Spatial-temporal evolution of the source-to-sink system in the early and mid-Cretaceous Songliao Basin, Northeast China, and its constraints on basin prototype boundaries and paleogeography

The Songliao Basin, the largest hydrocarbon basin in Northeast China, features exceptionally well-preserved Cretaceous stratigraphic sequences. The evolution of its source-to-sink system provides critical insights into the basin prototype boundaries, paleogeography , and the tectonic evolution of the East Asian margin. Our investigation concentrated on detrital zircon U Pb dating of sandstones from the Quantou Formation in the Binxian area of the northeastern Songliao Basin. We also synthesized our findings with available data, analyzing 2469 detrital zircon U Pb ages from 35 sandstone samples spanning the Shahezi to Quantou formations across the basin. This integrated approach enabled a detailed reconstruction of the evolution of the source-to-sink system and its implications for basin prototype boundaries during the early to mid-Cretaceous period. This transformation shifted from a proximal, relatively independent system in the early Cretaceous to a distal, long-distance transport system in the mid-Cretaceous. This transition indicates the evolution of the basin from a collection of relatively isolated small to medium-sized graben and half-graben basins into a unified, large-scale sag basin. This transformation was initiated in the third member of the Denglouku Formation (ca. 100 Ma) and stabilized in the third member of the Quantou Formation (ca. 95 Ma). During this period, the eastern boundary of the basin experienced significant eastward expansion. Initially located between the Yilan–Yitong Fault and the Dunhua–Mishan Fault during the deposition of the Denglouku Formation, it extended toward the Yalu River Fault or the Rangnim Block in the Korean Peninsula during the deposition of the Quantou Formation. Our findings also suggest the development of an extensive coastal mountain along the East Asian margin during the mid-Cretaceous, stretching from eastern South China through eastern North China to the Korean Peninsula. • Mid-Cretaceous source-to-sink system in Songliao Basin (SB) was reorganized. • SB evolved from rifts into a unified sag with a broad drainage network. • The boundary of SB has notably expanded southeastward in mid-Cretaceous. • A coastal mountain belt developed along the East Asia in the mid-Cretaceous.