In this work, 47 isolated small theropod teeth from different microsites of “El Gallo” Formation, Baja California, Mexico are studied. Isolated theropod teeth constitute important evidence to analyse theropod diversity, since they are quite common in the fossil record. For their identification, we conducted morphological comparisons using multivariate and cladistic analyses comparing them with previously described small theropod teeth from Upper Cretaceous North America Formations. This dental material can be assigned mainly to two families: Dromaeosauridae, Troodontidae; and one subfamily: Saurornitholestinae. Also, some of the teeth were assigned to Richardoestesia and two specimens were indeterminate. Dromaeosaurids represent the most abundant group of theropods in “El Gallo” followed by the Richardoestesia dental Morphotype. This diversity pattern is similar to the one reported in the Aguja Formation of Texas for the same period of time. The use of multivariate statistical techniques and cladistic analyses allowed us to evaluate the similarity between specimens, however, taxonomical assignments are difficult due to the lack of knowledge of intraspecific morphological and/or ontogenetic variation that can lead to misinterpretations. Even so, the sample of 47 specimens yields valuable information that allows suggesting the presence of certain taxa and providing knowledge of the diversity of the continental Cretaceous fauna in Mexico.
{"title":"Isolated teeth of small theropods from the El Gallo Formation, Baja California, Mexico","authors":"Vanessa Alexandra García-Gil , Angélica Torices , Mirella López-Miguel , Marisol Montellano-Ballesteros","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, 47 isolated small theropod teeth from different microsites of “El Gallo” Formation, Baja California, Mexico are studied. Isolated theropod teeth constitute important evidence to analyse theropod diversity, since they are quite common in the fossil record. For their identification, we conducted morphological comparisons using multivariate and cladistic analyses comparing them with previously described small theropod teeth from Upper Cretaceous North America Formations. This dental material can be assigned mainly to two families: Dromaeosauridae, Troodontidae; and one subfamily: Saurornitholestinae. Also, some of the teeth were assigned to <em>Richardoestesia</em> and two specimens were indeterminate. Dromaeosaurids represent the most abundant group of theropods in “El Gallo” followed by the <em>Richardoestesia</em> dental Morphotype. This diversity pattern is similar to the one reported in the Aguja Formation of Texas for the same period of time. The use of multivariate statistical techniques and cladistic analyses allowed us to evaluate the similarity between specimens, however, taxonomical assignments are difficult due to the lack of knowledge of intraspecific morphological and/or ontogenetic variation that can lead to misinterpretations. Even so, the sample of 47 specimens yields valuable information that allows suggesting the presence of certain taxa and providing knowledge of the diversity of the continental Cretaceous fauna in Mexico.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840982","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106302
Cheng Wu , Lin Chen , Zongsheng Lu , Jiaxin Yan , Kening Lu
The extensive deposition of black shales during the Cretaceous Period formed significant petroleum resources. Sea-level rise and tectonic activity often led to seawater incursions into terrestrial lacustrine basins, a process linked to the formation of high-quality hydrocarbon source rocks. However, the precise influence of these marine transgression events on source rock deposition remains poorly constrained. This study investigates the Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin by integrating paleontological, inorganic, and organic geochemical data. Four discrete marine incursion events were identified, allowing for the reconstruction of paleoclimatic conditions, depositional environments, organic matter provenance, and primary productivity levels. Based on these results, three depositional models are proposed: ‘Burst’, ‘Destroy’, and ‘Slow’. The ‘Burst’ model enhances the formation of high-quality source rocks by increasing primary productivity via marine algae and nutrient influx, which fosters an anoxic environment favorable for organic matter preservation. In contrast, the ‘Destroy’ model inhibits source rock formation, as excessive terrestrial detrital input dilutes organic matter and disrupts anoxic preservation conditions. Finally, the ‘Slow’ model has an indirect influence and typically follows the ‘Destroy’ phase. During this subsequent stage, the lacustrine environment becomes relatively stable, inheriting the abundant nutrient load from preceding phase while developing the persistent anoxia through internal biogeochemical regulation within the lake system, which is required for effective organic matter preservation. Ultimately, the interplay between high productivity and favorable preservation conditions represents the key control on source rock formation in marine-influenced lacustrine systems.
