Journal of Palaeogeography(Chinese Edition) ›› 2026, Vol. 28 ›› Issue (4): 1369-1389. doi: 10.7605/gdlxb.2026.018

• PALAEOGEOGRAPHY • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Sedimentary environment of “Conchostracan shale” of the Middle Jurassic Shaximiao Formation in Sichuan Basin

ZHOU Wenjun1,2(), QI Liang1,2(), HOU Mingcai1,2, OUYANG Hui1,2, GUO Yao1,2, LUO Lin1,2, CHEN Lin1,2   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Institute of Sedimentary Geology, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    2 Key Laboratory of Deep-time Geography and Environment Reconstruction and Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
  • Received:2025-03-07 Revised:2025-04-12 Online:2026-08-01 Published:2026-08-14
  • Contact: Qi Liang,born in 1992,is a researcher and a master’s supervisor. She is engaged in research on sedimentary geotectonics. E-mail: liangqi_cdut@163.com.
  • About author:

    ZHOU Wenjun,born in 2002,is a master’s degree candidate. He is engaged in researches on basin structure and palaeogeography. E-mail: .

  • Supported by:
    Sichuan Science and Technology Department Project(2025ZNSFSC0027)

四川盆地中侏罗统沙溪庙组“叶肢介页岩”沉积环境及其地质意义*

周文俊1,2(), 齐靓1,2(), 侯明才1,2, 欧阳辉1,2, 郭垚1,2, 罗林1,2, 陈林1,2   

  1. 1 油气藏地质及开发工程全国重点实验室, 沉积地质研究院,成都理工大学, 四川成都 610059
    2 自然资源部深时地理环境重建与应用重点实验室, 成都理工大学, 四川成都 610059
  • 通讯作者: 齐靓,女,1992年生,研究员,硕士生导师,主要从事沉积大地构造研究; E-mail: liangqi_cdut@163.com
  • 作者简介:

    周文俊,男,2002年生,硕士研究生,主要从事盆地构造与古地理研究; E-mail:

  • 基金资助:
    *四川省科技厅项目(2025ZNSFSC0027)

Abstract:

The formation of the “Conchostracan shale” layer at the top of the lower section of the Middle Jurassic Shaximiao Formation in the Sichuan Basin marks a major shift in the paleolake depositional environment and palaeogeography. This transition corresponds to the faunal succession of the Shulong-Emeilong fauna to the Mamenchisaurus fauna. Reconstructing the sedimentary and palaeogeographic transformation during this period is crucial for understanding the evolution of dinosaur faunas in the Sichuan Basin. Through the buried characteristics of Conchostracan fossil assemblages and whole-rock geochemical analyses,samples from the lower “Conchostracan Shale” layer,as well as the mudstone and siltstone samples from both the upper and lower sections of the Shaximiao Formation,were examined. The results indicate that Conchostracans thrived in warm,humid shallow lacustrine environments. A transition in sedimentary environments—from deltaic systems to shallow lacustrine,fluvial,and deltaic systems—occurred between the lower and upper sections of the Shaximiao Formation. Analysis of paleoclimate indices(CIA,CIW),redox indicators(δCe,V/Cr,U/Th,V/(V+Ni),V/Sc),and paleosalinity proxies(B/Ga,Sr/Ba)reveals a dynamic evolution of the paleoenvironment within the Shaximiao Formation. Palaeoclimatic conditions shifted from semi-humid and semi-arid to warm and humid,and later reverted back to semi-humid and semi-arid. Concurrently,the paleo-water environment experienced a transition from oxidizing and weakly reducing conditions to more reducing conditions,followed by a return to oxidizing and weakly reducing conditions. Paleosalinity remained predominantly freshwater throughout,with only localized,minor salinization observed in the upper sections. These findings suggest that during the late Middle Jurassic,the Sichuan Basin experienced significant precipitation,leading to the establishment of a warm and humid palaeoclimate and a reducing lake environment conducive to the extensive proliferation of Conchostracans. Subsequently,a shift toward drier climatic conditions likely drove the adaptive evolution of herbivorous dinosaur lineages,transitioning from the Shulong-Emeilong fauna to the Mamenchisaurus fauna.

Key words: Conchostracan, sedimentary environment, palaeogeography, Shaximiao Formation, Middle Jurassic, Sichuan Basin

摘要:

四川盆地中侏罗统沙溪庙组下段顶部“叶肢介页岩”层的形成标志着古湖泊沉积环境与古地理格局的重大转变。该层位对应蜀龙-峨眉龙动物群向马门溪龙动物群的演替节点,重塑该时期沉积环境与古地理条件转变过程,对认识四川盆地恐龙动物群演化具有重要意义。本研究对沙溪庙组下段“叶肢介页岩”进行了叶肢介化石埋藏特征分析,并对“叶肢介页岩”以及沙溪庙组上、下段泥岩和粉砂岩样品进行了全岩地球化学分析。结果显示,沙溪庙组沉积时期相继发生前三角洲→浅湖→河流—三角洲沉积环境的转变,叶肢介大量生长繁殖于温暖湿润的浅湖环境中; CIA与CIW等古气候指标显示沙溪庙组古气候出现半湿润—半干旱→温暖湿润→半湿润—半干旱的转变,δCe、V/Cr、U/Th、V/(V+Ni)与V/Sc等氧化还原指标表明古水体经历了氧化—弱还原→还原→氧化—弱还原的过渡,B/Ga与Sr/Ba等指示古盐度整体以淡水为主,仅在上段局部发生微咸化。推测四川盆地中侏罗世晚期古气候温暖湿润,形成大量降水,湖盆水体转变为还原环境,从而促进了叶肢介的大量生长繁殖,而随后气候整体向干旱转变,驱动了植食性恐龙类群从蜀龙-峨眉龙向马门溪龙的适应性演替。

关键词: 叶肢介, 沉积环境, 古地理, 沙溪庙组, 中侏罗统, 四川盆地

CLC Number: