Terrestrial End-Triassic Mass Extinction and the Triassic/Jurassic Boundary of the Junggar Basin,NW China:A Brief Review

1 Introduction The end-Triassic mass extinction event is one of the five global mass extinctions,and destroyed both the marine and terrestrial biological worlds.Though years the marine endTriassic mass extinction(ETE)event has been widely studied and discussed,and the standard marine Triassic/Jurassic boundary(TJB)(base-Jurassic)has also been determined.However.

Hydrocarbon Potential of the Triassic-Jurassic Sediments in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, Based on Lithofacies and Geochemical Analysis

Triassic-Jurassic carbonates widely distributed in Eastern Indonesia are believed as oils source rock. The Mesozoic Tokala Formation exhibit source rock potential, as evidenced by high contents of organic matter. Recent exploration has been conducted in southeastern Sulawesi, targeting the Mesozoic intervals. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to determine source rock potential of Tokala Formation outcropped in southeastern Sulawesi area and its capability to generate hydrocarbon. Five distinct lithofacies were delineated, emphasizing lithological and mineralogical features: foraminifera wackestone (FW), lime mudstone (LM), massive bioturbated calcareous-argillaceous shale (MBCAS), weakly laminated argillaceous-calcareous shale (WLACS), and strongly laminated calcareous-argillaceous shale (SLCAS). Subsequent analyses showed that carbonate-rich samples (FW and LM facies, >50% CaO) had poor source rock potential. Conversely, shale facies with moderate carbonate content (WLACS, MBCAS, and SLCAS, 15% - 50% CaO) had good to excellent source rock characteristics, qualifying them as preferable source rock. In addition, levels of SiO2 and Al2O3 should not be neglected, as these constituents play important roles in clay mineral adsorption. Laminated shale facies with moderate CaO content tended to be more promising as source rock than bioturbated facies. The shale facies of Tokala Formation indicate prospective source rock horizon.

Preliminary study on Late Triassic to Early Jurassic strata and floral variation in Hechuan region of Chongqing,southern Sichuan Basin

The end-Triassic mass extinction event is extensively known, however, the terrestrial response of this event is still poorly understood. Here we briefly report our preliminary results on the variation of floral diversity through the Triassic/Jurassic boundary deposits in the Tanha section of Hechuan region, Chongqing, southern China. It is recognized that the floral hiodiversity of the Hechuan region shows a distinct change through the Triassic and Jurassic transition; and the floral diversity loss reaches up to 92. 5% at species level. Meanwhile, in northeastern region of the Sichuan Basin, the floral diversity declines by about 50% across the T/J boundary at species level with a remarkable turnover of genera and species. The potential reasons and mechanisms that cause the floral diversity differentiation of the T/J boundary in the Sichuan Basin are briefly discussed in this note.

Hydrocarbon Generation Characteristics of Coal-measure Source Rocks and their Contribution to Natural Gas:A Case Study of Middle and Lower Jurassic Targets from the Southern Junggar Basin Margin

In order to study the hydrocarbon generation(HCGE)characteristics of coal-bearing basins,the coal-measure source rocks of the Middle Jurassic-Lower Jurassic(MLJ)of the piedmont thrust belt in the southern margin of the Junggar Basin in Northwest China are taken as research objects.More than 60 MLJ samples were collected from outcrops and wells.Total organic carbon(TOC),rock pyrolysis(Rock-Eval),organic petrological,vitrinite reflectance(%Ro),and hydrous pyrolysis were performed to analyze the relevant samples.The pyrolysis gases and liquid products were measured,and then the chemical composition,as well as carbon isotopes of the gases,were analyzed.The results indicate that the MLJ source rocks have the capacity for large-scale gas generation.In addition,for coal-measure source rocks,the heavier the carbon isotope of kerogen(δ^(13)C_(kerogen)),the lower the liquid hydrocarbon and hydrocarbon gas yield,and the easier it is to produce non-hydrocarbon gas.It is worth noting that when theδ^(13)C_(kerogen)in organic matter(OM)is relatively heavier,the fractionation of its products may become weaker in the evolutionary process.The vital contribution of the MLJ source rock to natural gas resources in the study area was further confirmed by comparing it with the Jurassic source gas.