{"title":"The impact of transgression on the development model of lacustrine source rocks: Insights from the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation source rocks in the Songliao Basin","authors":"Cheng Wu , Lin Chen , Zongsheng Lu , Jiaxin Yan , Kening Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106302","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106302","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The extensive deposition of black shales during the Cretaceous Period formed significant petroleum resources. Sea-level rise and tectonic activity often led to seawater incursions into terrestrial lacustrine basins, a process linked to the formation of high-quality hydrocarbon source rocks. However, the precise influence of these marine transgression events on source rock deposition remains poorly constrained. This study investigates the Qingshankou Formation in the Songliao Basin by integrating paleontological, inorganic, and organic geochemical data. Four discrete marine incursion events were identified, allowing for the reconstruction of paleoclimatic conditions, depositional environments, organic matter provenance, and primary productivity levels. Based on these results, three depositional models are proposed: ‘Burst’, ‘Destroy’, and ‘Slow’. The ‘Burst’ model enhances the formation of high-quality source rocks by increasing primary productivity via marine algae and nutrient influx, which fosters an anoxic environment favorable for organic matter preservation. In contrast, the ‘Destroy’ model inhibits source rock formation, as excessive terrestrial detrital input dilutes organic matter and disrupts anoxic preservation conditions. Finally, the ‘Slow’ model has an indirect influence and typically follows the ‘Destroy’ phase. During this subsequent stage, the lacustrine environment becomes relatively stable, inheriting the abundant nutrient load from preceding phase while developing the persistent anoxia through internal biogeochemical regulation within the lake system, which is required for effective organic matter preservation. Ultimately, the interplay between high productivity and favorable preservation conditions represents the key control on source rock formation in marine-influenced lacustrine systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106302"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106291
Erick Ribeiro-Souza , Yuri Modesto Alves , Cesar Leandro Schultz , Manuel Alfredo Medeiros
Lepisosteiformes, ginglymodian fishes with fusiform bodies and ganoid scales, are a common source of Mesozoic fossil remains. Despite their widespread historical distribution, their diversity in the Alcântara Formation (northeastern Brazil) remains poorly understood, with only one lepisosteid previously identified. In contrast, nearby groups, such as the Santana Group and the Kem Kem Group, host diverse lepisosteiform taxa. This study revises the taxonomy of ganoid scales from the Alcântara Formation using external morphology, microstructure, and ultrastructure analyses. The scales examined exhibit characteristic Lepisosteiformes features, including ganoine on the free field and articulation via ventral and vertical processes. Histological analysis revealed both palaeoniscoid and lepidosteoid scales. Lepidosteoid scales varied significantly in shape, size, and structure based on body position, with smooth ganoine scales dominating the sample, and representing a large, non-gar lepisosteiform (cf. Adrianaichthys). Smaller, ornamented scales were rare and indicative of a lepisosteid taxon. Palaeoniscoid scales, identified as Obaichthys, were the least abundant and showed a prominent median spine; they were of different developmental stages and allowed the inference of the existence of different Obaichthys africanus morphotypes. This study offer many insights regarding the different aspects of lepisosteiform squamation such as histological structure, external morphology, shape, size, and ornamentation. We identified at least three Lepisosteiformes taxa in the Alcântara Formation: a non-gar lepisosteiform (cf. Adrianaichthys), the obaichthyid Obaichthys, and a lepisosteid. These findings highlight similarities between Cenomanian faunal communities in northeastern Brazil and northwestern Africa, expanding our understanding of Lepisosteiformes diversity and extending the known vertical distribution of Obaichthyidae in South America to the Cenomanian. We also propose the existence of two distinct morphotypes of O. africanus.
