An assemblage of macroscopic and diversified carbonaceous compression fossils from the Tonian Shiwangzhuang Formation in western Shandong, North China

doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2020.105801

Precambrian Research

Volume 346, 15 August 2020, 105801

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2020.105801 Get rights and content

Highlights

•
A Tonian assemblage of macroscopic carbonaceous compressions from North China.
•
In total, twelve genera, sixteen species and an unnamed filaments, are described.
•
Three taxa are multicellular and seven taxa are likely coenocytic algae.
•
The Tonian diversity of macroalgae is probably underestimated.

Abstract

Macroalgae play a crucial ecological and biogeochemical role in modern marine ecosystems. Although eukaryotic algae have a deep history within the Precambrian, most pre-Cryogenian alga fossils are microscopic and macroalga fossils are poorly documented during this period. Here we report a well-preserved assemblage of macroscopic and diversified carbonaceous compression fossils from the Tonian Shiwangzhuang Formation in western Shandong, North China. This assemblage consists of seventeen distinct morphotaxa, including eleven macroalgae, showing remarkable taxonomic diversity that is more diverse than many other Tonian macrofossil assemblages all over the world. Three taxa from the Shiwangzhuang assemblage show evidence of simple multicellularity with two of them consisting of giant cells and comparable to giant-celled green algae, and seven taxa with diagnostic transverse annulations are likely coenocytic algae. The Shiwangzhuang assemblage indicates that some eukaryotic clades had achieved macroscopic growth through simple multicellularity or coenocytism, paving the way, either ecologically or phylogenetically, for the eventual appearance of complex multicellularity. In addition, there are some biostratigraphically significant genera, including the Chuaria-Tawuia and Sinosabellidites-Protoarenicola-Pararenicola assemblages, indicating a Tonian age for the Shiwangzhuang Formation. This study also suggests that the Tonian diversity of multicellular or coenocytic macroalgae is probably underestimated, pending for a systematic and thorough investigation of Tonian macroscopic carbonaceous compressions. Macroalgae may have an initial ecological expansion, at least locally if not globally, in the Tonian Period.

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Macroalgae, which are usually multicellular or coenocytic eukaryotes, play an important role, both ecologically and biogeochemically, in modern marine ecosystems (Xiao and Dong, 2006). Molecular clock studies suggest that eukaryotic algae have an evolutionary deep history tracing back to the Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic (Parfrey et al., 2011, Sánchez-Baracaldo et al., 2017). However, fossil biomarkers indicate that prokaryotes were the only notable primary producers in pre-Cryogenian oceans and it was not until the Cryogenian that eukaryotic algae rose to ecological prominence (Brocks et al., 2017, Hoshino et al., 2017). Although there are a handful of macrofossils interpreted as multicellular or coenocytic algae in the Tonian (Butterfield, 2004, Butterfield et al., 1994, Dong et al., 2008, Qian et al., 2009, Sharma et al., 2009, Tang et al., 2017, Tang et al., 2020), the fossil record of macroalgae during this period is poorly documented, hampering our ability to evaluate the potential ecological and geobiological importance of early macroalgae.

Carbonaceous compressions, including Burgess Shale-type macrofossils and organic-walled microfossils, provide an important window into our understanding of the origin and early evolution of eukaryotes. Most macroalga fossils are preserved as carbonaceous compressions throughout the Proterozoic (Hofmann, 1994, Xiao and Dong, 2006). However, compared with Ediacaran macroalga assemblages (Xiao et al., 2002, Yuan et al., 2013), the taxonomic diversities of Tonian macroalga assemblages are usually considered much lower and their morphology relatively simple (Butterfield, 2009, Xiao, 2013). In this study, we describe an assemblage of macroscopic and diversified carbonaceous compression fossils from the Tonian Shiwangzhuang Formation (~910–720 Ma) of the Tumen Group from western Shandong, North China (Fig. 1, Fig. 2). The Shiwangzhuang assemblage shows notable taxonomic diversity which is not common in the Tonian. It consists of seventeen distinct morphotaxa, including eleven macroalgae. Among them, three taxa show evidence of simple multicellularity with two of them consisting of giant cells, and seven tubular taxa are likely coenocytic algae with diagnostic transverse annulations.