Organic petrology and geochemistry of Triassic and Jurassic coals of the Tabas Basin, Northeastern/Central Iran

Jurassic and Triassic coals and organic matter-rich shales of the Tabas Basin, Iran, were investigated with respect to their thermal maturation and petrographic composition. The Triassic coals of the Parvadeh coal field range in vitrinite reflectance between 1.17% and 1.37% and the Jurassic coals of the Mazino coal field between 2.08% and 2.29% VRr. Maceral analysis revealed a predominance of vitrinite in all samples, with slightly higher percentages of inertinite in the Jurassic samples. Rock-Eval analyses confirm the presence of type III kerogen in the Triassic coals, while the Jurassic coals contain strongly carbonized residual kerogen. The range of sulfur contents for coals from the Parvadeh coal field (0.37% to 4.64%) and Mazino coal field (0.45% to 2.92%) is related to the effect of marine water in peat. The studied samples are characterized by the predominance of short- over long-chained n-alkanes. The relatively high Pr/Ph ratios indicate predominance of terrestrial organic matter whereas Pr/n-C17 and Ph/n-C18 ratios prove oxic conditions during deposition. In addition, the DBT/Phen ratio shows that these coals formed in fluvial/deltaic environments. Molecular geochemical parameters such as carbon preference index (CPI, 0.99-1.04), methyl phenanthrene index (MPI, 1.20-1.60), methyl naphthalene ratio (MNR, 1.61-3.45), and ethyl naphthalene ratio (ENR, 4-6.78) confirm the high maturity of the samples. Burial and thermal history reconstruction indicates necessity of an erosional thickness of about 4000 m in the Parvadeh area. Towards the Mazino area, a higher basal heat flow up to 80 mW m^-2 is assumed for the Paleogene leading to higher maturities.

Stratigraphy of the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary Successions of the Southern Margin of the Junggar Basin,Northwestern China

The Triassic-Jurassic （Tr-J） boundary marks a major extinction event, which （～200 Ma）resulted in global extinctions of fauna and flora both in the marine and terrestrial realms. There prevail great challenges in determining the exact location of the terrestrial Tr-J boundary, because of endemism of taxa and the scarcity of fossils in terrestrial settings leading to difficulties in linking marine and terrestrial sedimentary successions. Investigation based on palynology and bivalves has been carried out over a 1113 m thick section, which is subdivided into 132 beds, along the Haojiagou valley on the southern margin of the Junggar Basin of the northern Xinjiang, northwestern China. The terrestrial Lower Jurassic is conformably resting on the Upper Triassic strata. The Upper Triassic covers the Huangshanjie Formation overlaid by the Haojiagou Formation, while the Lower Jurassic comprises the Badaowan Formation followed by the Sangonghe Formation. Fifty six pollen and spore taxa and one algal taxon were identified from the sediments. Based on the key-species and abundance of spores and pollen, three zones were erected： the Late Triassic （Rhaetian） Aratrisporites-Alisporites Assemblage, the Early Jurassic （Hettangian） Perinopollenites-Pinuspollenites Assemblage, and the Sinemurian Perinopollenites-Cycadopites Assemblage. The Tr-J boundary is placed between bed 44and 45 coincident with the boundary between the Haojiagou and Badaowan formations. Beds with Ferganoconcha （？）, Unio-Ferganoconcha and Waagenoperna-Yananoconcha bivalve assemblages are recognized. The Ferganoconcha （？） bed is limited to the upper Haojiagou Formation,Unio- Ferganoconcha and Waagenoperna- Yananoconcha assemblages are present in the middle and upper members of the Badaowan Formation. The sedimentary succession is interpreted as terrestrial with two mainly lake deposit intervals within Haojiagou and Badaowan formations, yielding fresh water algae and bivalves. However, the presence of brackish water algae Tasmanites and the marine-littoral facies bivalve Waagenoperna from the Badaowan Formation indicate that the Junggar Basin was influenced by sea water caused by transgressions from the northern Tethys, during the Sinemurian.

