Burial environment and geoheritage value of dinosaur fossils of the Middle Jurassic- Puan, Yunyang, Chongqing Municipality

A Jurassic site in the Puan area (Yunyang County, Chongqing Municipality) with paleontological heritage of dinosaur fossils is regarded as having high scientific and touristic value. The paleontological field’s geoheritage value was used to approve the establishment of a national geopark in 2020, which may promote socioeconomic development for the local population. The study and protection of these dinosaur fossils is still a necessity for establishing a geopark that will strengthen the protection and development of this area. The fossils in this region were recovered from the Middle Jurassic Xintiangou Formation and Lower Shaximiao Formation. Herein, we describe the background of the fossil burial in conjunction with sedimentology, and then we discuss the scientific and socioeconomic significance of the dinosaur fossils’ geoheritage value.

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