{"title":"Revaluation of the taxonomy and diversity of Lepisosteiformes from the Alcântara Formation (Cenomanian, Upper Cretaceous), Brazil","authors":"Erick Ribeiro-Souza , Yuri Modesto Alves , Cesar Leandro Schultz , Manuel Alfredo Medeiros","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106291","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106291","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lepisosteiformes, ginglymodian fishes with fusiform bodies and ganoid scales, are a common source of Mesozoic fossil remains. Despite their widespread historical distribution, their diversity in the Alcântara Formation (northeastern Brazil) remains poorly understood, with only one lepisosteid previously identified. In contrast, nearby groups, such as the Santana Group and the Kem Kem Group, host diverse lepisosteiform <em>taxa</em>. This study revises the taxonomy of ganoid scales from the Alcântara Formation using external morphology, microstructure, and ultrastructure analyses. The scales examined exhibit characteristic Lepisosteiformes features, including ganoine on the free field and articulation via ventral and vertical processes. Histological analysis revealed both palaeoniscoid and lepidosteoid scales. Lepidosteoid scales varied significantly in shape, size, and structure based on body position, with smooth ganoine scales dominating the sample, and representing a large, non-gar lepisosteiform (cf. <em>Adrianaichthys</em>). Smaller, ornamented scales were rare and indicative of a lepisosteid taxon. Palaeoniscoid scales, identified as <em>Obaichthys</em>, were the least abundant and showed a prominent median spine; they were of different developmental stages and allowed the inference of the existence of different <em>Obaichthys africanus</em> morphotypes. This study offer many insights regarding the different aspects of lepisosteiform squamation such as histological structure, external morphology, shape, size, and ornamentation. We identified at least three Lepisosteiformes <em>taxa</em> in the Alcântara Formation: a non-gar lepisosteiform (cf. <em>Adrianaichthys</em>), the obaichthyid <em>Obaichthys</em>, and a lepisosteid. These findings highlight similarities between Cenomanian faunal communities in northeastern Brazil and northwestern Africa, expanding our understanding of Lepisosteiformes diversity and extending the known vertical distribution of Obaichthyidae in South America to the Cenomanian. We also propose the existence of two distinct morphotypes of <em>O</em>. <em>africanus</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106291"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106293
Salatiel Díaz-Lara , Claudia Cristina Mendoza-Rosales , Gilberto Silva-Romo , Josep Anton Moreno-Bedmar , Miquel Company , Orestes Antonio de la Rosa-Mora
The Tlaxiaco Basin, located in southern Mexico within the Mixteca Terrane, preserves one of the most complete records of the breakup of Pangea. While its Jurassic units have been extensively studied in the context of rifting, this study focuses on the overlying Lower Cretaceous sedimentary succession, corresponding to the newly defined Tonalá Formation and the San Miguel Papalutla Formation.
Through facies and microfacies analysis, gamma-ray spectroscopy, detrital zircon geochronology, and ammonite biostratigraphy, we reconstruct the paleoenvironmental evolution and sea-level fluctuations in the Tlaxiaco Basin during the Early Cretaceous. These formations document a transition from a carbonate platform to deeper marine basin environments, allowing for the precise identification of facies shifts associated with marine transgression events.
One such transgression, recorded within the Neocomites neocomiensiformis ammonite Zone, correlates with the global third-order sequence KVa2 and reflects a Tethyan affinity. Sedimentological and U–Th geochemical data suggest warm, humid to tropical climatic conditions in the Tlaxiaco Bay during the Valanginian. The development of both formations occurred during a phase of thermal subsidence, resulting in a transgressive depositional pattern influenced by marine currents from the Tethys Sea.
This refined stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental framework supports the interpretation of the Tlaxiaco Basin as a passive-margin system, contributing to broader models of Early Cretaceous eustatic dynamics and continental margin evolution.
