The Cretaceous of Shandong Province

A well preserved terrestrial Cretaceous succession outcrops in Shandong Province. Although previous studies have conducted much work on the geochronology, subdivision of stratigraphic units, regional correlation and paleontology, high controversies remain about geochronology, subdivision of stratigraphic units and sedimentology. Here, we report a synthesized study of the Cretaceous successions and stratigraphy in Shandong based on the new results. Accordingly, reconstruction of framework of the Cretaceous stratigraphy in Shandong is summarized as, in descending order, the Mengyin Group of the Jurassic/Cretaceous transition, the Lower Cretaceous Laiyang Group, Qingshan Group, Dasheng Group and the Upper Cretaceous Wangshi Group.