Tangbian Formation

The Tangbian Formation is a geological formation in Jiangxi Province, east China. While its absolute age is uncertain, it has been estimated to represent Late Cretaceous (Campanian age) sediments. Dinosaur bones and eggs are among the fossils recovered from the formation.

Tangbian Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous, Campanian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Guifeng Group
Underlies	Lianhe Formation
Overlies	Hekou Formation
Thickness	240–3,060 m (790–10,040 ft)
Lithology
Primary	purplish red sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone
Location
Coordinates	26°9′N 116°4′E
Region	Jiangxi Province
Country	China
Tangbian Formation (China)

Geology and paleoenvironment

During the Cretaceous, the Tangbian Formation was an aeolian dune desert (modern Taklamakan Desert pictured)

The Tangbian Formation is known from outcrops in the Xinjiang Basin of Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. It is part of the Late Cretaceous Guifeng Group, underlain by the Hekou Formation and overlain by the Lianhe Formation in that group. The formation is interpreted as Campanian in age, although absolute dates have not been obtained.^[1][2] It comprises thick beds of fine-grained red-purple sandstone interbedded with mudstone, calcareous sandstone, and siltstone, and was deposited in an aeolian (wind-driven) setting representing a desert environment.^[3][4][5]

Fossil content

The Tangbian Formation contains a rich record of dinosaur egg fossils and embryos. Most of the known egg clutches can be associated with oviraptorosaurs, although rarer egg fossils are known from hadrosaurs, troodontids, and possibly dromaeosaurids.^[6][7]

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.

Genus	Species	Region	Material	Notes	Images
Caninosaurus[8]	C. ganzhouensis		Incomplete skull and mandible	A polyglyphanodont lizard with caniniform upper teeth
Huaxiazhoulong[2]	H. shouwen	Longxi Village, Guangchang County	Partial well-preserved skeleton	An ankylosaurid ankylosaur
Minioolithus[6]	M. ganzhouensis	Meilin Village, Ganxian District	Clutch of six eggs	Classified as belonging to the Ovaloolithidae, likely laid by a theropod dinosaur