特拉西亚科盆地位于墨西哥南部的米斯特卡地体内，保存着盘古大陆分裂最完整的记录之一。虽然在裂谷作用背景下对其侏罗纪单元进行了广泛的研究，但本次研究的重点是上覆的下白垩统沉积演替，对应于新定义的tonal组和San Miguel Papalutla组。通过相微相分析、伽玛能谱、碎屑锆石年代学、鹦鹉螺生物地层学等方法，重建了早白垩世特拉斯夏古盆地的古环境演化和海平面波动。这些地层记录了从碳酸盐岩台地到更深的海相盆地环境的转变，从而可以精确识别与海侵事件相关的相转变。其中一次海侵记录在新奥氏统新奥氏统鹦鹉螺岩带内，与全球三级层序KVa2有关，具有特提斯亲缘关系。沉积学和U-Th地球化学数据表明，在瓦兰吉尼亚时期，特拉西亚科湾的气候条件是温暖、潮湿到热带的。这两个地层的发育都发生在热沉降阶段，形成了受特提斯海海流影响的海侵沉积模式。这一精细的地层和古环境格架支持了对特拉斯夏古盆地作为被动边缘系统的解释，有助于建立更广泛的早白垩世上升动力学和大陆边缘演化模式。
{"title":"Paleoenvironmental evolution and Tethyan transgression during the Valanginian: Insights from the Tonalá and San Miguel Papalutla Formations, Tlaxiaco Basin, Mexico","authors":"Salatiel Díaz-Lara , Claudia Cristina Mendoza-Rosales , Gilberto Silva-Romo , Josep Anton Moreno-Bedmar , Miquel Company , Orestes Antonio de la Rosa-Mora","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106293","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106293","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tlaxiaco Basin, located in southern Mexico within the Mixteca Terrane, preserves one of the most complete records of the breakup of Pangea. While its Jurassic units have been extensively studied in the context of rifting, this study focuses on the overlying Lower Cretaceous sedimentary succession, corresponding to the newly defined Tonalá Formation and the San Miguel Papalutla Formation.</div><div>Through facies and microfacies analysis, gamma-ray spectroscopy, detrital zircon geochronology, and ammonite biostratigraphy, we reconstruct the paleoenvironmental evolution and sea-level fluctuations in the Tlaxiaco Basin during the Early Cretaceous. These formations document a transition from a carbonate platform to deeper marine basin environments, allowing for the precise identification of facies shifts associated with marine transgression events.</div><div>One such transgression, recorded within the <em>Neocomites neocomiensiformis</em> ammonite Zone, correlates with the global third-order sequence KVa2 and reflects a Tethyan affinity. Sedimentological and U–Th geochemical data suggest warm, humid to tropical climatic conditions in the Tlaxiaco Bay during the Valanginian. The development of both formations occurred during a phase of thermal subsidence, resulting in a transgressive depositional pattern influenced by marine currents from the Tethys Sea.</div><div>This refined stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental framework supports the interpretation of the Tlaxiaco Basin as a passive-margin system, contributing to broader models of Early Cretaceous eustatic dynamics and continental margin evolution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106293"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145885236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-07DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106283
Ryoko Matsumoto , Makoto Manabe , Susan E. Evans
The extinct reptilian group Choristodera has been recorded from the Lower Cretaceous Tetori Group of Japan. Within the Tetori Group, the Okurodani Formation was the first deposit to yield choristoderan remains with the discovery of the postcranial skeleton of the long-necked Shokawa ikoi. Howerver, until now, the formation has yielded only limited choristoderan material. Here, we report on several further choristodere remains, including the finding of an unexposed skull element during a μCT examination of the holotype of Shokawa ikoi. Although the new specimens are all isolated elements, detailed comparison has revealed that they represent an unexpected diversity of taxa including a long-snouted neochoristodere, a non-neochoristodere with an open lower temporal fenestra, and a possible new monjurosuchid. Similarities between the choristoderan assemblages of the Jehol Biota of China and the Tetori Group of Japan have previously been recognised. However, the new choristoderan records from the Okurodani Formation albeit fragmentary, suggest possible differences in assemblage composition, and add to our knowledge of choristoderan diversity in eastern Asia at a key stage in their evolutionary history.