Characteristics and discovery significance of the Upper Triassic–Lower Jurassic marine shale oil in Qiangtang Basin,China

Mesozoic marine shale oil was found in the Qiangtang Basin by a large number of hydrocarbon geological surveys and shallow drilling sampling.Based on systematic observation and experimental analysis of outcrop and core samples,the deposition and development conditions and characteristics of marine shale are revealed,the geochemical and reservoir characteristics of marine shale are evaluated,and the layers of marine shale oil in the Mesozoic are determined.The following geological understandings are obtained.First,there are two sets of marine organic-rich shales,the Lower Jurassic Quse Formation and the Upper Triassic Bagong Formation,in the Qiangtang Basin.They are mainly composed of laminated shale with massive mudstone.The laminated organic-rich shale of the Quse Formation is located in the lower part of the stratum,with a thickness of 50–75 m,and mainly distributed in southern Qiangtang Basin and the central-west of northern Qiangtang Basin.The laminated organic-rich shale of the Bagong Formation is located in the middle of the stratum,with a thickness of 250–350 m,and distributed in both northern and southern Qiangtang Basin.Second,the two sets of laminated organic-rich shales develop foliation,and various types of micropores and microfractures.The average content of brittle minerals is 70%,implying a high fracturability.The average porosity is 5.89%,indicating good reservoir physical properties to the level of moderate–good shale oil reservoirs.Third,the organic-rich shale of the Quse Formation contains organic matters of types II1 and II2,with the average TOC of 8.34%,the average content of chloroform bitumen'A'of 0.66%,the average residual hydrocarbon generation potential(S1+S2)of 29.93 mg/g,and the Ro value of 0.9%–1.3%,meeting the standard of high-quality source rock.The organic-rich shale of the Bagong Formation contains mixed organic matters,with the TOC of 0.65%–3.10%and the Ro value of 1.17%–1.59%,meeting the standard of moderate source rock.Fourth,four shallow wells(depth of 50–250 m)with oil shows have been found in the organic shales at 50–90 m in the lower part of the Bagong Formation and 30–75 m in the middle part of the Quse Formation.The crude oil contains a high content of saturated hydrocarbon.Analysis and testing of outcrop and shallow well samples confirm the presence of marine shale oil in the Bagong Formation and the Quse Formation.Good shale oil intervals in the Bagong Formation are observed in layers 18–20 in the lower part of the section,where the shales with(S0+S1)higher than 1 mg/g are 206.7 m thick,with the maximum and average(S0+S1)of 1.92 mg/g and 1.81 mg/g,respectively.Good shale oil intervals in the Quse Formation are found in layers 4–8 in the lower part of the section,where the shales with(S0+S1)higher than 1 mg/g are 58.8 m thick,with the maximum and average(S0+S1)of 6.46 mg/g and 2.23 mg/g,respectively.

High-resolution CT-scan data reveals the tooth replacement pattern of the Late Jurassic tyrannosauroid Guanlong wucaii (Dinosauria, Theropoda)

The Tyrannosauridae,which is characterized by specialized pachydont dentition and putative bone-cracking predatory strategies,is one of the most extensively studied theropod lineages.Although tooth replacement patterns,crucial for understanding feeding behaviors,have been thoroughly studied in this group,studies on non-tyrannosaurid tyrannosauroids are relatively scarce.This study utilizes high-resolution CT data to investigate the tooth replacement pattern in two specimens of Guanlong wucaii,a Late Jurassic tyrannosauroid,and provides insights into the evolution of tooth replacement across Tyrannosauroidea.Second-generation replacement teeth,a rarity observed mainly in giant predatory theropods(e.g.some tyrannosaurids),were detected in the dentary dentition of the juvenile Guanlong.Zahnreihen reconstructions display a consistent cephalad alternating tooth replacement pattern in the maxilla and the dentary of both of the examined individuals,with Z-spacing values exceeding 2.0.As Guanlong grows,the Z-spacing value in the maxillary dentition increases,resembling the ontogenetic changes documented in the Tyrannosauridae.Additionally,like Tarbosaurus,Guanlong also displays a discontinuity between the tooth replacement waves at the premaxilla-maxilla boundary.This study thus demonstrates that some tyrannosaurid-like tooth replacement patterns were acquired before the origin of the Tyrannosauridae.

The Upper Jurassic sediments,Marib-Shabwa Basin,Yemen:Lithofacies aspects and sequence stratigraphic analysis

The present study is devoted to understanding the evolution of the Upper Jurassic Sab'atayn Formation in the Marib-Shabwa Basin,Yemen,through a sequence stratigraphic analysis based on integrating datasets of sedimentology,seismic sections,and well logs.The Sab'atayn Formation(Tithonian age)is represented by a series of clastic and evaporites that were deposited under fluvio-deltaic to prodeltaic settings.It is divided into four members including Yah(at the base),upwards to Seen,Alif,and Safir at the top.Two third-order depositional sequences were determined for the Tithonian succession which were separated by three sequence boundaries.These sequences were classified into their systems tracts signifying several sedimentation patterns of progradational,aggradational,and retrogradational parasequence sets.The first depositional sequence corresponds to the early-middle Tithonian Yah and Seen units that can be classified into lowstand,transgressive,and highstand systems tracts.The second sequence comprises the late Tithonian Alif unit that can be subdivided into transgressive and highstand systems tracts.The sandy deposits of the Alif Member(highstand deposits)represent the most productive hydrocarbon reservoir in the basin.The Upper Jurassic sediments in the study area were resulted from a combination of eustatic and tectonic effects.