Section snippets

Geological setting

Meso-Neoproterozoic successions in Shandong Province are represented by the Tumen Group in Luxi (western Shandong) region and the Penglai Group in Ludong (eastern Shandong) region (Fig. 1), which are geographically separated by the Tanlu Fault (Bureau, 1991, Bureau, 1996, Song and Wang, 2003, You and Zhai, 1988, Zhai et al., 2007, Zhao and Zhai, 2013). The Tumen Group in Luxi region is mainly composed of pebbly sandstones, sandstones, shales, and limestones, and its exposure in Luxi region is

Materials and methods

Specimens were collected from a fossiliferous horizon (~74 m below the top of the Shiwangzhuang Formation) in the middle of the Tonian Shiwangzhuang Formation of the Tumen Group at the Baishicun section (36°30′39″N, 119°07′39″E), Anqiu region, Shandong Province, North China (Fig. 1, Fig. 2B). Macroscopic fossils are preserved on the bedding surface of argillaceous limestones, mostly as carbonaceous compressions, sometimes pyritized. Carbonaceous compressions present more details than pyritized

Summary of the Shiwangzhuang assemblage

In a recent study focused on the paleontology of the underlying Tongjiazhuang Formation of the Tumen Group, we have mentioned the occurrences of Tawuia dalensis Hofmann in Hofmann and Aitken, 1979 and Sinosabellidites huainanensis Zheng, 1980 from the Shiwangzhuang Formation (Li et al., 2019). Our continuous excavation has recovered more than 6000 specimens of carbonaceous compression fossils from the same fossiliferous horizon of the Shiwangzhuang Formation at the Baishicun section (Fig. 2,

Systematic paleontology

Genus Anqiutrichoides n. gen.

Type species.—Anqiutrichoides constrictus n. gen. and sp.

Diagnosis.—Diagnosis is as for the type species.

Etymology.—Derived from the Anqiu region, in which the fossil locality is located, and from Greek trichoma (hair), with reference to the filamentous habit.

Anqiutrichoides constrictus n. gen. and sp.

Figure 14

Diagnosis.—Unbranched, uniseriate, multicellular trichomes with cell length less than or equal to cell width. Trichomes 400 μm to several hundred μm in width,

Biological affinities of the Shiwangzhuang assemblage

Four morphotaxa within the Shiwangzhuang assemblage, including Glomulus filamentum, Mucoplagum primitivum, Siphonophycus punctatum, and the unnamed filaments, are likely of cyanobacterial origin and can form colonies (Fig. 16); however, they do not exhibit cellular preservation. Filaments of S. punctatum are commonly considered as empty sheath of filamentous cyanobacteria (Butterfield et al., 1994, Schopf, 1968, Tang et al., 2013). Aggregated filaments of G. filamentum are interpreted as

Conclusions

Macroscopic carbonaceous compression fossils from the Shiwangzhuang Formation of the Tumen Group are delicately preserved and diverse. They are characterized by abundant eukaryotic macroalgae and filamentous cyanobacteria. A total of seventeen taxa have been recognized from the Shiwangzhuang Formation, including a new genus and six new species. The Shiwangzhuang assemblage is more diverse than many other Tonian macrofossil assemblages all over the world. Among them, three taxa show evidence of

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC0601001 and 2017YFC0603101), National Natural Science Foundation of China (41921002, 41502019, and 41602007), Chinese Academy of Sciences (QYZDJ-SSW-DQC009, XDB26000000, and XDB18000000), Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST) Research Fund (2015RCJJ009, 2015YQJH102, and 2015TDJH101), Taishan Scholars Project, and State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy (20201102 and

References (101)

