basin, China". GSA Bulletin. 135 (1–2): 3–17. doi:10.1130/b36235.1. ISSN 0016-7606.
  6. ^ Ren, TC.; Ma, XY.; Wang, QD. (2024). "An exceptionally preserved fossil assemblage from the early Jurassic of Chongqing (China) reveals a complex lacustrine ecosystem". Sci Rep 14, 26147 (2024).