Early Cretaceous changes of vegetation and environment in East Asia

Early Cretaceous floras of the Razdolnensky (Suifun) and Partizansky (Suchan) basins, currently located close to each other in South Primorye, differ significantly. The pre-Albian flora assemblages of the Razdolnensky basin are similar to those of northeastern China, whereas the pre-Albian assemblages of the Partizansky basin are close to the Rioseki complex of the Outer Japan. Tectonic reconstructions using these data have showed that the Voznesenka terrane, underlying Cretaceous sediments of the Razdolnensky basin, as well as the terranes of Inner Japan were displaced northwards along faults of the Tan-Lu system for more than 5° by latitude. The Sergeevka terrane, forming the basement of Early Cretaceous sediments of the Partizansky basin, as well as the terranes of Outer Japan, were displaced in the same direction for a much larger distance (about 15° by latitude). The major movements occurred in the earliest Albian as is suggested by the same Albian flora assemblages in the two basins.