Suining Formation
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| Suining Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: ?Late Jurassic, | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Unit of | Sichuan Basin |
| Underlies | Penglaizhen Formation |
| Overlies | Upper Shaximiao Formation |
| Thickness | Several hundred meters |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Mudstone |
| Other | Sandstone, siltstone |
| Location | |
| Region | Asia |
| Country | China |
| Type section | |
| Named by | Lee & Chen (1939)[2] |
The Suining Formation (simplified Chinese: 遂宁组; traditional Chinese: 遂寧組; pinyin: Suìníng Zǔ) is a geological formation in China whose strata likely date back to the Late Jurassic.[3] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[4]
The Suining Formation was identified in 1939. The formation was initially dated to the Tithonian (Late Jurassic).[2][4][5] A 2019 publication described zircons from the Suining Formation that implied a younger age, the average age being around 115.5–113.3 million years ago (Early Cretaceous, upper Aptian age).[6] Later research suggested that a Late Jurassic age is more likely based on reinterpretations of the previous zircon-based ages and comparisons of the dinosaur and pollen fossils with other more confidently-dated formations.[3][1]
