Upper Jurassic and lower cretaceous of Sanjiang-Middle Amur basin: Non-marine and marine correlation

A comparative analysis of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous strata have been done for the Sanjiang-Middle Amur basin, a coal- and oil-bearing area spanning the eastern Heilongjiang of northeastern China and southeastern Far East of Russia. On the basis of various fossils occurring in the formations, particularly by means of the Tithonian-Valanginian index Buchia and the late Barremian-middle Albian indicator Aucellina assemblages, the marine and non-marine Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous strata in the basin are correlated. The Mesozoic international chronostratigraphic chart (http://www.stratigra-phy.org) is established basically based on the marine rocks. To accurately date the non-marine strata, it is necessary to correlate them with the marine deposits. This study sheds new light on the dating and correlation of non-marine Upper Mesozoic. Additionally, the results would help understand the tectonics and paleogeography and thus aid the exploration of energy resources.