Middle Triassic transcontinental connection between the North China Craton and the Paleo-Tethys Ocean

Abstract Middle Triassic paleogeography is essential for the paleoclimate change and ecosystem recovery after the end-Permian mass extinction, but is highly debated in the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and North China Craton, eastern Pangaea. Here we report a detailed provenance fingerprinting dataset from Mid...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Heng Peng, Lin Ding, Chiyang Liu, Massimiliano Zattin, Jianqiang Wang, Licheng Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Communications Earth & Environment
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01945-z
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Summary:Abstract Middle Triassic paleogeography is essential for the paleoclimate change and ecosystem recovery after the end-Permian mass extinction, but is highly debated in the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and North China Craton, eastern Pangaea. Here we report a detailed provenance fingerprinting dataset from Middle Triassic sediments across the North China Craton, Qinling and Songpan-Ganzi and identify the paleo-uplift in the northern North China Craton as a primary sediment source. We propose that a Middle Triassic transcontinental drainage system flowed from the northern North China Craton through the central Qinling into the eastern Paleo-Tethys Ocean along the gradually descending landform, challenging the suggestion that the North China Craton was a great endorheic basin. The finding of this study will provide a better understanding of Middle Triassic physiography and paleogeography of the North China Craton. Such heterogeneous paleotopography and transcontinental drainage played a critical role in the marine-terrestrial ecosystems of the eastern Pangaea.
ISSN:2662-4435