Zhoutian Formation

Zhoutian Formation
Zhoutian Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous; (Turonian–early Coniacian), 96–90 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
	Outcrops of the Zhoutian Formation in Jiangxi
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Ganzhou Group
Underlies	Hekou Formation
Overlies	Maodian Formation
Thickness	Lower unit: 1,435–1,270 metres (4,708–4,167 ft); Upper unit: 1,270–1,100 metres (4,170–3,610 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Reddish siltstone, sandstone
Other	Interbedded halite
Location
Coordinates	25°30′26″N 115°46′34″E / 25.50722°N 115.77611°E
Region	Jiangxi Province
Country	China
	Show more

The Zhoutian Formation (Chinese: 周田组; pinyin: zhōu tián zǔ) is a geological formation in Jiangxi, China. It has been dated to the late Cretaceous period, at about 96–90 Ma. Abundant egg fossils are known from the formation, in addition to dinosaurs such as Datai and Gandititan. Invertebrate and plant fossils have also been described from the Zhoutian Formation.

Geology

Layers of the Zhoutian Formation are characterized by a consistent sandy lithology, typically with mauve (reddish to purplish) hues. Most of the formation alternates between fine calcic sandstone and siltstone layers. In some places, other minerals are interbedded, such as calcium, gypsum, halite, and mirabilite.^[2]^[3]^[4] The Zhoutian Formation dates to around 96–90 million years ago, during the Turonian–early Coniacian ages of the early Late Cretaceous epoch within the Cretaceous period.^[5]

Stratigraphy

The Zhoutian Formation is the upper unit of the Ganzhou Group, overlying the Maodian Formation in that group. The Guifeng Group (beginning with the Hekou Formation) overlies the Zhoutian Formation.^[6] These two groups comprise the Ganzhou Basin.^[7]

Paleoenvironment

The lower unit of the Zhoutian Formation is suggested to have had a predominantly hot-arid climate, punctuated by two cooling events. The upper unit was likely characterized by a predominantly warm-humid climate with frequent climate fluctuations.^[1] The environment has been interpreted as a shallow lacustrine (lake) system.^[8] While oviraptorid body fossils have not been found in the Zhoutian Formation, they are among the most common dinosaur fossils found in other similar localities, in addition to occasional sauropod and hadrosaurid fossils.^[7]

Fossil content

Color key

Taxon	Reclassified taxon	Taxon falsely reported as present	Dubious taxon or junior synonym	Ichnotaxon	Ootaxon	Morphotaxon

Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; ~~crossed out~~ taxa are discredited.

Dinosaurs

Genus	Species	Region	Material	Notes	Images
Datai^[5]	D. yingliangis	Jiangxi	YLSNHM 01002 (holotype) and YLSNHM 01003 (paratype), two articulated, associated specimens including both skulls, as well as some cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, partial pectoral and pelvic girdles, left arm bones, a partial right femur, ribs, and several osteoderms	An ankylosaurine; possibly closely related to Pinacosaurus
Gandititan^[4]	G. cavocaudatus	Jiangxi	JXGM-F-V1, a series of cervical, dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae, ribs, and a partial right pelvic girdle	A basal titanosaur; closely related to Abdarainurus

Other reptiles

Genus	Species	Region	Material	Notes	Images
Pan-Trionychidae indet.^[9]	Indeterminate	Jiangxi	CUGW VH245, a nearly-complete carapace with skeletal fragments, including a femur and both ilia, of a juvenile individual	A softshell turtle

Ootaxa

Genus	Species	Region	Material	Notes
Wormoolithus^[10]	W. luxiensis	Jiangxi	PXMV-0021, a small partial clutch with the remains of at least seven eggs	Classified as belonging to the Similifaveoloolithidae
Undulatoolithus^[11]	U. pengi	Jiangxi	PXMV-0016, a well-preserved clutch of eight eggs	Classified as belonging to the Elongatoolithidae, possibly laid by an oviraptorosaur
Parafaveoloolithus^[11]	P. pingxiangensis	Jiangxi	PXMV-0009-01, a single partial egg	Classified as belonging to the Faveoloolithidae

Invertebrates

Genus	Species	Region	Material	Notes	Images
Nemestheria^[12]^[2]	N. sp.	Jiangxi		A clam shrimp

Plants

Genus	Species	Region	Material	Notes	Images
Euonymus^[12]	E. sp.	Jiangxi		A flowering plant within the family Celastraceae
Frenelopsis^[12]	F. sp.	Jiangxi		A conifer within the family Cheirolepidiaceae

