Platinum group element enrichments and possible chondritic Ru:Ir across the Frasnian-Famennian boundary, western New York State

The Frasnian-Famennian boundary is recognized as the culmination of a global mass extinction in the Late Devonian. In western New York State the boundary is a distinct horizon within a pyritic black shale bed of the upper Hanover Shale defined by the first occurrence of Palmatolepis triangularis in the absence of Frasnian conodonts. The boundary is characterized by a minor disconformity marked by a lag concentration of conodonts. Iridium at the boundary is 0.11-0.24 ng/g, two to five times background levels of <0.05 ng/g; other Ir enrichments of 0.38 ng/g and 0.49 ng/g occur within 50 cm of the conodont-constrained boundary. Numerous Ir enrichments in the boundary interval suggest extraterrestrial accretion and platinum group element (PGE) concentration at disconformities, or mobilization and concentration in organic-rich/pyritic-rich laminations from cosmic or terrestrial sources. PGE ratios of Pt/Pd and Ku/Ir at the boundary horizon approximate chondritic ratios and are suggestive of an unaltered extraterrestrial source. These values do not conclusively establish a single extraterrestrial impact as the ultimate cause of the Frasnian-Famennian mass extinction, especially given the presence of similar Ir enrichments elsewhere in the section and the absence at the boundary of microtektites and shocked mineral grains.     

Seawater strontium isotope curve at the Silurian/Devonian boundary: a study of the global Silurian/Devonian boundary stratotype

Present application of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr chemostratigraphy to detailed stratigraphical tasks is limited by inaccurate calibration of the general seawater strontium curve to absolute as well as to relative time scales. For this reason, refinement of the general seawater strontium curve has been suggested, using mainly clearly defined global boundary stratotype sections. This study reports the first ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data from the global Silurian/Devonian boundary stratotype section and fills an existing 1-Ma gap in available data. Generally, the data from the stratotype fit the range interpolated from published ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data of the general curve, but the slight differences may suggest an existence of a high-order oscillation near the Silurian/Devonian boundary. Higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values in the Devonian part of boundary bed 20 (20-beta) may indicate an exotic material influx of recycled sediment.     

Middle and Upper Cambrian Protoconodonts and Paraconodonts from Hunan, South China

More than 4200 kg of limestone, representing 980 productive samples, from the upper Middle Cambrian, Upper Cambrian, and lowermost Ordovician in western and north-western Hunan were processed for paraconodonts, protoconodonts, and euconodonts. The focus of the present paper is on the upper Middle and lower Upper Cambrian interval as it is developed at two, apparently stratigraphically continuous, key sections. The collections studied, which include more than 20,000 specimens and are quite diverse taxonomically, prove that some protoconodonts and paraconodonts are useful biostratigraphically. Previously proposed protoconodont-paraconodont biozones in Hunan are revised and correlated with recently revised trilobite biozones, as well as with protoconodont-paraconodont and trilobite biozones in North China. Twenty-six species and seven conditionally identified species belonging to 13 genera are described. Among these, two genera ( Huayuanodontus and Yongshunella ) and two species ( Westergaardodina elegans and Yongshunella polymorpha ) are new. This study has special interest for Cambrian biostratigraphy because the two studied sections are global stratotype candidates for the Middle-Upper Cambrian series boundary. The level of the Upper-Middle Cambrian Series boundary, as currently recognized in China (at the base of the Linguagnostus reconditus Trilobite Biozone) is well marked in the paraconodont succession and can be traced into the Swedish standard succession using these fossils. By contrast, another level recently proposed as a potential global Middle-Upper Cambrian Series boundary level, the base of the Glyptagnostus reticulatus Trilobite Biozone, does not coincide with any marked change in the Hunan conodont species succession useful for local and regional correlation.     

