Sequence stratigraphy and evolution of the Neoproterozoic marginal basins along southeastern Yangtze Craton, South China

Four sequence sets have been recognized in the Neoproterozoic basins along the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton, South China. The first sequence set consists of the Baizhu and Hetong Formations (or their equivalents), which is absent or partially absent in the denudational areas of the Jiangnan Ridge division. It represents the beginning of the continental rifting. The second sequence set is made up of the Sanmenjie and Gongdong Formations (or their equivalents), and is characterised by widespread rift volcanism. The third sequence set is represented by the Chang'an Formation glacial deposits in the Hunan-Guangxi sub-basin, which is absent in land areas covered by continental ice sheets. The Nantuo tillites and subsequent carbonaceous and siliceous sediments (the Doushantuo and Dengying Formations) constitute the fourth sequence set in the study area, marking the end of the continental rifting. The first three sets have been interpreted as forming the rift-fill, and the last one the rift cover. This study is the first step towards a better understanding of the Neoproterozoic basin history in South China, and a more robust correlation with Neoproterozoic successions in other continents formed during the breakup of Rodinia.