References

^ ^a ^b Yan, Kai; Wang, Chun-lian; Mischke, Steffen; Wang, Jiu-yi; Shen, Li-jian; Yu, Xiao-can; Meng, Ling-yang (2021-07-05). "Major and trace-element geochemistry of Late Cretaceous clastic rocks in the Jitai Basin, southeast China". Scientific Reports. 11 (1): 13846. Bibcode:2021NatSR..1113846Y. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93125-8. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 8257612. PMID 34226583.
^ ^a ^b Peng, Hua (2020). "Geological Structure". China Danxia. Springer Geography. Singapore: Springer Singapore. pp. 37–53. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-5959-0_4. ISBN 978-981-13-5958-3. S2CID 242176380.
^ Xiao, Zeyou; Qi, Fuyong; Fan, Huihu; Wang, Jin (2023). "江西赣州盆地盐湖型锂矿地质特征及找矿前景" [Geological characteristics and prospecting potential of brine-type lithium ores in Ganzhou Basin, Jiangxi Province]. 华东地质 (East China Geology) (in Chinese). 44 (4): 367–375. doi:10.16788/j.hddz.32-1865/P.2023.04.001.
^ ^a ^b Han, F.; Yang, L.; Lou, F.; Sullivan, C.; Xu, X.; Qiu, W.; Liu, H.; Yu, J.; Wu, R.; Ke, Y.; Xu, M.; Hu, J.; Lu, P. (2024). "A new titanosaurian sauropod, Gandititan cavocaudatus gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous of southern China". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 22 (1). 2293038. Bibcode:2024JSPal..2293038H. doi:10.1080/14772019.2023.2293038. S2CID 267107071.
^ ^a ^b Xing, Lida; Niu, Kecheng; Mallon, Jordan; Miyashita, Tetsuto (2023). "A new armored dinosaur with double cheek horns from the early Late Cretaceous of southeastern China". Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology. 11. doi:10.18435/vamp29396. ISSN 2292-1389.
^ Xing, Lida; Niu, Kecheng; Zhang, Lijun; Yang, Tzu-Ruei; Zhang, Jianping; Iv, W. Scott Persons; Romilio, Anthony; Zhuang, Yuhui; Ran, Hao (2020-06-03). "Dinosaur Eggs Associated with Crustacean Trace Fossils from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi, China: Evidence for Foraging Behavior?". Biosis: Biological Systems. 1 (2): 54–59. doi:10.37819/biosis.001.002.0058. ISSN 2707-9783.
^ ^a ^b Xing, Li-Da; Guo, Zi-Sheng; Wu, Rui; Du, Chun-Lei; Wang, Dong-Hao; Scott Persons, W. (2023-07-01). "Cretaceous dinosaur and crocodylomorph egg records of the Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province, southern China". Journal of Palaeogeography. 12 (3): 401–418. Bibcode:2023JPalG..12..401X. doi:10.1016/j.jop.2023.04.002. ISSN 2095-3836.
^ Yu, Cheng-tao; Fan, Xiu-jun; Zhong, Liang-yun (2020). "赣南于都盆地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 Yudu Basin, Southern Jiangxi]. 华东地质 (East China Geology). 41 (4): 396–402. doi:10.16788/j.hddz.32-1865/p.2020.04.011. ISSN 2096-1871.
^ Ke, Y.; Han, F.; Joyce, W. G. (2025). "The first pan-trionychid turtle from the Upper Cretaceous of southern China, with a summary of the turtle succession in the Ganzhou Basin". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 70 (3): 607–612. doi:10.4202/app.01263.2025.
^ Zhu, Xufeng; Fang, Kaiyong; Wang, Qiang; Deng, Li; Liu, Yuchun; Wen, Jun; Wang, Xiaolin; Wang, Xuri (2021-05-04). "The first Similifaveoloolithidae (Wormoolithus luxiensis oogen. et oosp. nov.) from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi Province, China". Historical Biology. 33 (5): 689–698. Bibcode:2021HBio...33..689Z. doi:10.1080/08912963.2019.1658093. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 203876213.
^ ^a ^b Wang, Qiang; Zhao, Zikui; Wang, Xiaolin; Li, Ning; Zou, Songlin (2013-12-10). "A new form of Elongatoolithidae, Undulatoolithus pengi oogen. et oosp. nov. from Pingxiang, Jiangxi, China". Zootaxa. 3746 (1): 194–200. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3746.1.9. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 25113475.
^ ^a ^b ^c Jun, Cai (1980). "江西留车、吉安盆地晚白垩世早期地层的探讨" [A preliminary study on the strata in the early part of the Late Cretaceous in the Liuche and Jian Basins, Jiangsi Province]. 石油与天然气地质 (in Chinese). 1 (3): 248–251. doi:10.11743/ogg19800308. ISSN 0253-9985.

[Geochemistry2021-1] Yan, Kai; Wang, Chun-lian; Mischke, Steffen; Wang, Jiu-yi; Shen, Li-jian; Yu, Xiao-can; Meng, Ling-yang (2021-07-05). "Major and trace-element geochemistry of Late Cretaceous clastic rocks in the Jitai Basin, southeast China". Scientific Reports. 11 (1): 13846. Bibcode:2021NatSR..1113846Y. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93125-8. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 8257612. PMID 34226583.

[Geo2020Peng-2] Peng, Hua (2020). "Geological Structure". China Danxia. Springer Geography. Singapore: Springer Singapore. pp. 37–53. doi:10.1007/978-981-13-5959-0_4. ISBN 978-981-13-5958-3. S2CID 242176380.

