Daye Formation

The Daye Formation is a special type of rock layer found in South China. It dates back to a very old time, from the Induan up to the early Olenekian, which is in the early part of what scientists call the Triassic period.

This formation is important because it covers the time just after the Permian-Triassic extinction event. This was the biggest die-out of life on Earth that we know of, a time when many plants and animals disappeared.

Inside the Daye Formation, scientists found something very special called the Guiyang biota. As of 2023, this is the earliest known group of well-preserved fossils from the Mesozoic era, making the Daye Formation a key place for learning about life right after a major event in Earth's history.