Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 8, 2026

Quantou Formation

The Quantou Formation is a Cretaceous Period geologic formation in China. It is primarily Albian in age. It has been explored for its potential as a tight oil reservoir.

Last revised
Jun 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
623 w
Citations
11
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Quantou Formation
Stratigraphic range:
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofSongliao Basin
Sub-unitsFirst through Fourth Members
UnderliesQingshankou Formation
OverliesDenglouku Formation
Thickness190 to 1379 m
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherMudstone
Location
RegionJilin
Country China

The Quantou Formation is a Cretaceous Period (Mesozoic Era) geologic formation in China. It is primarily Albian in age.1 It has been explored for its potential as a tight oil reservoir.23

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.4

Fossil content

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

Ornithischians

Ornithischians of the Quantou Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Changchunsaurus5 C. parvus A thescelosaurid ornithischian
Helioceratops6 H. brachygnathus A archaeoceratopsid ceratopsian

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Quantou Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Jiutaisaurus7 J. xidiensis A titanosauriform sauropod

Theropods

Theropods of the Quantou Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Dromaeosauridae Indet.8 Indeterminate A large-bodied dromaeosaurid theropod

Mammals

Mammals of the Quantou Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Gobiconodon9 G. gongzhulingensis A gobiconodontid eutriconodont
Zhangolestes10 Z. jilinensis A zalambdalestid eutherian

Oofossils

Oofossils of the Quantou Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Jilinoolithus11 J. lamellotestus Likely laid by non-avian maniraptoran theropod
See also

See also

Footnotes

Footnotes

  1. WANG, Guodong; CHENG, Rihui; WANG, Pujun; GAO, Youfeng; WANG, Chengshan; REN, Yanguang; HUANG, Qinghua (March 2009). "Description of Cretaceous Sedimentary Sequence of the Quantou Formation Recovered by CCSD-SK-Is Borehole in Songliao Basin: Lithostratigraphy, Sedimentary Facies and Cyclic Stratigraphy". Earth Science Frontiers. 16 (2): 324–338. Bibcode:2009ESF....16..324W. doi:10.1016/s1872-5791(08)60078-0. ISSN 1872-5791.
  2. Xi, Kelai; Cao, Yingchang; Haile, Beyene Girma; Zhu, Rukai; Jahren, Jens; Bjørlykke, Knut; Zhang, Xiangxiang; Hellevang, Helge (September 2016). "How does the pore-throat size control the reservoir quality and oiliness of tight sandstones? The case of the Lower Cretaceous Quantou Formation in the southern Songliao Basin, China". Marine and Petroleum Geology. 76: 1–15. Bibcode:2016MarPG..76....1X. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2016.05.001. ISSN 0264-8172.
  3. Xi, Kelai; Cao, Yingchang; Jahren, Jens; Zhu, Rukai; Bjørlykke, Knut; Haile, Beyene Girma; Zheng, Lijing; Hellevang, Helge (December 2015). "Diagenesis and reservoir quality of the Lower Cretaceous Quantou Formation tight sandstones in the southern Songliao Basin, China". Sedimentary Geology. 330: 90–107. Bibcode:2015SedG..330...90X. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2015.10.007. ISSN 0037-0738.
  4. Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  5. Zan S.-Q.; Chen J.; Jin L.-Y.; Li T. (2005). "A primitive ornithopod from the Early Cretaceous Quantou Formation of central Jilin, China". Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 43: 182–193. doi:10.19615/j.cnki.1000-3118.2005.03.003.
  6. Jin, L.; Chen, J.; Zan, S.; Godefroit, P. (2009). "A new basal neoceratopsian dinosaur from the Middle Cretaceous of Jilin Province, China". Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition). 83 (2): 200–206. Bibcode:2009AcGlS..83..200J. doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2009.00023.x. S2CID 129656123.
  7. Wu, W.-H.; Dong, Z.-M.; Sun, Y.-W.; Li, C.-T.; Li, T. (2006). "A New Sauropod Dinosaur from the Cretaceous of Jiutai, Jilin, China". Global Geology. 25 (1): 6–9.
  8. Yang, L.; Li, X.; Chen, J.; Reisz, R. R. (2023). "First Discovery of Large-bodied Dromaeosaurid Fossil Materials (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Quantou Formation, Songliao Basin, Northeast China". Cretaceous Research. 153 105711. 105711. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105711. S2CID 262181571.
  9. Wu, W.; Mao, F.; Chen, J.; Meng, J. (2026). "A new gobiconodontid mammal from Upper Cretaceous of China and reassessment of dentition in Gobiconodon". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 71 (2): 193–210. doi:10.4202/app.01313.2025.
  10. Chen, J.; Mao, F.; Wu, W.; Meng, J. (2025). "New Material of the Zalambdalestid Zhangolestes (Mammalia, Zalambdalestidae) from the Late Cretaceous Changchunsaurus Fauna of Jilin, China". Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition). 99 (3): 634–645. Bibcode:2025AcGlS..99..634C. doi:10.1111/1755-6724.15307.
  11. Wang, L.; Chen, J.; Li, X.; Wu, W.; Reisz, R. (2026). "First Discovery of Maniraptoran Egg from the Upper Cretaceous Quantou Formation (Cenomanian), Songliao Basin, Northeast China". Cretaceous Research 106389. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2026.106389.
Bibliography

Bibliography

  • Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.