{"title":"Cranial elements of Shokawa ikoi, and new records of choristoderes from the Lower Cretaceous Okurodani Formation, Tetori Group, Japan","authors":"Ryoko Matsumoto , Makoto Manabe , Susan E. Evans","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The extinct reptilian group Choristodera has been recorded from the Lower Cretaceous Tetori Group of Japan. Within the Tetori Group, the Okurodani Formation was the first deposit to yield choristoderan remains with the discovery of the postcranial skeleton of the long-necked <em>Shokawa ikoi.</em> Howerver, until now, the formation has yielded only limited choristoderan material. Here, we report on several further choristodere remains, including the finding of an unexposed skull element during a μCT examination of the holotype of <em>Shokawa ikoi.</em> Although the new specimens are all isolated elements, detailed comparison has revealed that they represent an unexpected diversity of taxa including a long-snouted neochoristodere, a non-neochoristodere with an open lower temporal fenestra, and a possible new monjurosuchid. Similarities between the choristoderan assemblages of the Jehol Biota of China and the Tetori Group of Japan have previously been recognised. However, the new choristoderan records from the Okurodani Formation albeit fragmentary, suggest possible differences in assemblage composition, and add to our knowledge of choristoderan diversity in eastern Asia at a key stage in their evolutionary history.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106283"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106255
Pablo Suarez-Gonzalez , I. Emma Quijada , Ramón Mas , M. Isabel Benito , Eugenia Arribas , José Arribas , Sonia Campos-Soto
Aurell et al. (2021; Cretaceous Research, vol. 128, 104997) studied Lower Cretaceous deposits from the Torrelapaja Subbasin, a relatively small area to the SE of the Cameros Basin (N Spain), making new sedimentological and stratigraphic interpretations. They used those interpretations to establish correlations of the entire Cameros Basin with other basins, inferring palaeogeographic reconstructions of NE Iberia. This comment shows that some of their interpretations are not fully supported by their data and arguments, or that they can be qualified with data published before their article. This comparison with previous data shows that Aurell et al. (2021) provided an inaccurate view of the regional literature, which resulted in the misleading idea that their palaeogeographic interpretations were more novel than they actually are.
{"title":"Comment on Aurell et al. (2021) “Latest Jurassic-early Cretaceous synrift evolution of the Torrelapaja Subbasin (Cameros Basin): Implications for Northeast Iberia palaeogeography”. Cretaceous Research 128 (104997)","authors":"Pablo Suarez-Gonzalez , I. Emma Quijada , Ramón Mas , M. Isabel Benito , Eugenia Arribas , José Arribas , Sonia Campos-Soto","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106255","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aurell et al. (2021; Cretaceous Research, vol. 128, 104997) studied Lower Cretaceous deposits from the Torrelapaja Subbasin, a relatively small area to the SE of the Cameros Basin (N Spain), making new sedimentological and stratigraphic interpretations. They used those interpretations to establish correlations of the entire Cameros Basin with other basins, inferring palaeogeographic reconstructions of NE Iberia. This comment shows that some of their interpretations are not fully supported by their data and arguments, or that they can be qualified with data published before their article. This comparison with previous data shows that Aurell et al. (2021) provided an inaccurate view of the regional literature, which resulted in the misleading idea that their palaeogeographic interpretations were more novel than they actually are.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106255"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-02DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106275
Jin Zhang
The eastern Asia experienced a regional tectonic-thermal event during the Early Cretaceous. The Hetao Basin is one of the larger Cretaceous basins developed in the northern North China Craton (NCC). Geological mapping and seismic profiles indicate that the formation of the western Hetao Basin in the Early Cretaceous was controlled by a low angle detachment fault with a dip angle of ca. 30° and was a supradetachment basin but not a foreland basin. The apatite fission track ages and the 40Ar/39Ar ages indicate that the western margin of the Hetao Basin experienced rapid exhumation (ca. 0.8mm/a) at ca. 130 Ma. The tectonic-thermal event of the Early Cretaceous were also widespread in the entire Alxa region to the west of Hetao Basin. Combined with the data from the eastern Hetao Basin, the whole Hetao Basin is the largest supradetachment basin in eastern Asia. The unified paleostress field and northwest-southeast extensional direction across the entire eastern Asia continent indicate that the simultaneous extension and basin formation was controlled firstly by a regional tectonic factor. The rollback of the Paleo-Pacific Plate to the eastern margin of the Asian continent in the Early Cretaceous maybe the only possibility, while locally the broken-off of oceanic slab of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean and the subsequent upwelling of the asthenosphere beneath the northern North China Craton were also important factors resulting in the development of Hetao Basin.
