Conglomerates and sandstones from the Yintun Formation in Northern Liaoning Province: Implications for the Huronian Glaciation and reconstruction of the Columbia supercontinent

New U-Pb zircon geochronology data suggest that the Yintun Formation is younger than ~ 1895 Ma and is late Paleoproterozoic. The Yintun Formation may represent the first sedimentary cover of the North China Craton (NCC) based on its stratigraphic sequence and the ages of its sediments. Gravels in the conglomerates from the lower member of the Yintun Formation are characterized by obvious glacial origins. It is possible that these glacial gravels are the redeposited sedimentary products of the Huronian Glaciation from the Indian continent. This can also provide sedimentary evidence for the relative location of the Indian continent and the NCC in the reconstruction of the Columbia supercontinent.