N.J. Butterfield
Modes of pre-Ediacaran multicellularity
Precambrian Res.
(2009)
P. Cloud
Reflections on the beginnings of metazoan evolution
Precambrian Res.
(1986)
L. Dong et al.
Restudy of the worm-like carbonaceous compression fossils Protoarenicola, Pararenicola, and Sinosabellidites from early Neoproterozoic successions in North China
Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol.
(2008)
T.N. German et al.
New insights into the nature of the Late Riphean Eosolenides
Precambrian Res.
(2009)
B. Hu et al.
Mesoproterozoic magmatic events in the eastern North China Craton and their tectonic implications: geochronological evidence from detrital zircons in the Shandong Peninsula and North Korea
Gondwana Res.
(2012)
S. Kumar
Mesoproterozoic megafossil Chuaria-Tawuia association may represent parts of a multicellular plant, Vindhyan Supergroup, Central India
Precambrian Res.
(2001)
G. Li et al.
Organic-walled microfossils from the Tonian Tongjiazhuang Formation of the Tumen Group in western Shandong, North China Craton and their biostratigraphic significance
Gondwana Res.
(2019)
I. Mine et al.
Morphogenesis in giant-celled algae
Int. Rev. Cel. Mol. Bio.
(2008)
P. Peng et al.
Neoproterozoic (~900 Ma) Sariwon sills in North Korea: geochronology, geochemistry and implications for the evolution of the south-eastern margin of the North China Craton
Gondwana Res.
(2011)
V.N. Sergeev et al.
Microfossils from the lower Mesoproterozoic Kaltasy Formation, East European Platform
Precambrian Res.
(2016)

M. Sharma et al.

On the affinity of Chuaria-Tawuia complex: a multidisciplinary study

Precambrian Res.

(2009)

M. Sharma et al.

Taxonomy and affinity of Early Mesoproterozoic megascopic helically coiled and related fossils from the Rohtas Formation, the Vindhyan Supergroup, India

Precambrian Res.

(2009)

Q. Tang et al.

Organic-walled microfossils from the early Neoproterozoic Liulaobei Formation in the Huainan region of North China and their biostratigraphic significance

Precambrian Res.

(2013)

G. Vidal et al.

Microbiotas from the late Proterozoic Chuar Group (northern Arizona) and Uinta Mountain Group (Utah) and their chronostratigraphic implications

Precambrian Res.

(1985)

N.G. Vorob’eva et al.

Neoproterozoic microfossils from the margin of the East European Platform and the search for a biostratigraphic model of lower Ediacaran rocks

Precambrian Res.

(2009)

N.G. Vorob’eva et al.

Kotuikan Formation assemblage: a diverse organic-walled microbiota in the Mesoproterozoic Anabar succession, northern Siberia

Precambrian Res.

(2015)

S. Xiao

Oxygen and early animal evolution

M. Zhai et al.

Linking the Sulu UHP belt to the Korean Peninsula: evidence from eclogite, Precambrian basement, and Paleozoic sedimentary basins

Gondwana Res.

(2007)

G. Zhao et al.

Lithotectonic elements of Precambrian basement in the North China Craton: review and tectonic implications

Gondwana Res.

(2013)

H.C. Bold et al.

Introduction to the Algae: Structure and Reproduction

(1978)

J.J. Brocks et al.

The rise of algae in Cryogenian oceans and the emergence of animals

Nature

(2017)

Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Shandong Province, 1991. Regional Geology of Shandong Province. Geological...

Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Shandong Province, 1996. Stratigraphy (Lithostratic) of Shandong Province....

N.J. Butterfield

A vaucheriacean alga from the middle Neoproterozoic of Spitsbergen: implications for the evolution of Proterozoic eukaryotes and the Cambrian explosion

Paleobiology

(2004)

N.J. Butterfield et al.

Diverse organic-walled fossils, including “possible dinoflagellates”, from the early Neoproterozoic of arctic Canada

Geology

(1998)

N.J. Butterfield et al.

Paleobiology of the Neoproterozoic Svanbergfjellet formation, Spitsbergen

Fossils Strata

(1994)

J. Chen

Precambrian metazoans of the Huai River drainage area (Anhui, E. China): their taphonomic and ecological evidence

Senckenb. Lethaea

(1988)

M. Chen

Macrofossils from the Late Precambrian Nanguanling Formation of Wuhangshan Group on the southern Liaodong Peninsula

Sci. Geol. Sin.

(1990)

M. Chen et al.

A new assemblage of megafossils—Miaohe biota from Upper Sinian Doushantuo Formation, Yangtze Gorges

Acta Palaeont. Sin.

(1994)

P. Cohen et al.

Tubular compression fossils from the Ediacaran Nama Group, Namibia

J. Paleontol.

(2009)

D.C. Das Sarma et al.

