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 seque nce set consists of the Baizhu and Hetong Formations (or their equivalents) , which is absent or partially absent in the denudational areas of the Jian gnan Ridge division. It represents the beginning of the continental rifting . The second sequence set is made up of the Sanmenjie and Gongdong Formatio ns (or their equivalents), and is characterised by widespread rift volcanis m. 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 cove red by continental ice sheets. The Nantuo tillites and subsequent carbonace ous and siliceous sediments (the Doushantuo and Dengying Formations) consti tute the fourth sequence set in the study area, marking the end of the cont inental 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 to wards a better understanding of the Neoproterozoic basin history in South C hina, and a more robust correlation with Neoproterozoic successions in othe r continents formed during the breakup of Rodinia.