新疆柯坪和甘肃平凉上奥陶统底部附近的牙形刺

新疆柯坪大湾沟和甘肃平凉官司庄剖面是Nemagraptusb gracilis带及上奥陶统底界的重要剖面,研究这两剖面的牙形刺具有十分重要的意义。本文描述了采自新疆柯坪大湾沟和甘肃平凉官司庄剖面上奥陶统底界附近的牙形刺共13属18种。     

扬子区中奥陶统大湾阶底界精细生物地层分带与对比

系统研究湖北宜昌黄花场大湾组下段和重庆城口翁溪沟湄潭组下部笔石、牙形石和几丁虫生物分带及其对比关系。精细的生物地层学研究结果证明,在我国大湾阶底界界线层型剖面上的生物群组合存在冷水型分子与暖水型分子共生的特点,以牙形石Baltoniodus triangularis首现所确定的中奥陶统底界较nipodus laevis的首现低0．2m,位于笔石Didymograptus protobifidus／Corymbograptus deflexus带或几丁虫Conochitina langei／C．brevis带中部。中奥陶统底界上述牙形石、笔石和几丁虫的对比关系不受沉积相限制,在重庆城口翁溪沟含笔石碎屑岩相的湄潭组下部同样存在。宜昌黄花场剖面和该剖面上Baltoniodus triangularis的最初出现应是理想的全球中奥陶统底界线层型剖面和点。     

华中西南区一条国际前寒武系与寒武系界线层型补充剖面

1992年,全球前寒武系与寒武系界线层型剖面和层型点确定在加拿大纽芬兰东南幸运角剖面,并以遗迹化石带Trichophycus pedium的底作为前寒武系与寒武系的分界点。但是,幸运角剖面主要是以硅质碎屑岩相为主,难以与含有丰富小壳化石和具有可对比的稳定同位素资料的碳酸盐相界线剖面进行对比。为此,提出我国云南会泽大海附近的一条以碳酸盐相为主的剖面作为全球前寒武系与寒武系界线层型剖面的补充剖面。理由是（1）在大海剖面上,震旦系灯影组白岩哨段、待补段和下寒武统牛家菁组的中谊村段,大海段之间为整合接触;（2）早寒武世早期地层单元含有丰富的小壳化石并且可划分出4个小壳化石组合带;（3）利用碳同位素资料可以将大海剖面与许多其它剖面相当地层对比;（4）著名的梅树村剖面离大海剖面不远,它们均含有丰富的小壳化石和遗迹化石,两者易于对比。文章进一步认为寒武系的下界放在第I小壳化石组合带（Anabarites trisulcatus-Protohertzina anabarica）的底,相当于大海剖面11层的底。     

Foraminiferal turnover across the Eocene–Oligocene transition at Fuente Caldera, southern Spain: No cause–effect relationship between meteorite impacts and extinctions

We studied planktic and small benthic foraminifera from the Fuente Caldera section, southern Spain, across the Eocene–Oligocene transition. Benthic foraminifera indicate lower bathyal depths for the late Eocene and earliest Oligocene. Detailed high-resolution sampling and biostratigraphical data allowed us to date precisely layers with evidence for meteorite impact (Ni-rich spinel), which occur in the lower part of the planktic foraminiferal Globigerapsis index Biozone and in the middle part of the small benthic foraminiferal Cibicidoides truncanus (BB4) Biozone (middle Priabonian, late Eocene). Major turnovers of foraminifera occur at the Eocene/Oligocene boundary, only. The impact did not occur at a time of planktic or benthic foraminiferal extinction events, and the late Eocene meteorite impacts did thus not cause extinction of foraminifera. The most plausible cause of the Eocene/Oligocene boundary extinctions is the significant cooling, which generated glaciation in Antarctica and eliminated most of the warm and surface-dwelling foraminifera.     

The Ordovician-Silurian boundary stratotype: consequences of its approval by the IUGS

Lespérance, Pierre J., Barnes, Christopher R., Berry, William B. N., Boucot, Arthur J. & Mu En-zhi 1987 07 15: The Ordovician-Silurian boundary stratotype: consequences of its approval by the IUGS.
The Ordovician-Silurian stratotype at Dob's Linn, Scotland is the second systemic boundary approved by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). A review of the internationally accepted criteria required of a stratotype shows that few of these are possessed by the Dob's Linn section. The strongest attribute of the section is the presence of zonal graptolites, although the boundary is recognized primarily on a single biological event (base of acuminatus Zone) for which the evolutionary relationships of the taxa are not established. In approving this boundary proposal in 1985, which received only simple majority support within the Ordovician-Silurian Boundary Working Group (OSBWG) and which fails to meet most of the accepted prerequisites for a stratotype, the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) and the IUGS have established an unfortunate precedent. It follows that future systemic boundaries need not meet the accepted standards. It raises serious questions on the assessment and voting procedures of the International Commission on Stratigraphy and on the credence accorded the recommendations developed by the International Subcommission on Stratigraphic Classification of IUGS.     