Discovery of Precambrian-Cambrian transitional fossil sabelliditids from India

Curr. Sci.

(1992)

V. Demoulin et al.

Relationship between diameter of the filament and cell shape in blue-green algae

Br. Phycol. J.

(1981)

L. Ding et al.

Sinian Miaohe Biota

(1996)

G.M. Garrity et al.

Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (Part B)

(2005)

M.B. Gnilovskaya

The most ancient Vendian water plants on the Russian platform

Paleontol. J.

(1971)

M.B. Gnilovskaya

Vendotaenids—Vendian metaphytes

M.B. Gnilovskaya

The ancient annelidomorphs from the upper Riphean of Timan

Dokl. Akad. Nauk.

(1998)

M.B. Gnilovskaya et al.

Pre-Ediacarian fauna from Timan (Annelidomorphs of the late Riphean)

Stratigr. Geol. Correl.

(2000)

L.E. Graham et al.

Algae

(2000)

R. Guilbaud et al.

A global transition to ferruginous conditions in the early Neoproterozoic oceans

Nat. Geos.

(2015)

T.N. Hermann

Organic World One Billion Years Ago

(1990)

T.N. Hermann et al.

A discovery of riphean heterotrophs in the Lakhanda group of Siberia

Paleontol. J.

(2010)

T.N. Hermann et al.

Eosolenides, a new group of problematic organisms from the Late Precambrian

H.J. Hofmann

The mid-Proterozoic Little Dal macrobiota, Mackenzie Mountains, north-west Canada

Palaeontology

(1985)

H.J. Hofmann

Proterozoic carbonaceous films

H.J. Hofmann

Proterozoic carbonaceous compressions (“metaphytes” and “worms”)

H.J. Hofmann et al.

Precambrian biota from the Little Dal Group, Mackenzie Mountains, northwestern Canada

Can. J. Earth Sci.

(1979)

Z. Hong et al.

Upper Precambrian Geology in Southern Liaodong Peninsula

(1991)

Y. Hoshino et al.

Cryogenian evolution of stigmasteroid biosynthesis

Sci. Adv.

(2017)

A.Y. Ivantsov et al.

Revision of the problematic Vendian macrofossil Beltanelliformis (=Beltanelloides, Nemiana)

Paleontol. J.

(2014)

Cited by (31)

