An introduction to the Triassic and Jurassic of the Junggar Basin, China: advances in palaeontology and environments

Abstract

Abstract The Junggar Basin, NW China, hosts continuous and well-exposed Late Triassic and Jurassic continental strata. Extensive coal, oil and gas deposits occur within the basin and, together with the high-palaeolatitude locality and continental records of several Mesozoic geological events, make the sedimentary successions globally important. This special publication focuses on these successions, presenting recent advances in palaeontology, geology and palaeoenvironments. The contents span various topics, including studies of fauna, flora, stratigraphy, geochemistry, palaeogeography, palaeoclimate, petroleum reservoir quality, the end-Triassic mass extinction, the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, Triassic–Jurassic seasonal freezing and true polar wander. To provide continuity throughout the various papers, where possible, bed numbers for all stratigraphic units are provided, enabling findings to be compared among studies and tested in the future. This special publication highlights that the sediments of the Junggar Basin provide important long-term records of continental life and environmental changes through the Triassic and Jurassic.