Integrated stratigraphy and astronomical calibration of the Serravallian/Tortonian boundary section at Monte Gibliscemi (Sicily, Italy)

Results are presented of an integrated stratigraphic (calcareous plankton biostratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy) study of the Serravallian/Tortonian (S/T) boundary section of Monte Gibliscemi (Sicily, Italy). Astronomical calibration of the sedimentary cycles provides absolute ages for calcareous plankton bio-events in the interval between 9.8 and 12.1 Ma. The first occurrence (FO) of Neogloboquadrina acostaensis, usually taken to delimit the S/T boundary, is dated astronomically at 11.781 Ma, pre-dating the migratory arrival of the species at low latitudes in the Atlantic by almost 2 million years. In contrast to delayed low-latitude arrival of N. acostaensis, Paragloborotalia mayeri shows a delayed low-latitude extinction of slightly more than 0.7 million years with respect to the Mediterranean (last occurrence (LO) at 10.49 Ma at Ceara Rise; LO at 11.205 Ma in the Mediterranean). The Discoaster hamatus FO, dated at 10.150 Ma, is clearly delayed with respect to the open ocean. The ages of D. kugleri first and last common occurrence (FCO and LCO), Catinaster coalitus FO, Coccolithus miopelagicus last (regular) occurrence (L(R)O) and the D. hamatus/neohamatus cross-over, however, are in good to excellent agreement with astronomically tuned ages for the same events at Ceara Rise (tropical Atlantic), suggesting that both independently established timescales are consistent with one another. The lack of a reliable magnetostratigraphy hampers a direct comparison with the geomagnetic polarity timescale of Cande and Kent (1995; CK95), but ages of calcareous nannofossil events suggests that CK95 is significantly younger over the studied time interval. Approximate astronomical ages for the polarity reversals were obtained by exporting astronomical ages of selected nannofossil events from Ceara Rise (and the Mediterranean) to eastern equatorial Pacific ODP Leg 138 Site 845, which has a reliable magnetostratigraphy.Our data from the Rio Mazzapiedi–Castellania section reveal that the base of the Tortonian stratotype corresponds almost exactly with the first regular occurrence (FRO) of N. acostaensis s.s. as defined in the present study, dated at 10.554 Ma. An extrapolated age of 11.8 Ma calculated for the top of the Serravallian stratotype indicates that there is a gap between the top of the Serravallian and the base of the Tortonian stratotype, potentially rendering all bio-events in the interval between 11.8 and 10.554 Ma suitable for delimiting the S/T boundary. Despite the tectonic deformation and the lack of a magnetostratigraphy, Gibliscemi remains a candidate to define the S/T boundary by means of the Tortonian global boundary stratotype section and point (GSSP).     

U–Pb zircon age,sedimentary facies,and sequence stratigraphy of the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary,Daposhang Section,Guizhou, China