Molar-Tooth Carbonate: An excellent proxy for reconstructing lithium isotopic composition of Precambrian seawater
2024, Chemical Geology
Shallow water carbonates are extensively utilized as archives for reconstructing past seawater chemistry and understanding global geochemical cycles. However, their reliability is often compromised by diagenetic alteration, obscuring primary environmental signals. Molar-tooth carbonate (MTC) exhibits exceptional resistance to diagenesis compared to other carbonate minerals, making it a promising candidate for reliably reconstructing ancient seawater chemistry. This study investigates the preservation of primary lithium isotopic composition in Neoproterozoic (Tonian) MTC and its host carbonate from the Dalian area, northeastern China (ca. 980 Ma – 920 Ma). We assess the reliability of MTC in reconstructing paleo-seawater δ⁷Li evolution and provide a reconstruction of Tonian seawater δ⁷Li.
Geochemical filter tests indicate that both MTC and host carbonate remain largely unaltered by meteoric and burial diagenesis. Carbonate δ⁷Li values exhibit a consistent decrease with stratigraphic height, with MTC displaying a narrower range of variation (4–12‰) compared to its host carbonate (1–15‰). Numerical modeling of early marine carbonate diagenesis suggests minimal impact on MTC δ⁷Li values, while host carbonates show varying degrees of diagenetic alteration. Based on the consistent Li isotopic offset observed between ‘fluid-buffered’ diagenetic host carbonate and MTC in our data, we deduce a fractionation factor of 4.8 ± 1.2‰ for seawater-MTC Li isotopic exchange.
Reconstructed paleoseawater δ⁷Li values reveal a progressive decrease from 16.9 ± 1.2‰ to 8.8 ± 1.2‰ during the early Tonian period. This change is likely linked to the assembly of the Rodinia supercontinent and emplacement of large igneous province (LIP). Furthermore, mass balance modeling and Monte Carlo simulations suggest that this decline in seawater δ⁷Li can be attributed to the transition towards more congruent weathering during the early Tonian, facilitated by the assembly of Rodinia and associated large igneous province events.
Overall, our findings underscore the potential of MTC as a reliable proxy for elucidating Precambrian seawater Li isotopic composition and understanding associated paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes.
Chuaria Walcott from the early Cambrian Qingjiang biota: a taxon persisted for billions of years
2024, Palaeoworld
Citation Excerpt :
Besides the compressions and impressions, a few calcite-filled or pyritized fossils are three-dimensionally preserved as spheroids or compressed spheroids (Hofmann, 1985; Zhang et al., 1991; Yuan et al., 2001; Wang et al., 2022). Moreover, circular, elliptical or oval compressions of Chuaria specimens were also reported from carbonate facies, e.g., the muddy dolomite of Tuanshanzi Formation near Jixian, northern China (Hofmann and Chen, 1981), dolostone of the Wynniatt Formation in Minto Inlier on Victoria Island, northwestern Canada (Hofmann and Rainbird, 1994) and argillaceous limestone of Shiwangzhuang Formation in Shandong, northern China (Li et al., 2020). For Chuaria from the Wynniatt Formation, specimens from the dolostone are somewhat bigger than those from the black shale, but they have the same form (Hofmann and Rainbird, 1994).
As a globally distributed genus, Chuaria has an extremely long temporal range from the late Paleoproterozoic to the Cambrian Miaolingian but it is still absent in the pre-Miaolingian Cambrian. Here, we describe new specimens of Chuaria from the Qingjiang biota (black shale of the Cambrian Stage 3 Shuijingtuo Formation, ca. 518 Ma) in Hubei Province, South China, and review its tempo-spatial distribution worldwide. Chuaria from the Qingjiang biota is preserved as carbonaceous compressions or impressions that are discoidal or subdiscoidal in outline and range from 1.40 mm to 5.60 mm in diameter, it is interpreted as a spheroidal and thick-walled eukaryote, and its presence fills the early Cambrian gap in the fossil record. Chuaria remained consistent in morphology and survived harsh environmental perturbations throughout its evolutionary history. Its earliest record was restricted in a small region of Columbia supercontinent; thereafter its records were across a range of continents and became worldwide during the time of Rodinia supercontinent.
Chuaria and Tawuia fossils from ∼1.0 Ga rocks in North China: Implications for a polyphyletic origin of Chuaria and a potential biological link between these two widespread Proterozoic taxa
2024, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
The Proterozoic witnessed the emergence and rise of early eukaryotes and Proterozoic carbonaceous compression macrofossils provide a valuable window for our understanding of this ecological expansion. Among them, the discoidal Chuaria and tomaculate Tawuia, which often co-occur in the same bedding layer, are perhaps the most common fossil forms in Proterozoic successions with extremely long temporal and broad geographical distributions. However, their phylogenetic interpretations and the relationship between them have been debated for decades, due to their simple morphologies lacking phylogenetically diagnostic features. In this study, we used an integrated application of reflected and transmitted light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, biometric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy to characterize well-preserved carbonaceous compression macrofossils of Chuaria and Tawuia from the Tonian Liulaobei Formation in Huainan region, northern Anhui province, North China. The fossils are abundantly preserved in a ca. 1–2 cm thick homogeneous mudstone layer and can be considered to be closer to an ecological community than fossils from multiple different layers or localities. The comprehensive analysis shows that even Chuaria vesicles from the same layer may have a polyphyletic origin and three groups of Chuaria vesicles have been identified. Among them, small Chuaria vesicles with minimum diameter < 1.2 mm can be either related to the sphaeromorphic acritarch Leiosphaeridia or interpreted as multicellular aggregates. In contrast, large Chuaria vesicles with minimum diameter ≥ 1.2 mm are more comparable to the type material of Chuaria circularis from the Chuar Group and more closely related, either phylogenetically or ontogenetically, to Tawuia vesicles. This study takes a step on the path to solving the mystery of the most common and widely distributed Proterozoic macrofossil assemblage (i.e., Chuaria-Tawuia assemblage), and urges thorough and systematic evaluations to be taken on the possibility that Chuaria vesicles from the same Chuaria-Tawuia assemblages or sole Chuaria assemblages in other localities might also be polyphyletic.