{"title":"Development of a large supradetachment basin and its tectonic implication: The Early Cretaceous Hetao Basin, NW China","authors":"Jin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The eastern Asia experienced a regional tectonic-thermal event during the Early Cretaceous. The Hetao Basin is one of the larger Cretaceous basins developed in the northern North China Craton (NCC). Geological mapping and seismic profiles indicate that the formation of the western Hetao Basin in the Early Cretaceous was controlled by a low angle detachment fault with a dip angle of ca. 30° and was a supradetachment basin but not a foreland basin. The apatite fission track ages and the <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar ages indicate that the western margin of the Hetao Basin experienced rapid exhumation (ca. 0.8mm/a) at ca. 130 Ma. The tectonic-thermal event of the Early Cretaceous were also widespread in the entire Alxa region to the west of Hetao Basin. Combined with the data from the eastern Hetao Basin, the whole Hetao Basin is the largest supradetachment basin in eastern Asia. The unified paleostress field and northwest-southeast extensional direction across the entire eastern Asia continent indicate that the simultaneous extension and basin formation was controlled firstly by a regional tectonic factor. The rollback of the Paleo-Pacific Plate to the eastern margin of the Asian continent in the Early Cretaceous maybe the only possibility, while locally the broken-off of oceanic slab of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean and the subsequent upwelling of the asthenosphere beneath the northern North China Craton were also important factors resulting in the development of Hetao Basin.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106275"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749462","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-29DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106273
María Paula Iglesia Llanos , Diego A. Kietzmann , Ricardo I.F. Trindade , Janine Araújo do Carmo , Daniele Brandt , João Pedro Rodriguez-Pinto
A high-resolution chronostratigraphic study was conducted on one of the best-exposed sections of the Vaca Muerta Formation in the Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina, spanning the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous. The Puerta Curaco section (∼360 m thick) records a rhythmic succession of mudstones, marlstones, limestones, and tuffs deposited on a carbonate ramp system rich in ammonites. Sixty paleomagnetic horizons were sampled and integrated with biostratigraphy (ammonites and calpionellids), magnetostratigraphy, and cyclostratigraphy in order to establish a robust chronostratigraphic framework. The analysis of paleomagnetic components was combined with rock magnetism studies to characterize magnetic mineralogy and define a reliable polarity sequence. The resulting magnetostratigraphic scale comprises 13 normal (N1–N13) and 13 reverse (R1–13) polarity zones for the Tithonian–Berriasian. Mean site directions define two distinct populations, one for the Tithonian, and other for the Berriasian, both passing field tests (i.e., fold test) and confirming a primary magnetic remanence. Cyclostratigraphic calibration of polarity zones, together with Andean–Tethyan ammonite correlations allowed the section to be tied to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS, 2020), extending across Chrons M22 to M15. The Tithonian paleomagnetic pole (81.3°S, 112.5°E; α95 = 4.4°) falls on the Late Jurassic segment of the South American apparent polar wander path, whereas the Berriasian–Valanginian paleopole (76.0°S, 53.7°E; α95 = 3.2°) is interpreted as rotated.
