Affiliation:
1. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology CAS: Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology Chinese Academy of Sciences
2. University of Bucharest Faculty of Geology and Geophysics: Universitatea din Bucuresti Facultatea de Geologie si Geofizica
3. Swedish Museum of Natural History: Naturhistoriska riksmuseet
4. Southwest Petroleum University School of Geoscience and Technology
Abstract
AbstractTriassic-Jurassic strata are extensively developed and widely distributed in the Sichuan Basin, South China. In particular, the continental Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation is well-exposed in this region, yielding rich assemblages of fossil plants. Here, a new fossil assemblage is reported from Zilanba in the Guangyuan area, northern Sichuan Basin. This locality yields 31 species of fossil plants belonging to 18 genera, newly collected from ‘member Ⅲ’ of the Xujiahe Formation. Based on the floral assemblages and previous magnetostratigraphic and palynostratigraphic studies, the host strata are considered lower Rhaetian in age. The early Rhaetian flora in the Guangyuan area is dominated by Cycadales and Bennettitales but also contains abundant ferns and low proportions of various sphenopsids, conifers and other gymnosperms. The occurrence of some climate-diagnostic plants, such as Dipteridaceae,AnthrophyopsisandPtilozamites, indicate that this area experienced a humid and warm tropical or subtropical climate during the early Rhaetian.
Publisher
Research Square Platform LLC