The Devonian–Carboniferous (D/C) boundary marks a major extinction event and an important evolutionary turnover in Paleozoic biotas, but understanding D/C boundary events is hampered by a lack of accurate and consistent ages. As a result, although a global stratotype section and point (GSSP) for the D/C boundary was defined in the section La Serre trench E’ (Montagne Noire, France) and accepted and ratified by the IUGS, problems arose concerning both the lithology of the La Serre section and the identification of S. sulcata. Due to these problems, in the very recent years, the ICS decided to reconsider the GSSP. The Daposhang section in Muhua, Guizhou, China, is one of the most important reference sections for the D/C boundary: it is a conformable succession across the D/C boundary that contains conodont faunas characteristic of restricted subtidal facies. A biostratigraphically well constrained tuff near the D/C boundary in the Daposhang section provides an excellent opportunity to date this important event in Paleozoic history. Sensitive high-mass resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U–Pb analyses were conducted on single zircons extracted from the tuff (between beds 0 and 1, which may be temporally equivalent to the Hangenberg black shale) as well as an analysis of sedimentary facies and sequence stratigraphy across the D/C boundary in the Daposhang section. Bed 0 is below the D/C boundary, in the Upper praesulcata conodont zone, and bed 1 is directly above the D/C boundary, in the sulcata conodont zone. Zircon analyses yielded 20 concordant dates that form a cluster with a ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U concordia age of 359.6 ± 1.9 Ma. An abundance of bioclastic packstone and wackestone and a lack of obvious high-energy sedimentary structures or evidence of reworking in layers spanning the D/C boundary suggest conformable deposition in a quiet, restricted subtidal paleoenvironment. Fifty-nine fifth-order cycles combine to depict a shallowing-upward succession (beds 029-01; highstand systems tract of a third-order sequence representing the terminal Devonian). The highstand systems tract is overlain by a deepening-upward succession (beds 0-29; maximum flooding surface and transgressive systems tract of a third-order sequence representing predominantly the basal Carboniferous) that begins at the D/C boundary. Fischer plot analysis of high-frequency cycles at the D/C boundary confirms this well developed sea-level pattern, which, together with the tuff and black shale depositional events, has potential for global correlation. On the basis of this new single-zircon SHRIMP age and previously published work on the biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the D/C transition interval, the deposition of tuff took place at approximately 359.6 Ma, and the age of the D/C boundary at Daposhang, Guizhou, China, is estimated at 359.58 Ma.     

山东省青州地区寒武-奥陶系界线研究的新进展

首次报道了山东省青州地区尧王山剖面的寒武 奥陶系界线地层的牙形石生物地层学的最新研究成果,在该剖面的炒米店组灰岩建立了 9个牙形石带,其中下奥陶统为 3个带,上寒武统凤山阶为 6个带;并与国内外研究较详细的寒武 奥陶系界线地层进行了对比。在该剖面首次发现了界线牙形石分子Iapetognathusfluctivagus,这也是在整个华北地区的首次报道,这一发现为山东地区乃至整个华北地区的寒武 奥陶系的界线划分提供了新的标尺。     

