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During the Mesozoic, the Ginkgoales were especially diverse and widespread in the Northern Hemisphere. As a fossil genus, Baiera radiated and diversified rapidly during the Mesozoic and a large number of species have been recognized and identified around the world. In China, the most common fossil species is Baiera furcata but most described based on fragments of leaves without epidermal structures. In this paper, Baiera furcata is studied based on new material with well-preserved cuticle from the Lower Cretaceous Huolinhe Formation in Holingol, eastern Inner Mongolia, northeast China. The leaf macromorphology and cuticular structure of the new material are consistent with those of the type specimens from the Middle Jurassic of Yorkshire. Cuticular characters of the Holingol specimens are compared in detail with those of other Baiera furcata specimens from China and Europe. A large number of Chinese records under this specific name are re-examined. • Leaf anatomy of Baiera furcata from NE China was studied in detail using SEM. • The characteristics of the new materials are consistent with those of the type specimen. • Records of the most common fossil species Baiera furcata in China were reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Field-portable exploration methods were systematically described in shallow overburden areas for vein-type fluorite deposits. • The advantages and disadvantages of field-portable fluorite exploration methods have been analyzed. • The Effectiveness of RS + VLF-EM + PRXF for exploration has been validated by trenching and drilling. Fluorite deposits are widespread throughout eastern China and commonly occur in vein systems. These vein-type fluorite deposits are the primary source of fluorine worldwide and were predominantly formed during the Mesozoic or Cenozoic periods. In the absence of ore outcrops, fluorite exploration is necessarily concentrated within the shallow overburden area. The Wuliji'Oboo fluorite deposit is an example of a medium–low temperature vein-type subsurface orebody in eastern Inner Mongolia. Five portable technology methods have been implemented within the study area, including multispectral remote sensing (RS) technology, very low-frequency electromagnetic measurement (VLF-EM), portable X-ray fluorescence analyses (PXRF), portable gamma-ray spectroscopy, and partial extraction geochemistry. This paper describes the application principles, influencing factors, and technical solutions for each method. By investigating various examples, the applications of portable technology methods and their associated limitations were evaluated. Combining geological research with multi-spectral RS techniques is essential for optimum fluorite ore body prediction, thus narrowing prospecting targets. First, the target area was scanned using VLF-EM to identify the distribution of potential anomalies. Second, PXRF was used to distinguish the mineralised anomaly. Finally, trenching and drilling were performed to verify the effectiveness of the combination of methods. This study establishes a geology-geophysics-geochemistry-remote sensing integrated exploration model that may provide theoretical and technical support for the prediction of fluorite ore bodies in large Quaternary shallow overburden areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New fossil-bearing horizons at the Gezidong and Jiaxikou localities, eastern Inner Mongolia, referred to as the Moqi fossil bed, yield a diverse fossil assemblage coined herein as "Moqi Fauna". The Moqi Fauna provides important insights into the evolution of some vertebrate clades, such as frogs and salamanders, and their Early Cretaceous diversification. In this paper, we report an improved chronology of the Moqi fossil bed based on SIMS and high-precision CA-ID-IRMS U-Pb zircon analyses of three tuff samples from horizons that are interstratified with the fossil-bearing layer at two localities. The SIMS U-Pb dating method applied on zircons from three samples gave dates of 117.8 ± 0.9/1.5 Ma, 117.7 ± 1.0/1.5 Ma, and 118.3 ± 1.2/1.7 Ma, respectively. Two high-precision CA-ID-IRMS U-Pb weighted mean 206Pb/238U ages of, 119.20 ± 0.38/0.38/0.72 Ma and 118.67 ± 0.13/0.14/0.28 Ma were also obtained. These findings indicate the age of the Moqi Fauna is ca. 119.20 Ma to 118.67 Ma. Comparison of the Moqi Fauna with the well-known Jehol Biota, as well as the Fuxin Biota of a slightly younger age, suggests that the Moqi Fauna was a distinct fauna which shows a potential link with the Jehol Biota. • We report the exceptional "Moqi Fauna" in eastern Inner Mongolia, China. • The "Moqi Fauna" is characterized by new and diverse fossil assemblages. • Mesozoic frog and salamander preserved together. • The Moqi fossil-bearing bed is precisely dated to 119.20–118.67 Ma. • Our study allows to better understand the vertebrate evolution and Early Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]