Benpulong Fm
Type Locality and Naming
The type section is located in Yushu City, southern part of Qinghai Province, which named by Shida Ye and Tongshi Yang in 1982. In 1982, Ye Shida and Yang Tongshi divided the Middle Triassic of Yushu Jialong into the lower Gelong Gr (now Gelong Fm) and the upper Benpulong Gr (now Benpulong Fm).
Synonym: Benpulong Gr. This formation was once ascribed into Batang Group by Rongbiao Rao et al. (1987)
Lithology and Thickness
This formation is dominated by carbonates. Lower part that of 299 m is consisted of grey, purple massive limestone. Overlain by grey dolomitic limestone of 220 m, and covered by grey thick limestone of 77 m in the top.
Relationships and Distribution
Lower contact
The Benpulong Formation lies conformable above the Middle Triassic Gelong Fm
Upper contact
Contact relations with the next younger unit, Batang Gr of Late Triassic, is unclear. Stratigraphic column TJ32 for west Tangula Mtns indicate it is overlain by the Jiezha Gr (Dongmaolong Fm) in that region.
Regional extent
GeoJSON
Fossils
Coral: Thecosmilia sp., Montlivaltia sp.
Ammonoid: Paratrachyceras sp., Maclearnocerus sp.,? Lardites sp., Protrachyceras sp.
Age
Depositional setting
Shallow marine facies
Additional Information