准噶尔盆地北缘谢家阶底界—推荐界线层型及其生物—年代地层和环境演变意义

新疆准噶尔盆地北缘铁尔斯哈巴合地层剖面构造简单并含有丰富的晚渐新世及早中新世哺乳动物化石。其中铁尔斯哈巴合组及索索泉组沉积基本连续,两组界线位于剖面米距33m处。依据该剖面中8个层位和相邻的XJ99005剖面中18个层位上采集的化石以及它们的上下关系和生物组合性质,划分出5个哺乳动物组合带,其中两个位于铁尔斯哈巴合组中(铁-Ⅱ带),3个在索索泉组下部(索-Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ带)。从剖面的铁尔斯哈巴合组、索索泉组和哈拉玛盖组中以0．5m的间距采集了348组古地磁样品,获得的磁性剖面包含了16个正向带和16个反向带(事件),其中包含了相当于地磁极时间表中C7n～C5E段的完整磁极带。铁-Ⅰ～Ⅱ带与塔本布鲁克哺乳动物群相近,为中国已知位置最西、构成门类和数量最多的一个晚渐新世哺乳动物组合。索-Ⅰ带应为中国目前所知的最晚渐新世的哺乳动物带。早中新世索-Ⅱ带与谢家动物群和蒙古中部渐新世—中新世过渡带D带可以对比。早中新世索-Ⅲ带相当于过去使用的“索索泉动物群”,时代大致与乌尔图动物群相当。根据地磁极时间校正,铁尔斯哈巴合剖面中铁尔斯哈巴合组和索索泉组跨越了从24．5Ma(地磁极时带C7n．2n)到18Ma(地磁极时带C5Dr．2r)大约6．5Ma的时间,岩体平均沉积速率大约为2．5cm/千年。剖面中5个生物组合带的时间跨度大致分别为：铁-Ⅰ带：24．4～24．15Ma;铁-Ⅱ带：23．2～23．1Ma;索-Ⅰ带接近但还未到达渐新世/中新世界线的23．03Ma;索-Ⅱ带：21．9～21．7 Ma;索-Ⅲ带：21．68～21．15Ma。我们推荐将铁尔斯哈巴合剖面作为中国区域年代地层单位谢家阶(期)底界界线层型的一个候选剖面。与谢家阶底界相对应的界线暂定在剖面由底向上40．25m处,对应于地磁极时带C6Cn．2n底界。该界线位于索索泉组内部,索-Ⅰ和索-Ⅱ带之间。根据定义,该界线也分别对应于阿基坦阶、中新统以及新近系的底界,年龄为23．03Ma。文章还讨论了下列问题：1)索索泉组的绝大部分应当和谢家阶以及山旺阶地层对比,仅其底部含有索-Ⅰ带化石组合的部分可与塔本布鲁克阶地层对比。2)在进行生物地层对比时尽量使用不同的索索泉组哺乳动物组合带,传统的“索索泉动物群”仅大体相当于索-Ⅲ带。3)许多过去认为的渐新世哺乳动物分子的生存时代实际上延伸到了早中新世,仅以这些分子的存在,不能说明一个动物群及其地层的确切年代。4)塔本布鲁克动物群及相关的期、阶名为有效名称,具有合法性;该阶底界有待确立。5)如果山旺阶底界(谢家阶顶界)位于地磁极时带C6An．1r底,年代为20．43Ma,相应的界线应位于铁尔斯哈巴合剖面89．25m处,因此,铁尔斯哈巴合剖面中有可能产生谢家阶的单位层型,该阶的地质时间跨度为2．6Ma。6)5个生物带都是以兔形类、啮齿类以及食虫类等小哺乳动物为主要分子,而且同门类的属种问具有相当近的演化关系,说明这个地区从晚渐新世到早中新世的一段时期中,动物群性质没有明显变化,总体上反映了一个从早渐新世以来就比较干旱的环境;渐新世和中新世动物群成分在种一级上仍有明显差异;而相当于谢家动物群的索-Ⅱ带则带有明显的过渡性质。7)从索索泉组的岩性、分布的地理部位以及与甘肃秦安剖面相近的时代和动物群等来看,不排除含有风成沉积物的可能。     

An evaluation of biostratigraphic markers across multiple geological sections in the search for the GSSP of the base of the Serpukhovian Stage (Mississippian)

This paper aims to evaluate potential biostratigraphic markers for the Viséan–Serpukhovian boundary in sections of Europe and Asia, to help identify the base of the global Serpukhovian Stage, which is a high priority task for Carboniferous biostratigraphy. Sections in the Serpukhovian stratotype area in the Moscow Basin contain a gap at the base of the Tarusian Regional Substage (basal in the classical Serpukhovian), so the traditional boundary defined in these sections cannot be precisely correlated with other successions worldwide. The IUGS Task Group to establish a GSSP close to the traditional Viséan–Serpukhovian boundary focused on the search for a new boundary marker, primarily on the first appearance datum (FAD) of the conodont Lochriea ziegleri in the lineage Lochriea nodosa to Lochriea ziegleri, considering it to be a suitable biostratigraphic event. The FOD (first occurrence datum) of L. ziegleri has been recognized in many successions worldwide, although only in a few sections the supposed evolutionary lineage of L. ziegleri was inferred. There are serious impediments to the FAD of L. ziegleri being universally accepted as the boundary marker. This paper presents a review of the FOD levels of L. ziegleri documented so far from multiple sections along with other correlatable markers (foraminifers and ammonoids) that can serve as additional points of reference in sections where a conodont record is poor or absent. The reviewed sections are Naqing Section (South China), Verkhnyaya Kardailovka and Kugarchi sections (South Urals, Russia), Mariinsky Log and Ladeinaya Mountain Sections (western slope of the Middle Urals, Russia), Novogurovsky Section (Moscow Basin, Russia), Vegas de Sotres Section (Cantabrian Mountains, Spain), Lugasnaghta Section (County Leitrim, Ireland), Wenne River Bank Section (Germany), and Milivojevića Kamenjar Section (Družetić, NW Serbia). We also included a compilation of data from sections of North England and southern Scotland. In this paper, we will mainly focus on newly described sections, while the discussion of most previously described sections was summarized by Nikolaeva et al. (2001, 2002, 2005, 2009b) and other publications, so they are only briefly mentioned in this review. It should be added that there is no such a thing as a perfect GSSP section, as each section has certain disadvantages, either lithological, paleontological, or both, so it is important to hear and discuss all the different opinions to develop the optimum strategy for future research. In addition, we analyze published records from several sites in North England and southern Scotland. We discuss the first appearances of the ammonoid genera Cravenoceras, Edmooroceras, Lyrogoniatites, Dombarites, and Platygoniatites, the foraminifers Neoarchaediscus postrugosus, Hemidiscopsis muradymica, H. hemisphaerica, species of Janischewskina and Monotaxinoides, Eostaffella pseudostruvei group, Eostaffellina decurta, and Endothyranopsis plana. We publish here for the first time the useful accounts of foraminifers and conodonts from the Mariinsky Log Section and Ladeinaya Mountain Section (Middle Urals, Russia), and re-figure several important type specimens from Europe and the Urals.     