Tonian discoidal fossils from North China: Relating discs to worm-like annulated tubes and their paleoecological and evolutionary implications
2023, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Common members of Proterozoic macrofossil assemblages usually include discs and tubes. Particularly, discoidal forms (e.g., Chuaria and abundant unnamed discs) and tubular forms (e.g., Tawuia and the worm-like annulated taxa Protoarenicola, Pararenicola, and Sinosabellidites) dominate most Tonian macrofossil assemblages. Previous work on Proterozoic materials indicated that some discoidal fossils could be detached holdfasts of co-occurring erect benthic organisms, e.g., some tubular fossils and frondose fossils, but little attempt has been made to quantify the potential relationship between the discoidal fossils and the discoidal holdfasts of tubular fossils from Tonian successions. In this study, we find biometric and chemospatial links between discoidal fossils with a central opening and worm-like annulated tubular fossils from the Tonian Jiuliqiao Formation (∼950–720 Ma) in Huainan region, northern Anhui province, North China, which supports the notion that discoidal fossils represent detached holdfasts of tubular fossils and that tubular fossils with or without a holdfast share a potential biological or ontogenic relationship. The paleoecological implication of possible holdfast coalescence (physical contact and fusion of two or more adjacent holdfasts) for Pre-Cryogenian benthic ecosystem and the evolutionary implication of this study for other Proterozoic enigmatic discoidal fossils, particularly for those with a central opening or circular ring, are discussed. Detached holdfasts and holdfast coalescence may be more common than we have thought in the Pre-Cryogenian, and the paleoecological and geobiological role of benthic algae and their holdfasts during this period is probably underestimated. Our study also highlights the adaptation of holdfast morphology to Precambrian mat-ground substrate, and provides evidence for the co-evolution of substrate and benthic organismic morphology during this period.
Fossils, pseudofossils and problematica from the Ura Formation: Ediacaran of the Patom Basin, Siberia
2023, Precambrian Research
The pseudofossils, problematica and actual macrofossils from the Middle Ediacaran Ura Formation of the Patom Basin of Siberia are critically reviewed. Both the pseudofossils and problematica are flat-clasts of ooid grainstones that are interpreted as a product of submarine gravitational or storm-induced erosional episodic events. Some extremely flat batten-shaped ooid and cementstones 2D-clasts closely resemble shreds of ribbon-like macrophyte phytoleims randomly scattered on a bedding plane. They can potentially be considered as a cement-incrustation along the algae thalli buried within ooid sands or shales, however, there is no certainty in their taxonomic identification. At the same time, other abiotic or microbially induced formation mechanisms of these fragments cannot be excluded. The Ura macrofossils, similar in size to the 2D-clasts, are described from the same outcrop, approximately 60 m downsection. They are represented mainly by the ribbon-shaped carbonaceous compressions of Liulingjitaenia alloplecta that demonstrate the stratigraphically lowest appearance of the Miaohe-type fossils in mid-Ediacaran (pre-Shuram, 580–570 Ma) strata of Ura Formation in close association with Doushantuo-type acanthomorphic acritarchs. These fossils are present as a detrital component or as in situ buried large (decimeter scale) colonial clusters. The colonies covered significant surface areas of the soft muddy sea-floor beneath wave-base. L. alloplecta themselves, commonly attributed to green macroalgae, could also be considered as composite colonies of filamentous microalgae or cyanobacteria.
The Proterozoic Qinggouzi microfossil assemblage and its biostratigraphic constraints on the Great Unconformity in northeastern North China Craton
2023, Precambrian Research
The Great Unconformity at the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary has been recognized on several continents and may provide critical insights into the environmental context of the Cambrian explosion. However, the geodynamic drivers, geochronological duration, and paleogeographic extent of the Great Unconformity remain unconstrained in many cases. Recently, a major depositional gap of varying magnitudes has been reported around the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary in several regions of North China, leading to the interpretation that the Great Unconformity may have been widespread but diachronous across the North China Craton. However, the magnitude of the Great Unconformity remains unknown in northeastern North China, largely because of the poor age constraints on the thick Proterozoic–Cambrian successions in this region. Here we use biostratigraphic data to constrain the depositional age of Proterozoic strata below the Great Unconformity in northeastern North China. We report a diverse organic-walled microfossil assemblage from the Qinggouzi Formation in southern Jilin Province, northeastern margin of the North China Craton. Typical late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic microfossils, including Trachyhystrichosphaera aimika and Proterocladus antiquus, are present in Qinggouzi assemblage, providing a solid biostratigraphic constraint on the Qinggouzi Formation. Given that the overlying Shuidong Formation contains typical early Cambrian small shelly fossils, our new data indicate that the Great Unconformity in northeastern North China represents a major depositional gap of >200 Myr. Thus, the new data, along with other available biostratigraphic and geochronological data from over the world, provide robust constraints on the paleogeographic extent, chronostratigraphic duration, and diachronous nature of the Great Unconformity.

