Zhiluo Formation Explained

Zhiluo Formation
Type:	Geological formation
Prilithology:	Sandstone, siltstone mudstone
Region:	Shaanxi
Country:	China
Subunits:	Lower, Upper units
Underlies:	Lower Cretaceous Dongsheng Formation
Overlies:	Yanan Formation
Thickness:	100-200 metres
Extent:	Ordos Basin
Period:	Middle Jurassic

The Zhiluo Formation is a geological formation in China, it is also alternatively considered a geological group under the name Zhiluo Group (formerly known as the Chiloo Group). It dates to the Middle Jurassic. It consists of sandstone, mudstone and siltstone of varying colours. It has received scientific attention for its uranium ore bodies present in the lower part of the formation.^[1] Fossil theropod tracks have been reported from the formation.^[2] These were described from two footprints found in Jiaoping Coal Mine by C. C. Young in 1966 as Shensipus tungchuanensis. These were in 2015 suggested to belong to Anomoepus.^[3] The dinosaur Lingwulong has been suggested to have come from the strata of this formation, previously having been attributed to the underlying Yanan Formation.^[4]

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
  • List of stratigraphic units with theropod tracks

References

• Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. .

Notes and References

1. Jin. Ruo-shi. Feng. Xiao-xi. Teng. Xue-ming. Nie. Feng-jun. Cao. Hai-yang. Hou. Hui-qun. Liu. Hong-xu. Miao. Pei-sen. Zhao. Hua-lei. Chen. Lu-lu. Zhu. Qiang. 2020. Genesis of green sandstone/mudstone from Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation in the Dongsheng Uranium Orefield, Ordos Basin and its enlightenment for uranium mineralization. China Geology. en. 3. 1. 52–66. 10.31035/cg2020002. 2096-5192. free.
2. Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
3. Xing. Lida. Lockley. Martin G.. Tang. Yonggang. Klein. Hendrik. Zhang. Jianping. Persons. W. Scott. Dai. Hui. Ye. Yong. 2015-01-02. Theropod and Ornithischian Footprints from the Middle Jurassic Yanan Formation of Zizhou County, Shaanxi, China. Ichnos. en. 22. 1. 1–11. 10.1080/10420940.2014.985670. 129509962 . 1042-0940.
4. Dai . Hui . Tan . Chao . Xiong . Can . Ma . Qingyu . Li . Ning . Yu . Haidong . Wei . Zhaoying . Wang . Ping . Yi . Jian . Wei . Guangbiao . You . Hailu . Ren . Xinxin . New macronarian from the Middle Jurassic of Chongqing, China: phylogenetic and biogeographic implications for neosauropod dinosaur evolution . Royal Society Open Science . 2022 . 9 . 11 . 220794 . 10.1098/rsos.220794 . 9627447 . 36340515.