Whole petroleum system in Jurassic coal measures of Taibei Sag in Tuha Basin,NW China

Based on the latest results of near-source exploration in the Middle and Lower Jurassic of the Tuha Basin,a new understanding of the source rocks,reservoir conditions,and source-reservoir-cap rock combinations of the Jurassic Shuixigou Group in the Taibei Sag is established using the concept of the whole petroleum system,and the coal-measure whole petroleum system is analyzed thoroughly.The results are obtained in three aspects.First,the coal-measure source rocks of the Badaowan Formation and Xishanyao Formation and the argillaceous source rocks of the Sangonghe Formation in the Shuixigou Group exhibit the characteristics of long-term hydrocarbon generation,multiple hydrocarbon generation peaks,and simultaneous oil and gas generation,providing sufficient oil and gas sources for the whole petroleum system in the Jurassic coal-bearing basin.Second,multi-phase shallow braided river delta–shallow lacustrine deposits contribute multiple types of reservoirs,e.g.sandstone,tight sandstone,shale and coal rock,in slope and depression areas,providing effective storage space for the petroleum reservoir formation in coal-measure strata.Third,three phases of hydrocarbon charging and structural evolution,as well as effective configuration of multiple types of reservoirs,result in the sequential accumulation of conventional-unconventional hydrocarbons.From high structural positions to depression,there are conventional structural and structural-lithological reservoirs far from the source,low-saturation structural-lithological reservoirs near the source,and tight sandstone gas,coal rock gas and shale oil accumulations within the source.Typically,the tight sandstone gas and coal rock gas are the key options for further exploration,and the shale oil and gas in the depression area is worth of more attention.The new understanding of the whole petroleum system in the coal measures could further enrich and improve the geological theory of the whole petroleum system,and provide new ideas for the overall exploration of oil and gas resources in the Tuha Basin.

Discovery of Fossil Charophytes from the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation and Early Jurassic Lower Yimen Formation, Sichuan Province, and Its Significance

This paper describes the fossil charophytes collected from the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation in Dazuand Early Jurassic Lower Yimen Formation in Xichang, Sichuan Province, and their significance. Up to now,papers dealing with fossil charophytes of the Late Triassic, especially of the Early Jurassic, have been rarelypublished. The description of the two new species of Porochara, P. dazuensis and P. xichangensis, and theirfossil assemblage not only provides an important basis for classification and correlation of red beds insouthwestern China but reveals for the first time the features of the charophyte flora of the Late Triassic-EarlyJurassic in the area, thus offering valuable data for the establishment of Triassic and Jurassic charophyte fossilzones in China.

Two Jurassic Mammaliaforms from China Shed Light on Mammalian Evolution

Mammaliaforms are extinct and extant organisms that are closely related to mammals.Studying mammaliaforms helps scientists understand the evolutionary processes that led to various mammalian features.In two consecutive studies in Nature,Dr.MAO Fangyuan and Dr.ZHANG Chi from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology(IVPP)of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS),together with colleagues from Australia and the United States.