[geology2023-3] Xiao, Zeyou; Qi, Fuyong; Fan, Huihu; Wang, Jin (2023). "江西赣州盆地盐湖型锂矿地质特征及找矿前景" [Geological characteristics and prospecting potential of brine-type lithium ores in Ganzhou Basin, Jiangxi Province]. 华东地质 (East China Geology) (in Chinese). 44 (4): 367–375. doi:10.16788/j.hddz.32-1865/P.2023.04.001.

[Gandititan-4] Han, F.; Yang, L.; Lou, F.; Sullivan, C.; Xu, X.; Qiu, W.; Liu, H.; Yu, J.; Wu, R.; Ke, Y.; Xu, M.; Hu, J.; Lu, P. (2024). "A new titanosaurian sauropod, Gandititan cavocaudatus gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous of southern China". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 22 (1). 2293038. Bibcode:2024JSPal..2293038H. doi:10.1080/14772019.2023.2293038. S2CID 267107071.

[Datai-5] Xing, Lida; Niu, Kecheng; Mallon, Jordan; Miyashita, Tetsuto (2023). "A new armored dinosaur with double cheek horns from the early Late Cretaceous of southeastern China". Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology. 11. doi:10.18435/vamp29396. ISSN 2292-1389.

[Geo2020Xing-6] Xing, Lida; Niu, Kecheng; Zhang, Lijun; Yang, Tzu-Ruei; Zhang, Jianping; Iv, W. Scott Persons; Romilio, Anthony; Zhuang, Yuhui; Ran, Hao (2020-06-03). "Dinosaur Eggs Associated with Crustacean Trace Fossils from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi, China: Evidence for Foraging Behavior?". Biosis: Biological Systems. 1 (2): 54–59. doi:10.37819/biosis.001.002.0058. ISSN 2707-9783.

[Xing2023-7] Xing, Li-Da; Guo, Zi-Sheng; Wu, Rui; Du, Chun-Lei; Wang, Dong-Hao; Scott Persons, W. (2023-07-01). "Cretaceous dinosaur and crocodylomorph egg records of the Sanshui Basin, Guangdong Province, southern China". Journal of Palaeogeography. 12 (3): 401–418. Bibcode:2023JPalG..12..401X. doi:10.1016/j.jop.2023.04.002. ISSN 2095-3836.

[Yu2020-8] Yu, Cheng-tao; Fan, Xiu-jun; Zhong, Liang-yun (2020). "赣南于都盆地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 Yudu Basin, Southern Jiangxi]. 华东地质 (East China Geology). 41 (4): 396–402. doi:10.16788/j.hddz.32-1865/p.2020.04.011. ISSN 2096-1871.

[9] Ke, Y.; Han, F.; Joyce, W. G. (2025). "The first pan-trionychid turtle from the Upper Cretaceous of southern China, with a summary of the turtle succession in the Ganzhou Basin". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 70 (3): 607–612. doi:10.4202/app.01263.2025.

[Wormoolithus-10] Zhu, Xufeng; Fang, Kaiyong; Wang, Qiang; Deng, Li; Liu, Yuchun; Wen, Jun; Wang, Xiaolin; Wang, Xuri (2021-05-04). "The first Similifaveoloolithidae (Wormoolithus luxiensis oogen. et oosp. nov.) from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi Province, China". Historical Biology. 33 (5): 689–698. Bibcode:2021HBio...33..689Z. doi:10.1080/08912963.2019.1658093. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 203876213.

[Undulatoolithus-11] Wang, Qiang; Zhao, Zikui; Wang, Xiaolin; Li, Ning; Zou, Songlin (2013-12-10). "A new form of Elongatoolithidae, Undulatoolithus pengi oogen. et oosp. nov. from Pingxiang, Jiangxi, China". Zootaxa. 3746 (1): 194–200. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3746.1.9. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 25113475.

[Plants1980-12] Jun, Cai (1980). "江西留车、吉安盆地晚白垩世早期地层的探讨" [A preliminary study on the strata in the early part of the Late Cretaceous in the Liuche and Jian Basins, Jiangsi Province]. 石油与天然气地质 (in Chinese). 1 (3): 248–251. doi:10.11743/ogg19800308. ISSN 0253-9985.

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Zhoutian Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous (Turonian–early Coniacian), 96–90 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Outcrops of the Zhoutian Formation in Jiangxi
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Ganzhou Group
Underlies	Hekou Formation
Overlies	Maodian Formation
Thickness	Lower unit: 1,435–1,270 metres (4,708–4,167 ft) Upper unit: 1,270–1,100 metres (4,170–3,610 ft)^[1]
Lithology
Primary	Reddish siltstone, sandstone
Other	Interbedded halite
Location
Coordinates	25°30′26″N 115°46′34″E / 25.50722°N 115.77611°E / 25.50722; 115.77611
Region	Jiangxi Province
Country	China