Djadokhta Formation correlative strata in Chinese Inner Mongolia: an overview of the stratigraphy, sedimentary geology, and paleontology and comparisons with the type locality in the pre-Altai Gobi
Because the Bayan Mandahu redbeds of Inner Mongolia share similar sedimentary facies and fossil assemblages with the Djadokhta Formation of pre-Altai Gobi, the two units are interpreted as stratigraphic correlatives, both of Campanian age. Sedimentary facies indicate that the Bayan Mandahu redbeds were deposited in semiarid, alluvial to eolian environments. An assemblage of fossil vertebrates found in the Bayan Manduhu consists of ceratopsian, ankylosaurian, and theropod dinosaurs; turtles; crocodiles; and small lizards and mammals. Six different kinds of fossil vertebrate eggs are present. The most common fossil vertebrates occur in association with eolian deposits and are interpreted as the remains of autochthonous "faunal" components, many of which died in situ during sandstorm events. In contrast, rare and fragmentary specimens of large dinosaurs occur in coarse-grained alluvial deposits and are interpreted as the remains of allochthonous faunal components. The low diversity of this fossil assemblage ...