THE EVOLUTION OF LANPING RIFT BASIN FROM LADINIAN IN MIDDLE TRIASSIC EPOCH TO EARLY JURASSIC EPOCH

Lanping basin was a massif (land massif) in late Palaeozoic Era. The ocean of Jinshajiang separated it from Yangtze plate in east. Lancangjiang ocean separated it from Yunnan—Tibet plate in west. From late Permian Epoch, the oceanic crust of Jinshajiang subduced the west from east, the one of Lancangjiang down went the east from west, and then the Yunnan—Tibet ancient land gradually closed to the Yangtze. In the end of the Permian Period, two continents and Lanping plate touched together, and the evolution history of the Paleotethys was end. Hercynian orogenic belt in the east and west sides of Lanping had volcanic rock colliding in early—middle Triassic Epoch. In Ladinian in middle Triassic and Carnian in late Triassic, the north side of Lanping basin formed the serial volcanic rock of spilite—quartz keratophyre because mantle\|derived magma causing by delamination rose and mixed with the constituent of continental crust. The volcanic rock overlapped the middle Triassic and late Palaeozoic stratum in angular unconformity. It was the feature of double peak or evolution from the basic to the acid. The race element distribution of volcanic rock was same as the one of tholeiite in island and inter\|arc basin. The rate of lead isotope of the volcanic rock was much higher. These points all distributed above the NHRL in Pb\|Pb. This indicated that the Pb of volcanic rock was the mantle\|derived magma mixed with crust one. The large\|area progression in Lanping rift basin begun in late Carnian.. The east side in Lanping basin developed the sedimentary system that was granule gravel (grit) rock in border facies—limestone in beach facies—black shale, and the middle had black shale, banded siliceous rock, brecciform limestone in late Carnian to Norian. The geochemistry research of siliceous rock showed that the genesis of the chert was hot water. The development of brecciform limestone was related with action of central\|axis rift. The Lanping rift basin went into consuming stage in Rhaetian Epoch of the late Triassic. The basin developed clastic rock bearing coal of continental\|oceanic alternation facies. In early Jurassic, the sedimentary area atrophied further, and the fine lacustrine sediment whose thickness was not great developed in the east of central\|axis. The west stratum of the basin in late Triassic Epoch touched directly with the one in middle Jurassic. Lanping basin was going into another evolution stage that was down\|warped basin.

Decoupled δ^(13)Ccarb and δ^(13)Corg records at Triassic–Jurassic boundary interval in eastern Tethys: Environmental implications for spatially different global response

Althoughδ^(13)C data(eitherδ^(13)Ccarb orδ^(13)Corg)ofmany Triassic–Jurassic(T-J)sections have been acquired,pairedδ^(13)Ccarb andδ^(13)Corg from continuous T-J carbonate sections,especially in eastern Tethys,have been scarcely reported.This study presents paired and decoupledδ^(13)Ccarb andδ^(13)Corg data from a continuous T-J carbonate section in Wadi Naqab.The T-J Wadi Naqab carbonate section,located in United Arab Emirates,Middle East,represents tropical and shallow marine sedimentation in eastern Tethys.At the T-J boundary interval,an initial carbon isotope excursion(CIE)is observed with different magnitude of isotope excursion and timing inδ^(13)Ccarb andδ^(13)Corg,while subsequently a positive CIE is only distinct inδ^(13)Ccarb.Based on petrological,carbon isotope,Rock-Eval and elemental analyses,theδ^(13)Ccarb is thought to record marine inorganic carbon,and theδ^(13)Corg to record terrigenous organic carbon.Therefore,the pairedδ^(13)Ccarb andδ^(13)Corg herein potentially document simultaneous changes in T-J atmospheric and marine settings of eastern Tethys.Their decoupled behavior may likely be caused by different changes or evolution of carbon pool between marine and atmospheric settings.The initial CIE present in bothδ^(13)Ccarb andδ^(13)Corg may indicate influence of isotopically light carbon release related to CAMP activity in both atmospheric and marine settings.The following positive CIE only inδ^(13)Ccarb suggests relatively steady carbon isotope composition in atmosphere,but enhanced burial of isotopically light carbon in marine settings.Furthermore,the T-J carbonates in the studied section were possibly deposited in normal and oxic shallow marine conditions.Global correlation based on the Wadi Naqab section and other T-J sections suggests spatially different T-J environmental parameters:in eastern Tethys and western Panthalassa,oxic condition,lacking organic-rich sediment,weaker ocean acidification and less influence of isotopically light carbon are more prevalent;in western Tethys and eastern Panthalassa,oxygen-depleted condition,black shales,stronger acidification and heavier influence of isotopically light carbon are more prevalent.These differences may be related to spatial distance from the CAMP or to different paleogeography.

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Reconstruction and Ocean Acidification Deduced from Carbon Isotope Variations across the Triassic–Jurassic Boundary in the Qiangtang Area, Tibetan Plateau

Objective The end-Triassic mass extinction was one of the five most profound Phanerozoic extinction events.This event was accompanied by a series of significant environmental changes,of which the most notable is the emergence of warm climate and the world-wide disappearance of carbonate platform.

