## 5 Conclusions  
This study presents a comprehensive analysis of foraminiferal biostratigraphy and microfacies from the Cretaceous oceanic red beds (CORBs) exposed in the Zhangguo section of Gyangze, southern Tibet, China. Five planktic foraminiferal biozones including _Dicarinella asymetrica_, _Globtruncanita elevata_, _Contusotruncana plummerae_, _Radotruncana calcarata_, and _Globtruncanella havanensis_ were identified within the Chuangde Formation, confirming a Campanian age for these deposits (CORBs). Additionally, nine distinct microfacies were recognized, providing further insights into the depositional environments and processes. Integrating detailed field observations with microfacies analyses propose that the CORBs in the Gyangze region were deposited across a spectrum of environments, ranging from deep basin to slope and extending to shelf margin settings. Comparative analysis of the Gyangze CORBs with those from other sections in the Tethys Himalaya and globally suggests that many Campanian CORBs, particularly those in deep-sea environments, may have been deposited synchronously.  
Figure 15: Late Campanian (–73.8 Ma) paleogeographic reconstruction and representative places of CORBs (discussed in this paper) in the Eastern Tethys. The location of continental blocks is modified from Scotese (2021) [20]. Colors for paleogeographic reconstruction: brown—mountains; tan—highlands; yellow green—flatland; green—lowlands; light blue—shallow seas; blue—deep shelf; dark blue—deep ocean. Location of CORBs in the Eastern Tethys: 1� Yadong (Gyabukeqing); 2� Kangmar (Daba); 3� Gyangze (Bangguola); 4� Gyangze (Zhangguo); 5� Gyirong (Sangdanlin); 6� Zanda (Longji); 7� Zanskar (Itchuk La).  
**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, Y.L. and G.L.; methodology, Y.L., C.W. and G.L.; software, Y.L.; validation, Y.L., G.L., J.D. and M.J.; formal analysis, Y.L., G.L. and D.X.; investigation, Y.L., G.L., J.D., T.W., M.J., Z.B. and D.X.; resources, C.W. and G.L.; data curation, Y.L. and G.L.; writing--original draft preparation, Y.L., G.L., J.D. and M.J.; writing--review and editing, Y.L. and G.L.; visualization, Y.L., G.L. and T.W.; supervision, C.W. and G.L.; project administration, C.W. and G.L.; funding acquisition, C.W. and G.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
**Funding:** This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number: 41972031, 41272030, 40972026), the Strategic Project of Science and Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant number: XDB050105003), and the National Basic Research Program of China (grant number: 2012 CB822001).  
**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.  
**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.  
**Data Availability Statement:** The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.  
**Acknowledgments:** The authors extend their gratitude to all individuals who participated in the field geological investigations related to this research and appreciate constructive comments from anonymous reviewers and the editors that greatly helped improve the manuscript significantly.  
**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflicts of interest.