{"title":"Magnetostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy of the Vaca Muerta Formation (Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous) at Puerta Curaco, Neuquén, Argentina","authors":"María Paula Iglesia Llanos , Diego A. Kietzmann , Ricardo I.F. Trindade , Janine Araújo do Carmo , Daniele Brandt , João Pedro Rodriguez-Pinto","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106273","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A high-resolution chronostratigraphic study was conducted on one of the best-exposed sections of the Vaca Muerta Formation in the Neuquén Basin, west-central Argentina, spanning the Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous. The Puerta Curaco section (∼360 m thick) records a rhythmic succession of mudstones, marlstones, limestones, and tuffs deposited on a carbonate ramp system rich in ammonites. Sixty paleomagnetic horizons were sampled and integrated with biostratigraphy (ammonites and calpionellids), magnetostratigraphy, and cyclostratigraphy in order to establish a robust chronostratigraphic framework. The analysis of paleomagnetic components was combined with rock magnetism studies to characterize magnetic mineralogy and define a reliable polarity sequence. The resulting magnetostratigraphic scale comprises 13 normal (N1–N13) and 13 reverse (R1–13) polarity zones for the Tithonian–Berriasian. Mean site directions define two distinct populations, one for the Tithonian, and other for the Berriasian, both passing field tests (i.e., fold test) and confirming a primary magnetic remanence. Cyclostratigraphic calibration of polarity zones, together with Andean–Tethyan ammonite correlations allowed the section to be tied to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS, 2020), extending across Chrons M22 to M15. The Tithonian paleomagnetic pole (81.3°S, 112.5°E; α<sub>95</sub> = 4.4°) falls on the Late Jurassic segment of the South American apparent polar wander path, whereas the Berriasian–Valanginian paleopole (76.0°S, 53.7°E; α<sub>95</sub> = 3.2°) is interpreted as rotated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106273"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749461","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-27DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106272
Enzo Emanuel Seculi Pereyra
Large carnivorous theropods evolved diverse orbital morphologies, including eight-shaped, keyhole-shaped, and elliptical orbits, which have been linked to feeding performance and biomechanical adaptations. In Abelisauridae, the most abundant and best-known clades of Gondwanan theropods, the orbit underwent significant morphological changes, with Cretaceous taxa exhibiting keyhole-shaped and eight-shaped orbits. However, a rigorous phylogenetic comparative approach and multivariate quantification of orbit shape are necessary to further investigate macroevolutionary trends in Abelisauridae orbital evolution. To address this, I applied 2D geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods to analyze macroevolutionary trends of orbit shape in Abelisauridae. The results indicate that the abelisaurid orbit shape evolved as an integrated morphological module undergoing accelerated evolution in Cretaceous taxa, likely driven by intensified ecological and functional pressures on orbital shape design. Additionally, phylogenetic signal was not detected, supporting the hypothesis that orbit evolution was primarily driven by selective pressures rather than phylogenetic constraints. Disparity through time analysis revealed a decline in morphological variation during the Late Cretaceous, coinciding with the canalization of specialized orbit morphologies. The results are consistent with previous studies on abelisaurid feeding strategies and suggest that specialized predation may have influenced orbit evolution since at least the Early Cretaceous. These findings provide new insights into the evolutionary history of Abelisauridae, emphasizing the role of ecological and functional factors in shaping the dinosaurs orbital diversity.