A New Genus of Mesoserphidae (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea) from the Upper Jurassic of Northeast China

The genus Beipiaoserphus gen. nov. is established and referred to Mesoserphidae with Beipiaoserphus elegans sp. nov. as its type species. The type specimens were collected from the lower part of the Upper Jurassic Yixian Formation at Huangbanjigou Village near Shangyuan Town, Beipiao, Liaoning Province, China and are housed at Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Academia Sinica, Nanjing.

A NEW SPECIES OF OMEISAURUS FROM THE MIDDLE JURASSIC OF ZIGONG,SICHUAN

记述了产自四川自贡大山铺中侏罗世峨眉龙属一新种——焦氏峨眉龙（Omeisaurusjiaoisp.nov.）。新种为大型蜥脚类恐龙，以如下特征区别于其他蜥脚类：前、中部背椎为典型的后凹型，后部背椎为双平型，背椎神经棘呈高大棒状，不分叉；尾椎为弱双凹型，第一尾椎不具扇形尾肋；第一脉弧短小且与第一尾椎关联；锁骨长大；肱骨和股骨细长而圆实；肱骨与股骨长度之比为0.83，尺骨与肱骨长度之比为0.72，胫骨与股骨长度之比为0.63。

Middle Jurassic Sporo-pollen Assemblages in Northern Turpan Depression, Xinjiang, Northwest China

Eighty-one species of fossil spores and pollen assigned to 52 genera are found from the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao, Sanjianfang and Qiketai Formations of boreholes Le 1, Mi 1, Shan 1 and Dun 1 in the northern Turpan Depression, Xinjiang, northwest China. Three assemblages have been proposed as: Cyathidites-Psophosphaera-Cycadopites assemblage, Cyathidites-Quadraceculina-Classopollis assemblage and Cyathidites-Callialasporites-Classopollis assemblage obtained from the Xishanyao Formation, the Sanjianfang Formation and Qiketai Formation respectively. Based on the sporo-pollen assemblage features and con-elation, their geological ages are regarded as of Middle Jurassic, probably Aalenian to Bathonian. The results of the study indicate that the vegetation of early Middle Jurassic in this region consisted mainly of Gymnospermae of Ginkgoaceae of Cycadales, Podocarpaceae, Pinaceae and Pteridophyta of Cyatheacene, Osmundaceae, Lycopodiaceae and Dicksoniaceae, etc. They reflect a warm-moist subtropic climate. To the middle-late Middle Jurassic, Cheirolepidaceae was dominant in the vegetation, which indicates that the climate was in the trend of becoming dry.

Xingxueanthus: An Enigmatic Jurassic Seed Plant and Its Implications for the Origin of Angiospermy

The origin of angiosperms has been tantalizing botanists for centuries. Despite the efforts of palaeobotanists, most of the pre-Cretaceous angiosperms are regarded either non-convincing or misdated. The applications of SEM and LM （light microscope） enable us to recognize a coalified fossil plant, Xingxueanthus sinensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Haifanggou Formation （Middle Jurassic, 〉160 Ma） in western Liaoning, China. Xingxueanthus is an ＂inflorescence＂ with more than 20 female units spirally arranged. Each female unit is situated in the axii of a bract. The female unit is composed of an ovule-container and a style-like projection at the top. There is a vertical column bearing several ovules in the ovule-container. The general morphology and the internal structure of Xingxueanthus distinguish itself from any known fossil and extant gymnosperms, and its structures are more comparable to those of angiosperms. Xingxueanthus, if taken as a gymnosperm, would represent a new class, demonstrate an evolutionarily advanced status of ovule-protection in gymnosperms never seen before, and provide new insights into the origin of angiospermy. Alternatively, if taken as an angiosperm, together with Schmeissneria, it would increase the diversity of Jurassic angiosperms, which has been underestimated for a long time, and suggest a much earlier origin of angiospermy than currently accepted.

New Jurassic Fossil True Bugs of the Pachymeridiidae(Hemiptera:Pentatomomorpha)from Northeast China

Four new fossil genera and species of true bugs from the family Pachymeridiidae, Beipiaocoris multifurcus, Bellicoris mirabilis, Nitoculus regiUus, and Viriosinervis stolidus, are described. New specimens were collected from the Middle and Upper Jurassic non-marine sedimentary strata from the Jiulongshan and Yixian Formations of northeast China. The species Karatavocoris asiatica Becker-Migdisova, 1963, which was considered to be a member of the family Coreidae is transferred to the Pachymeridiidae. A new map of all known and newly discovered fossil pachymeridiid localities is given. The diagnosis of the family is modified.