Magnetostratigraphic dating of mammalian fossils in Junggar Basin, northwest China

The first detailed chronology for the late Oligocene to early Miocene continental record in northern Junggar Basin is presented,based on rock magnetic experiments and magnetostratigraphic investiga-tions of a 192 m thick mammal-bearing section in the Ulungur River area. Magnetites and hematites were identified as the main carriers for the characteristic remanent magnetization,and the resulting polarity sequence allows an unambiguous correlation to the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS). Furthermore,the Tieersihabahe fauna layer occurs below the Paleocene/Neocene boundary,and the Suosuoquan fauna layer is just above the Neocene onset. Therefore,the age of the Tieersihabahe fauna and Suosuoquan fauna layers can be definitely estimated to be about 25.2 Ma and 22.5 Ma,respectively.     

Vermicular fossils in the Early Cambrian Xidashan Formation in the Quruqtagh region of Xinjiang, China

Large amounts of vermicular fossils and a minor amount of sponge animal fossils have been found in the Early Cambrian Xidashan Formation in the region of Quruqtagh, Xinjiang. Vermicular fossils are generally more than 50 mm long and 0.3?1.4 mm wide; their wrinkled lamellae are microfine with 3?10 pieces within the length of every each millimeter. The fossils are considered to be Sabellidites cambriensis Sokolov (1965). The Xidashan Formation is the highest stratum in which Sabellidites occur, as has been so far reported.