Sedimentary evolution of the Ediacaran Yangtze platform shelf (Hubei and Hunan provinces, Central China)

The development of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (635-551 Ma) on the Yangtze platform is studied to analyse the environmental changes on this platform accompanying the Ediacaran bioradiation. In this study we will present a detailed facies analysis and propose a tentative stratigraphic analysis of seven selected sections that are located predominantly on the platform shelf situated in the Hubei Province. The Doushantuo Yangtze platform displays two major depositional environments: a rimmed carbonate platform and an open shelf. The shift from one depositional model to another may be related to the paleotopography in horsts and grabens inherited from previous extensional movements. The strata observed in the shelf deposits of the Doushantuo Formation are organised in three stacked facies successions. These shallowing-upward facies successions may be correlatable with other Ediacaran sections worldwide.