Tangbian Formation

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Tangbian Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous, Campanian
Type Geological formation
Unit of Guifeng Group
Underlies Lianhe Formation
Overlies Hekou Formation
Thickness240–3,060 m (790–10,040 ft)
Lithology
Primarypurplish red sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone
Location
Coordinates 26°9′N116°4′E / 26.150°N 116.067°E / 26.150; 116.067
Region Jiangxi Province
Country China
China edcp relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Tangbian Formation (China)

The Tangbian Formation is a geological formation in Jiangxi Province, east China. While its absolute age is uncertain, it has been estimated to represent Late Cretaceous (Campanian age) sediments. Dinosaur bones and eggs are among the fossils recovered from the formation.

Contents

Geology and paleoenvironment

During the Cretaceous, the Tangbian Formation was an aeolian dune desert (modern Taklamakan Desert pictured) Desert du Taklamakan.jpg
During the Cretaceous, the Tangbian Formation was an aeolian dune desert (modern Taklamakan Desert pictured)

The Tangbian Formation is known from outcrops in the Xinjiang Basin of Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. It is part of the Late Cretaceous Guifeng Group, underlain by the Hekou Formation and overlain by the Lianhe Formation in that group. The formation is interpreted as Campanian in age, although absolute dates have not been obtained. [1] [2] It comprises thick beds of fine-grained red-purple sandstone interbedded with mudstone, calcareous sandstone, and siltstone, and was deposited in an aeolian (wind-driven) setting representing a desert environment. [3] [4] [5]

Fossil content

The Tangbian Formation contains a rich record of dinosaur egg fossils and embryos. Most of the known egg clutches can be associated with oviraptorosaurs, although rarer egg fossils are known from hadrosaurs, troodontids, and possibly dromaeosaurids. [6] [7]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
GenusSpeciesRegionMaterialNotesImages
Caninosaurus [8] C. ganzhouensisIncomplete skull and mandibleA polyglyphanodont lizard with caniniform upper teeth

Huaxiazhoulong [2]

H. shouwen

Longxi Village, Guangchang County

Partial well-preserved skeleton

An ankylosaurid ankylosaur

Huaxiazhoulong shouwen.png

Minioolithus [6]

M. ganzhouensis

Meilin Village, Ganxian District

Clutch of six eggs

Classified as belonging to the Ovaloolithidae, likely laid by a theropod dinosaur

References

  1. Xi, Dangpeng; Wan, Xiaoqiao; Li, Guobiao; Li, Gang (2019). "Cretaceous integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China". Science China Earth Sciences. 62 (1): 256–286. Bibcode:2019ScChD..62..256X. doi:10.1007/s11430-017-9262-y. ISSN   1674-7313.
  2. 1 2 Zhu, Ziheng; Wu, Jie; You, Yue; Jia, Yingli; Chen, Chujiao; Yao, Xi; Zheng, Wenjie; Xu, Xing (2024-11-08). "A new ankylosaurid dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi Province, southern China". Historical Biology : 1–17. doi:10.1080/08912963.2024.2417208. ISSN   0891-2963.
  3. Jiang, Xinsheng; Pan, Zhongxi; Xu, Jinsha; Li, Xiaoyong; Xie, Guogang; Xiao, Zhijian (2008). "Late Cretaceous aeolian dunes and reconstruction of palaeo-wind belts of the Xinjiang Basin, Jiangxi Province, China". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 257 (1–2): 58–66. Bibcode:2008PPP...257...58J. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2007.09.012.
  4. Zhang, Shouxin, ed. (2009), "Tangbian Formation (塘边组)", Geological Formation Names of China (1866–2000), Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, p. 1075, doi:10.1007/978-3-540-93824-8_7612, ISBN   978-3-540-93824-8
  5. Jiao, Haijing; Wu, Chihua; Rodríguez-López, Juan Pedro; Sun, Xiaoming; Yi, Haisheng (2020-10-01). "Late Cretaceous plateau deserts in the South China Block, and Quaternary analogues; sedimentology, dune reconstruction and wind-water interactions". Marine and Petroleum Geology. 120: 104504. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104504. ISSN   0264-8172.
  6. 1 2 Wu, Rui; Lou, Fasheng; Yu, Juan; Xue, Yu; Zhang, Shukang; Yang, Ling; Qiu, Wenjiang; Wang, Huimin; Han, Fenglu (2024-10-14). "The smallest known complete dinosaur fossil eggs from the Upper Cretaceous of South China". Historical Biology : 1–10. doi:10.1080/08912963.2024.2409873. ISSN   0891-2963.
  7. Yu, Cheng-Tao; Fan, Xiu-Jun (2022). "赣州盆地梅林—茅店恐龙蛋化石产地分布及赋存地层特征" [Distribution of Dinosaur Egg Fossils and Occurrence Stratigraphic Characteristics of Meilin—Maodian,Ganzhou Basin]. Journal of Hebei GEO University (in Chinese). 45 (4): 6–12.
  8. Wang, Mengli; Dong, Liping; Yu, Juan; Lou, Fasheng; Qiu, Wenjiang; Han, Fenglu (19 Jun 2025). "A new borioteiioid lizard with large caniniform tooth from the Upper Cretaceous of South China" . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 23 (1): 2509637. doi:10.1080/14772019.2025.2509637. ISSN   1477-2019.