Stratigraphic Evidence for a Major Unconformity Within the Ediacaran System

The subdivision and correlation of the Ediacaran System within the geologic timescale is desirable, but challenging. The Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (∼635–550 Ma) in South China is one of the most important sedimentary successions for studying the co-evolution of Earth's environment and life at that time. However, its stratigraphic continuity is confusing and deserves scrutiny. In this study we evaluate stratigraphic continuity of the Doushantuo Formation from a key section deposited in an alleged deep-water “basinal” setting. Using litho-, chemo-, and chrono-stratigraphic data anchored by two new CA-ID-TIMS U-Pb zircon dates of 629.7 Ma and 556.4 Ma from two tuff layers, we reveal that this section contains a cryptic subaerial unconformity with a >44 Myr gap in the sedimentary record. The unconformity occurs immediately prior to the EN3/Shuram δ13C excursion in the mid-Ediacaran, and can be traced regionally and may be correlative to other mid-Ediacaran unconformities globally. We suggest that its development is related to glacio-eustatic sea-level changes during the mid-Ediacaran. This finding provides a critical stratigraphic boundary for future subdivision and correlation of the Ediacaran System in South China, and we advocate for a reconsideration of the completeness of the Ediacaran stratigraphic record in this area.