Late Turonian Microfossils and Paleoclimate in the Songliao Basin, NE China

Although the paleoclimate of the marine Cretaceous has been well studied, the paleoclimate of the non-marine is still not well understood. The Songliao Basin was one of the largest non-marine rift basins during Cretaceous. The Well-preserved Cretaceous lacustrine deposits in this basin provide a unique opportunity to study terrestrial paleoenvironments and paleoclimate during the Late Cretaceous. Here, the microfossils from the Late Turonian Qingshankou Formation of the Songliao Basin were used to investigate the paleoenvironments and paleoclimate of east Asia. There are two spore and pollen assemblages recognized: a Cedripites-Cyathidites-Classopollis assemblage from Upper Member 1, and a Cedripites-Cyathidites-Classopollis assemblage from Lower Member 2 of the Qingshankou Formation, respectively. Besides, relatively abundant ostracods have been identified. In the Songliao Basin, the climate was relatively warm and wet during Late Turonian, with good source rock deposited in the Songliao lake.