Quantou Formation

The Quantou Formation is a Cretaceous Period (Mesozoic Era) geologic formation in China. It is primarily Albian in age.^[1] It has been explored for its potential as a tight oil reservoir.^[2]^[3]

TypeGeological formation

Unit ofSongliao Basin

Sub-unitsFirst through Fourth Members

UnderliesQingshankou Formation

Quick facts Type, Unit of ...

Quantou Formation
Stratigraphic range: Aptian to Early Cenomanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Songliao Basin
Sub-units	First through Fourth Members
Underlies	Qingshankou Formation
Overlies	Denglouku Formation
Thickness	190 to 1379 m
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone
Other	Mudstone
Location
Region	Jilin
Country	China

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.^[4]

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

Ornithischians

More information Ornithischians of the Quantou Formation, Genus ...

Ornithischians of the Quantou Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Changchunsaurus^[5]	C. parvus				A thescelosaurid ornithopod
Helioceratops^[6]	H. brachygnathus				A archaeoceratopsid ceratopsian

Sauropods

More information Sauropods of the Quantou Formation, Genus ...

Sauropods of the Quantou Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Jiutaisaurus^[7]	J. xidiensis				A titanosauriform sauropod

Theropods

More information Theropods of the Quantou Formation, Genus ...

Theropods of the Quantou Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Dromaeosauridae Indet.^[8]	Indeterminate				A large-bodied dromaeosaurid theropod

Mammals

More information Mammals of the Quantou Formation, Genus ...

Mammals of the Quantou Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Gobiconodon^[9]	G. gongzhulingensis				A gobiconodontid eutriconodont
Zhangolestes^[10]	Z. jilinensis				A zalambdalestid eutherian

Eggs

More information Eggs of the Quantou Formation, Genus ...

Eggs of the Quantou Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Image
Jilinoolithus^[11]	J. lamellotestus				A maniraptoran eggs

Footnotes

[1]
WANG, Guodong; CHENG, Rihui; WANG, Pujun; GAO, Youfeng; WANG, Chengshan; REN, Yanguang; HUANG, Qinghua (March 2009). "Description of Cretaceous Sedimentary Sequence of the Quantou Formation Recovered by CCSD-SK-Is Borehole in Songliao Basin: Lithostratigraphy, Sedimentary Facies and Cyclic Stratigraphy". Earth Science Frontiers. 16 (2): 324–338. Bibcode:2009ESF....16..324W. doi:10.1016/s1872-5791(08)60078-0. ISSN 1872-5791.
[2]
Xi, Kelai; Cao, Yingchang; Haile, Beyene Girma; Zhu, Rukai; Jahren, Jens; Bjørlykke, Knut; Zhang, Xiangxiang; Hellevang, Helge (September 2016). "How does the pore-throat size control the reservoir quality and oiliness of tight sandstones? The case of the Lower Cretaceous Quantou Formation in the southern Songliao Basin, China". Marine and Petroleum Geology. 76: 1–15. Bibcode:2016MarPG..76....1X. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.05.001. ISSN 0264-8172.
[3]
Xi, Kelai; Cao, Yingchang; Jahren, Jens; Zhu, Rukai; Bjørlykke, Knut; Haile, Beyene Girma; Zheng, Lijing; Hellevang, Helge (December 2015). "Diagenesis and reservoir quality of the Lower Cretaceous Quantou Formation tight sandstones in the southern Songliao Basin, China". Sedimentary Geology. 330: 90–107. Bibcode:2015SedG..330...90X. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2015.10.007. ISSN 0037-0738.
[4]
Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
[5]
Zan S.-Q.; Chen J.; Jin L.-Y.; Li T. (2005). "A primitive ornithopod from the Early Cretaceous Quantou Formation of central Jilin, China". Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 43: 182–193. doi:10.19615/j.cnki.1000-3118.2005.03.003.
[6]
Jin, L.; Chen, J.; Zan, S.; Godefroit, P. (2009). "A new basal neoceratopsian dinosaur from the Middle Cretaceous of Jilin Province, China". Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition). 83 (2): 200–206. Bibcode:2009AcGlS..83..200J. doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2009.00023.x. S2CID 129656123.
[7]
Wu, W.-H.; Dong, Z.-M.; Sun, Y.-W.; Li, C.-T.; Li, T. (2006). "A New Sauropod Dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Jiutai, Jilin, China". Global Geology. 25 (1): 6–9.
[8]
Yang, L.; Li, X.; Chen, J.; Reisz, R. R. (2023). "First Discovery of Large-bodied Dromaeosaurid Fossil Materials (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Quantou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China". Cretaceous Research. 153 105711. 105711. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105711. S2CID 262181571.
[9]
Wu, W.; Mao, F.; Chen, J.; Meng, J. (2026). "A new gobiconodontid mammal from Upper Cretaceous of China and reassessment of dentition in Gobiconodon". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 71 (2): 193–210. doi:10.4202/app.01313.2025.
[10]
Chen, J.; Mao, F.; Wu, W.; Meng, J. (2025). "New Material of the Zalambdalestid Zhangolestes (Mammalia, Zalambdalestidae) from the Late Cretaceous Changchunsaurus Fauna of Jilin, China". Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition). 99 (3): 634–645. Bibcode:2025AcGlS..99..634C. doi:10.1111/1755-6724.15307.
[11]
Wang, L.; Chen, J.; Li, X.; Wu, W.; Reisz, R. (2026). "First Discovery of Maniraptoran Egg from the Upper Cretaceous Quantou Formation (Cenomanian), Songliao Basin, Northeast China". Cretaceous Research 106389. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2026.106389.

Quantou Formation

Fossil content

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Sauropods

Theropods

Mammals

Eggs

See also

Footnotes

Bibliography

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