Biostratigraphic constraints on the age of Neoproterozoic glaciation in North China

Cryogenian and Ediacaran integrative stratigraphy, biotas, and paleogeographical evolution of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas

“…These fossils are also found in the Zhoujieshan Formation of the Olongbuluk Block (Shen et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2021aWang et al, , 2021b. In addition to this, Charnia and possible Aspidella, which are typical fossils of the Ediacara biota, further add to the diversity of fossils in this region (Shen et al, 2007;Pang et al, 2021b;Wang et al, 2021aWang et al, , 2021b. The presence of both the Ediacara fossils and tillites not only serves as crucial evidence for the stratigraphic correlation but also indicates a close paleogeographic relationship between the Olongbuluk, Tarim and North China blocks (Pang et al, 2021b;.…”

“…Late Ediacaran ribbon-shaped and tubular fossils Shaanxilithes and Palaeopascichnus are discovered from the Zhengmuguan Formation in Helanshan, western North China, which neighbors the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (Shen et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2021aWang et al, , 2021b. These fossils are also found in the Zhoujieshan Formation of the Olongbuluk Block (Shen et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2021aWang et al, , 2021b. In addition to this, Charnia and possible Aspidella, which are typical fossils of the Ediacara biota, further add to the diversity of fossils in this region (Shen et al, 2007;Pang et al, 2021b;Wang et al, 2021aWang et al, , 2021b.…”

“…Late Ediacaran ribbon-shaped and tubular fossils Shaanxilithes and Palaeopascichnus are discovered from the Zhengmuguan Formation in Helanshan, western North China, which neighbors the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (Shen et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2021aWang et al, , 2021b. These fossils are also found in the Zhoujieshan Formation of the Olongbuluk Block (Shen et al, 2007;Wang et al, 2021aWang et al, , 2021b.…”

“…Secondly, typical Ediacara-type macrofossils and trace fossils are found in the Zhoujieshan Formation (Wang et al, 1980;Shen et al, 2007;Pang et al, 2021b). The cumulative evidence suggests that the Hongtiegou and Zhoujieshan formations can be comparable with those late Ediacaran sequences recorded in Tarim and North China (Wang X et al, 2021b. However, it is difficult to determine whether the age of the strata underlying the Heitupo Formation corresponds to the Neoproterozoic or Mesoproterozoic at present.…”

“…The overlying Tuerkeng Formation is disintegrated from the upper part of the former Zhengmuguan Formation, and is overlain by the Cambrian Suyukou Formation (Cai et al, 2013). Based on the presence of the tillites in the Zhengmuguan Formation and late Ediacaran fossil Shaanxilithes in the overlying Tuerkeng Formation (Shen et al, 2007(Shen et al, , 2010, the Zhengmuguan Formation is considered to represent the record of the late Ediacaran glaciation, thus a possible correlation with the Luoquan Formation of southern North China has been proposed (Shen et al, 2007(Shen et al, , 2010Wang et al, 2021b).…”