Shaximiao Formation

Shaximiao Formation
Stratigraphic range: Middle Jurassic–Late Jurassic PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Excavation floor at the Zigong Dinosaur Museum
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Chongqing Group
Sub-units	Lower, Upper Subunits
Underlies	Suining Formation
Overlies	Xintiangou Formation
Thickness	Lower Subunit: Up to 246.5 m (809 ft) Upper Subunit: 450–1,200 m (1,480–3,940 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone
Other	Siltstone, mudstone
Location
Coordinates	29°12′N 105°54′E / 29.2°N 105.9°E / 29.2; 105.9
Approximate paleocoordinates	28°12′N 110°00′E / 28.2°N 110.0°E / 28.2; 110.0
Region	Sichuan
Country	China
Extent	Sichuan Basin
Shaximiao Formation (China) Show map of China Shaximiao Formation (Sichuan) Show map of Sichuan

The Shaximiao Formation (simplified Chinese: 沙溪庙组; traditional Chinese: 沙溪廟組 / 沙溪廟層; pinyin: Shāxīmiào zǔ) is a Middle to Late Jurassic aged geological formation in Sichuan, China, most notable for the wealth of dinosaurs fossils that have been excavated from its strata. The Shaximiao Formation is exposed in and around the small township of Dashanpu (simplified Chinese: 大山铺镇; traditional Chinese: 大山鋪鎮; pinyin: Dàshānpū zhèn), situated seven kilometres north-east from Sichuan's third largest city, Zigong, in the Da'an District.