Biotic signals from nannoflora across the iridium anomaly in the upper Eocene of the Massignano section: evidence from statistical analysis

Strong evidence for a major late Eocene impact, including an iridium-rich layer and shocked quartz, has been found in the Massignano section (central Italy), stratotype of the Eocene/Oligocene boundary. Quantitative calcareous nannofossils analyses have been performed and classical and multivariate statistical techniques have been applied to assess the paleonvironmental effect of this impact on the nannoflora.Abundance patterns indicate: (1) a warming episode just above the iridium layer; (2) a subsequent slight cooling trend, probably related to the global cooling during late Eocene to early Oligocene; (3) marked fluctuations in the trophic resources and an increase in near-shore taxa in the upper part of the interval; (4) increase in low-nutrient taxa in biotite-rich layers, just above the iridium level, possibly related to lowered productivity linked to volcanic activity. All these signals appear most likely to be the result of long-term climatic changes rather than to short-term effects of extraterrestrial impact.In addition, cluster analysis was performed on the assemblage data. This delineated similarities among different taxa and grouped samples with similar assemblages. Several groups related to temperature-, trophic- and unknown-preference conditions have been distinguished. A consistent difference in the abundances of the taxa and in their correlation has been detected between samples above and below the iridium level. This change appears to be related to two important sedimentary features which are found in the interval above the iridium occurrence: (1) the presence of biotite-rich layers linked to increasing volcanism and (2) a conspicuous color transition from reddish to greenish related to changes in sedimentary environments (e.g. variations in trace element abundance). These environmental changes rather than the impact may have affected the nannoflora assemblages.     

中国当阳跑马岗组白垩-古近系界线附近的轮藻组合

陆相白垩-古近系过渡段的生物地层记录通常稀少而不连续。从轮藻角度讲,中国当阳跑马岗组的白垩-古近系过渡段的生物地层记录是世界上迄今所知的最连续和最丰富的。该过渡段剖面的介形类也非常丰富,其它建立界线辅助层型所需的许多条件也很好,或许当阳跑马岗组剖面可作为白垩-古近系界线陆相辅助层型的候选剖面。对该剖面白垩-古近系界线附近的轮藻组合作了简要的介绍。     

Magnetic polarity stratigraphy and ages of Siwalik group rocks of the potwar plateau,Pakistan

