Atushi Fm
Type Locality and Naming
Kashi-Yarkand region (NW Tarim). The type section is located at the west side of the Talang River (E75°52′, N39°41′), Atushi City, northwestern Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. It was formally named by the Compilation Group of the Regional Stratigraphic Chart Editorial Group of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (RSCEGXUAR) (1981).
Synonyms: Artuxi Fm. BGMRXUAR (1999) proposed that the Atushi Fm is a synonym of the Dushanzi Fm. Gao et al. (2014a) disagreed with them and regarded the Atushi Fm is still a valid unit. In the same book, Gao et al. (2014a) also treated the Cangzongse Fm (Cangzongse = barn brown color), the Tuokapu Series and the Kuche Fm named by the RSCEGXUAR (1981) as synonyms of the Atushi Fm.
Lithology and Thickness
The Atushi Fm is characterized by a set of thick sandstones and mudstones, which weathered color is iconic barn brown. It contains ostracod fossils, which are deposited in the lacustrine deposits. Its thickness is in range of 2800~3500 m.
Relationships and Distribution
Lower contact
In the type section, the Atushi Fm conformably contacts with underlying Pliocene Pakabulake Fm.
Upper contact
In the type section, the Atushi Fm conformably is overlain by the Pleistocene Xiyu Fm.
Regional extent
The formation is widely distributed to region ranging Shule, Kashgar, Atushi and the north slope of the Kunlun Mts., northwestern Tarim Basin.
GeoJSON
Fossils
Ostrocoda: Candoniella suzini, C. tenera, C. albicans, C. sp., Candonopsis sp., Eucypris concinna, E. aff. concinna, E. sp., Potamocypris replecta, Ilyocypris errabundis, I. evidens, I. manasensis, Cypris sp., Limnocythera argulata, L. luculenta, Candona aff. rostrata, Darwinula sp..
Age
Depositional setting
It is interpreted as a river or riverside depositional environment.
Additional Information