Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 7, 2026

Minhe Formation

The Minhe Formation is a geological formation in northwestern China, whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous period.

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Jul 7, 2026
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Minhe Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous,1
TypeGeological formation
OverliesUnconformity: Hekou Group
Lithology
PrimaryRed or variegated clastic rock
Location
RegionGansu, Inner Mongolia
Country China

The Minhe Formation (simplified Chinese: 民和组; traditional Chinese: 民和組; pinyin: Mínhé Zǔ) is a geological formation in northwestern China, whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous period.

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.2

Vertebrate paleofauna

Dinosaurs

A tyrannosaur tooth with a split carina has been recovered from the Minhe Formation in China.3

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
Dinosaurs reported from the Minhe Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Heishansaurus4

H. pachycephalus4

  • Gansu4

"Badly preserved cranial and postcranial fragments."5

Protoceratops source ↗
Velociraptor source ↗

Microceratus4

M. gobiensis4

  • Gansu4

"Teeth, fragmentary jaws and postcrania."6

M. sulcidens4

  • Gansu4

"Tooth."6

Peishansaurus4

P. philemys4

  • Gansu4

"Very fragmentary jaw with [one] tooth."7

Protoceratops8

P. andrewsi8

  • Gansu4
  • Inner Mongolia9

Troodon9

T. bexelli9

Inner Mongolia9

Reclassified as a new genus of pachycephalosaur,Sinocephale and reidentified as provenant from the Ulansuhai Formation

Velociraptor10

V. mongoliensis10

  • Inner Mongolia9
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Xi, D.; Wan, X.; Li, G.; Li, G. (2018). "Cretaceous integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China". Science China Earth Sciences. 61: 1–31. doi:10.1007/s11430-017-9262-y.
  2. Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, Asia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 593-600. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  3. "Tyrannosauridae," in Molnar (2001); page 347.
  4. "3.3 Gansu, People's Republic of China; 1. Minhe Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 598.
  5. "Table 21.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 466.
  6. "Table 22.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 480.
  7. "Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 368.
  8. "3.3 Gansu, People's Republic of China; 1. Minhe Formation" and "3.3 Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, People's Republic of China; 3. Minhe Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Pages 598-599.
  9. "3.3 Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, People's Republic of China; 3. Minhe Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Pages 598-599.
  10. Listed as "cf. Velociraptor mongoliensis" in "3.3 Nei Mongol Zizhiqu, People's Republic of China; 3. Minhe Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Pages 598-599.

Bibliography

  • Molnar, R. E., 2001, Theropod paleopathology: a literature survey: In: Mesozoic Vertebrate Life, edited by Tanke, D. H., and Carpenter, K., Indiana University Press, p. 337-363.
  • Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.