Sporopollen Dataset of the Outcrops Retrived from Qaidam Basin

This dataset includes few pollen data and high-resolution microcharcoal dataset in a ~4000 m-thick sedimentary outcrops retrieved from the Huatutou, Qaidam Basin. Pollen data from the sediment are rare, only 15 samples got enough pollen grains for pollen assemblages division and analysis, the results indicates that during the early period, the vegetation are favor a relatively warm and wet climate correlated with the global warming stages (only ice-sheet accumulated in the Antarctic), then along with the global cooling, the xerophytic taxa increased and the vegetation types became similar than before. Sedimentary microcharcoals from fine grains (e.g., mudstone, siltstone and sandstone) are one of the typical wildfire proxies commonly used in paleoclimatic studies, as they have the potential to record past variations in wildfire history related with the vegetation and precipitation. The sediment samples were grounded and treated with 10% HCl and 40% HF to remove carbonates and silica. Separation of the microcharcoals from the residue was accomplished using a 10-lm nylon sieve. Finally, they were mounted in glycerin jelly. Based on the data of outcrops in the Qaidam Basin, the evolution history of wildfire and arid environment together vegetation in the west Qaidam Basin since the early Oligocene can be reconstructed, allowing further exploring of trends, variability and mechanisms of vegetation and wildfire history.