{"title":"Orbit shape evolution in abelisauridae: Macroevolutionary trends and functional implications","authors":"Enzo Emanuel Seculi Pereyra","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Large carnivorous theropods evolved diverse orbital morphologies, including eight-shaped, keyhole-shaped, and elliptical orbits, which have been linked to feeding performance and biomechanical adaptations. In Abelisauridae, the most abundant and best-known clades of Gondwanan theropods, the orbit underwent significant morphological changes, with Cretaceous taxa exhibiting keyhole-shaped and eight-shaped orbits. However, a rigorous phylogenetic comparative approach and multivariate quantification of orbit shape are necessary to further investigate macroevolutionary trends in Abelisauridae orbital evolution. To address this, I applied 2D geometric morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods to analyze macroevolutionary trends of orbit shape in Abelisauridae. The results indicate that the abelisaurid orbit shape evolved as an integrated morphological module undergoing accelerated evolution in Cretaceous taxa, likely driven by intensified ecological and functional pressures on orbital shape design. Additionally, phylogenetic signal was not detected, supporting the hypothesis that orbit evolution was primarily driven by selective pressures rather than phylogenetic constraints. Disparity through time analysis revealed a decline in morphological variation during the Late Cretaceous, coinciding with the canalization of specialized orbit morphologies. The results are consistent with previous studies on abelisaurid feeding strategies and suggest that specialized predation may have influenced orbit evolution since at least the Early Cretaceous. These findings provide new insights into the evolutionary history of Abelisauridae, emphasizing the role of ecological and functional factors in shaping the dinosaurs orbital diversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106272"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145749463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-27DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106274
Marcos Aurell , Beatriz Bádenas , Diego Castanera , José M. Gasca , José I. Canudo , Elisa Laita , Carlos L. Liesa
Aurell et al. (2021) documented the Tithonian-Albian evolution of the Torrelapaja Subbasin (Cameros Basin, Spain) by defining three synrift sequences (SS), and highlighting new paleogeographic implications for northeast Iberia. The comment by Suarez-Gonzalez et al. (2025) expresses concern that our work challenges several established assumptions and interpretations by their research group. This Reply systematically addresses the three main points of scientific controversy raised in that comment: (1) The correlation between the Torrelapaja Formation (SS-2) and the Enciso Group of the Hauterivian-Barremian, further supported by recent cyclostratigraphic results that contradict the traditionally accepted Aptian age; (2) The mid-Albian age of the oyster-rich beds of the Torrelapaja Subbbasin (SS-3) and its assignment to the Escucha Formation, an interpretation consistent with regional stratigraphic and structural data; (3) The only northern source to explain the marine incursions in the Torrelapaja Subbasin, which best fits the facies distribution observed in the northern marginal zones of the Maestrazgo Basin during the Aptian-Albian. In particular, we show that the alternative proposal of a seaway connecting the Cameros and Maestrazgo basins during the early Aptian emphasized in Suarez-Gonzalez et al. (2025) is not supported by the available data.
{"title":"Reply to comment made by Suarez-Gonzalez et al. on “Latest Jurassic-Early Cretaceous synrift evolution of the Torrelapaja Subbasin (Cameros Basin): Implications for Northeast Iberia palaeogeography” by Aurell et al. (Cretaceous Research 128 (2021) 104997)","authors":"Marcos Aurell , Beatriz Bádenas , Diego Castanera , José M. Gasca , José I. Canudo , Elisa Laita , Carlos L. Liesa","doi":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aurell et al. (2021) documented the Tithonian-Albian evolution of the Torrelapaja Subbasin (Cameros Basin, Spain) by defining three synrift sequences (SS), and highlighting new paleogeographic implications for northeast Iberia. The comment by Suarez-Gonzalez et al. (2025) expresses concern that our work challenges several established assumptions and interpretations by their research group. This Reply systematically addresses the three main points of scientific controversy raised in that comment: (1) The correlation between the Torrelapaja Formation (SS-2) and the Enciso Group of the Hauterivian-Barremian, further supported by recent cyclostratigraphic results that contradict the traditionally accepted Aptian age; (2) The mid-Albian age of the oyster-rich beds of the Torrelapaja Subbbasin (SS-3) and its assignment to the Escucha Formation, an interpretation consistent with regional stratigraphic and structural data; (3) The only northern source to explain the marine incursions in the Torrelapaja Subbasin, which best fits the facies distribution observed in the northern marginal zones of the Maestrazgo Basin during the Aptian-Albian. In particular, we show that the alternative proposal of a seaway connecting the Cameros and Maestrazgo basins during the early Aptian emphasized in Suarez-Gonzalez et al. (2025) is not supported by the available data.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55207,"journal":{"name":"Cretaceous Research","volume":"181 ","pages":"Article 106274"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145798616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号