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Songshutou Formation
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Songshutou Fm base reconstruction

Songshutou Fm

Period: 
Neoproterozoic

Age Interval: 
Early Qingbaikouan (earliest Tonian); Qb (2, 3)


Province: 
Xinjiang

Type Locality and Naming

Western Tianshan. The Songshutou Fm was named by Luo Fazuo et al. in 1977 and formally published by Li Yong'an et al. in 1982. The typical section is situated in Songshutoudaban in west part of Kuximuqiek (Kusongmuqiek) Mountain, Xinjiang Weiwuerzhu Zizhiqu (Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region). Uppermost formation (4 of 4) of the Kusongmuqiek Gr.

Synonym: （松树头组）


Lithology and Thickness

Lower part is dominantly composed of thin- to medium-bedded dolomitic limestone and dolomite, bearing black to gray lenses and bandings of chert. Upper part consists of medium-bedded limestone and dolomitic limestone bearing stromatolites, intercalated with massive stromatolite-reef limestone and siltstone. The total thickness is 150 to 395 m.

[Figure: Outcrop photo of Songshutou Fm]


Lithology Pattern: 
Dolomitic limestone


Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

The base rests conformably on the underlying Sitaishan Fm (Sitai Fm) (Jixian System; Mesoproterozoic).

Upper contact

The top is unconformably overlain by the Sinian tillite of Kulutieliekti Fm (base of Kailakti Gr). In Kokirqin Mountain area there are tillite-type pebbles of pebbly tuff and basic volcanic rock on the unconformable surface.

Regional extent

Western Tianshan. The Songshutou Fm is mainly distributed south of the Kuximuqiek River (southwest of Jinghe County), west part of Kuximuqiek (Kusongmuqiek) Mountain, westward to Songshutoudaban and the south bank of Sayram Lake in Xinjiang.


GeoJSON

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Fossils

Stromatolites include Baicalia cf. lecera, Jurusania f., Colonnella f., Conophyton f. etc.; oncolite includes Osagia f., and microplants include Trachysphaeridium incrassatum, T. hyalinum, T. cultum, T. simplex, Asperatopsophosphaera baulinsis, Pseudozonosphaera uerrucosa, P. asperella, P. sinica, Taeniatum simplex, Polyporata sp., Pterospermopsimorpha sp. etc.


Age 

the upper part of the Songshutou Fm is inferred to be within the Qingbaikouan System (early Neoproterozoic).

Age Span: 

    Beginning stage: 
Tonian

    Fraction up in beginning stage: 
0.0

    Beginning date (Ma): 
1,000.00

    Ending stage: 
Tonian

    Fraction up in the ending stage: 
0.25

    Ending date (Ma):  
930.00

Depositional setting


Depositional pattern:  


Additional Information


Compiler:  

Extracts from The Neoproterozoic Erathem (chapter in Stratigraphic Lexicon of China, draft of 2022) by Gao Linzhi, Ding Xiaozhong, Zhang Chuanheng, Zhang Heng.