A New Understanding of the Sedimentary Environment of the Laiyang Group in the Lower Cretaceous of Lingshan Island, Shandong Province, East China

The sedimentary background and sedimentary environment of the Lower Cretaceous of Lingshan Island, Shandong, remain unclear. There is considerable controversy as to whether the sedimentary environment was marine or continental. In this study, analyses were conducted with respect to indicators of paleosalinity, the chemical composition of clay, paleobiota, the characteristics of strata exhibiting salinization in eastern China during the Early Cretaceous, and the relationship between paleosalinity and paleoclimate. The results indicate that the sedimentary environment of the Lower Cretaceous Laiyang Group of Lingshan Island was that of a salified lake rather than a marine environment. This study not only provides a reference for determining the sedimentary environment of the Lower Cretaceous Laiyang Group of Lingshan Island but also offers a new perspective for the study of Cretaceous strata with salinization characteristics in eastern China.