View all citing articles on Scopus

¹: Both authors contributed equally to this work.

View full text

An assemblage of macroscopic and diversified carbonaceous compression fossils from the Tonian Shiwangzhuang Formation in western Shandong, North China

Highlights

Abstract

Graphical abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Geological setting

Materials and methods

Summary of the Shiwangzhuang assemblage

Systematic paleontology

Biological affinities of the Shiwangzhuang assemblage

Conclusions

Declaration of Competing Interest

Acknowledgements

Precambrian Res.

Precambrian Res.

Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol.

Precambrian Res.

Gondwana Res.

Precambrian Res.

Gondwana Res.

Int. Rev. Cel. Mol. Bio.

Gondwana Res.

Precambrian Res.

Precambrian Res.

Precambrian Res.

Precambrian Res.

Precambrian Res.

Precambrian Res.

Precambrian Res.

Gondwana Res.

Gondwana Res.

Introduction to the Algae: Structure and Reproduction

The rise of algae in Cryogenian oceans and the emergence of animals

Nature

A vaucheriacean alga from the middle Neoproterozoic of Spitsbergen: implications for the evolution of Proterozoic eukaryotes and the Cambrian explosion

Paleobiology

Diverse organic-walled fossils, including “possible dinoflagellates”, from the early Neoproterozoic of arctic Canada

Geology

Paleobiology of the Neoproterozoic Svanbergfjellet formation, Spitsbergen

Fossils Strata

Precambrian metazoans of the Huai River drainage area (Anhui, E. China): their taphonomic and ecological evidence

Senckenb. Lethaea

Macrofossils from the Late Precambrian Nanguanling Formation of Wuhangshan Group on the southern Liaodong Peninsula

Sci. Geol. Sin.

A new assemblage of megafossils—Miaohe biota from Upper Sinian Doushantuo Formation, Yangtze Gorges

Acta Palaeont. Sin.

Tubular compression fossils from the Ediacaran Nama Group, Namibia

J. Paleontol.

Discovery of Precambrian-Cambrian transitional fossil sabelliditids from India

Curr. Sci.

Relationship between diameter of the filament and cell shape in blue-green algae

Br. Phycol. J.

Sinian Miaohe Biota

Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (Part B)

The most ancient Vendian water plants on the Russian platform

Paleontol. J.

Vendotaenids—Vendian metaphytes

The ancient annelidomorphs from the upper Riphean of Timan

Dokl. Akad. Nauk.

Pre-Ediacarian fauna from Timan (Annelidomorphs of the late Riphean)

Stratigr. Geol. Correl.

Algae

A global transition to ferruginous conditions in the early Neoproterozoic oceans

Nat. Geos.

Organic World One Billion Years Ago

A discovery of riphean heterotrophs in the Lakhanda group of Siberia

Paleontol. J.

Eosolenides, a new group of problematic organisms from the Late Precambrian

The mid-Proterozoic Little Dal macrobiota, Mackenzie Mountains, north-west Canada

Palaeontology

Proterozoic carbonaceous films

Proterozoic carbonaceous compressions (“metaphytes” and “worms”)

Precambrian biota from the Little Dal Group, Mackenzie Mountains, northwestern Canada

Can. J. Earth Sci.

Upper Precambrian Geology in Southern Liaodong Peninsula

Cryogenian evolution of stigmasteroid biosynthesis

Sci. Adv.

Revision of the problematic Vendian macrofossil Beltanelliformis (=Beltanelloides, Nemiana)

Paleontol. J.