The Yanan Formation, alternatively spelled the Yan'an Formation (), is a geological formation in China, it is also alternatively considered a group. The age of the formation is uncertain, with estimates ranging from Toarcian to Bajocian. It is divided up into 5 members, with the designation of Y1 through Y5. Y2, Y3 and Y4 are predominantly dark shales, while Y1 and Y5 are composed of sandstones, coal beds and interbedded mudstones. The depositional environment at the time was when the Ordos Basin formed a large inland lake, surrounded by floodplains. The dark shales have been explored for the potential of producing shale gas. The coal has also been explored for the production of coalbed methane. The formation is also notable for its fossil content, with dinosaur footprints having been found in the formation. The dinosaur Lingwulong was formerly thought to have been found in this formation, but the strata was later attributed to the overlying Zhiluo Formation.
Fossil content
Dinosaurs
Sauropods Sauropods of the Yanan Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images Lingwulong L. shenqi A diplodocoid sauropod. The attribution to the Yanan Formation was later found to be erroneous, and the species actually comes from the overlying Zhiluo Formation.
Insects Insects of the Yanan Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesJunfengiJ. yulinensis A campterophlebiid damsel-dragonflyKisaK. fasciata An archijassid hemipteranOrthophlebiaO. lini An orthophlebiid mecopteranParasinitsiaP. qingyunensis A campterophlebiid damsel-dragonflyPseudoundacyphaP. yananensis A thripsQibiniusQ. maculatus A froghopperSamaroblattaS. frondoidis A caloblattinid Sinagonophlebia S. yananensis A paragonophlebiid damsel-dragonfly SinolocustopsisS. brevis A locustopsid orthopteranS. elongatus A locustopsid orthopteranSinopsocusS. yananensis A protopsyllidiid hemipteranSubaphidulumS. sinica A protopsyllidiid hemipteranYananphasmaY. chresmodoides A susumaniid phasmatodean Yananphilius Y. peizhuangensis A sepulcid hymenopteran Yananthemis Y. zaoyuanensis A selenothemistid damsel-dragonfly
Plants Plants of the Yanan Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images Selaginellites S. huatingensis A spikemoss
References