Dengying Formation

The Dengying Formation is an upper Ediacaran (551-541 Ma^[2]) fossiliferous geologic formation found in South China. It was deposited on a shallow marine carbonate platform.^[3]

Dengying Formation
Stratigraphic range: Ediacaran ~551–541 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Transition between uppermost Doushantuo Formation and lowermost Dengying Formation
Type	Formation
Sub-units	See: Members
Underlies	Yanjiahe Formation[1]
Overlies	Doushantuo Formation
Location
Region	Yangtze Gorges
Country	China

Members

Listed by ascending age:

• The Hamajing Member is characterized by light grey, medium- to thick-bedded dolomite, intercalated with thin layers of chert.^[3]
• The Shibantan Member is interpreted to represent a subtidal environment and is composed of dark grey, thin-bedded bituminous limestone. It is the most fossiliferous of the Dengying Formation members and has yielded several trace fossils, such as Lamonte,^[4] as well as possible lobopodian trackways. ^[5]
• The Baimatuo Member consists of light grey, thick-bedded dolomite.^[3]

Traditionally, the Tianzhushan Member was considered to be the uppermost unit of the Dengying Formation. However, its small shelly fossils and Micrhystridium-like acritarchs are a shared characteristic with the Cambrian Yanjiahe Formation.^[3]

Genera

• Alienum
• Cloudina
• Lobodiscus
• Palaeorhopalon
• Paracharnia
• Shufangtubulus
• Sinotubulites
• Yangtziramulus

Ichnogenera

• Helminthoidichnites
• Lamonte
• Torrowangea

See also

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in China
• Ediacaran biota

References

1. Dong, Lin; Xiao, Shuhai; Shen, Bing; Zhou, Chuanming; Guoxiang, Li; Yao, Jinxian (2009). "Basal Cambrian Microfossils from the Yangtze Gorges Area (South China) and the Aksu Area (Tarim Block, Northwestern China)". Journal of Paleontology. 83 (1): 30–34. Bibcode:2009JPal...83...30D. doi:10.1666/07-147R.1. S2CID 129410378. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
2. Condon, Daniel; Zhu, Maoyan; Bowring, Samuel; Wang, Wei; Yang, Aihua; Jin, Yugan (2005). "U–Pb ages from the Neoproterozoic Doushantuo Formation, China". Science. 308 (5718): 5–98. Bibcode:2005Sci...308...95C. doi:10.1126/science.1107765. JSTOR 3841402. PMID 15731406. S2CID 11673032.
3. Zhou, Chuanming; Xiao, Shuhai (2006). "Ediacaran .δ13C chemostratigraphy of South China". Chemical Geology. 237 (1–2): 89–108. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2006.06.021.
4. Meyer, Mike; Xiao, Shuhai; Gill, Benjamin C.; Schiffbauer, James D.; Chen, Zhe; Zhou, Chuanming; Yuan, Xunlai (2014). "Interactions between Ediacaran animals and microbial mats: Insights from Lamonte trevallis, a new trace fossil from the Dengying Formation of South China". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 396: 62–74. Bibcode:2014PPP...396...62M. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.12.026.
5. Chen, Zhe; Chen, Xiang; Zhou, Chuanming; Yuan, Xunlai; Xiao, Shuhai (June 2018). "Late Ediacaran trackways produced by bilaterian animals with paired appendages". Science Advances. 4 (6). doi:10.1126/sciadv.aao6691. hdl:10919/84444.