Six magnetic polarity sections have been established over the Potwar Plateau region of Pakistan, including the major stratotypes of the Siwalik Group. In all six sections the dominant feature of the magnetic polarity stratigraphy is a long normal polarity zone, which is contained within the Nagri Formation. This conspicuous normal polarity zone has been radiometrically dated at 9.5 ± 0.6 m.y., which identifies it as magnetic Chron 9. Radiometric dates from the Upper Siwalik Formation have also been used to identify the Chron 2–3 boundary in two of the sections. The magnetic polarity stratigraphy of three of the sections has been correlated securely with the accepted magnetic polarity time scale, so that the ages of the local stratigraphy are indexed accordingly. Based exclusively on data from stratotype sections, the Chinji, Nagri and Dhok Pathan Formations have nominal age ranges of 10.1–13.1, 7.9–10.1 and 5.1–7.9 m.y. Age fluctuations on the order of 10⁵ years may be anticipated for these formational boundaries within radius of some 20 km of the designated stratotype. Mean sediment accumulation rates during the Chinji, Nagri and Dhok Pathan interval range from 13 to 52 cm/10³ yr.Essentially linear sediment accumulations are locally maintained over time intervals of several million years. The Chinji-Nagri lithofacies boundary marks a transition from slow to faster sediment accumulation over much of the Potwar Plateau, indicating a fundamental sedimentary-tectonic change at this time.     

Emsian (Lower Devonian) conodonts from the Daliantang Formation at Daliantang,southeastern Yunnan,China

The lower/upper Emsian boundary witnessed prominent diversification of biostratigraphically important genera Polygnathus Hinde, Caudicriodus Bultynck, and Latericriodus Müller. In contrast, conodonts previously reported around this boundary from the South China Block were characterized by relatively low species or subspecies diversity, and only a few widely distributed and extensively studied zone-defining taxa were recorded. In this paper, conodonts from the Daliantang Formation at the Daliantang section (Guangnan, southeastern Yunnan), one of the representative sections of the transitional facies between the benthic Xiangzhou facies and the pelagic Nandan facies, are investigated. The conodont fauna shows a remarkably high species or subspecies diversity, with fourteen taxa that are assignable to the notoperbonus Zone and inversus Zone. Five polygnathid species are described: P. gronbergi Klapper and Jonson, P. inversus Klapper and Jonson, Polygnathus sp. B, P. luciae Martínez-Pérez and Valenzuela-Ríos, and P. mashkovae Bardashev. The latter two are reported for the first time from the South China Block. Additionally, three icriodontid taxa are also described, of which L. guangnanensis n. sp. is characterized by distinctly chevron-shaped transverse rows in the anterior part and a well-developed process branching off to the outer side. The new conodont record increases our understanding of the diversification and faunal composition around the lower/upper Emsian boundary in the South China Block. It contributes to the regional and inter-regional biostratigraphical correlation between shallower- and deeper-water facies and also furnishes important South China material for future discussion and deliberation on the position of the lower/upper Emsian boundary.     

湖北宜昌黄花场剖面中/下奥陶统界线附近的牙形剌

重点描述宜昌黄花场剖面中 /下奥陶统界线附近的重要牙形剌共 3属、5种和 2新种Bergstroe mognathussp .nov .,BaltoniodustetrachotomusLiandWangsp .nov .,并对Oepikodusevae带和Baltoniodustriangu laris带分子的首现位置及带的含义进行厘定。作者还在此剖面大湾组下段发现北美中大陆区暖水型牙形剌Tripoduslaevis和Protoprioniodusaranda ,并确定Tripoduslaevis的首现位置在Baltoniodustriangularis带底界之上 0 .3m处。Tripoduslaevis的首次出现曾提议为中奥陶统的底界的标志 (见陈旭等 ,2 0 0 0 ) ,在宜昌黄花场剖面上Tripoduslaevis的首现位置接近Baltoniodustriangularis带底界 ,对确定中 /下奥陶统界线很重要。由于在黄花场剖面可识别出Baltonioduscrassulus—B .gladiatus—B .triangularis演化谱系 ,作者建议以B .triangularis的首次出现作为中奥陶统的底界 ,宜昌黄花场剖面为中 /下奥陶统界线的层型剖面。同时 ,文中将本区的牙形刺带与世界其它地区作了对比。     

Eustatic trends in conodont diversity across the Frasnian–Famennian boundary in the stratotype area, Montagne Noire, Southern France

Trends in generic diversity of successive conodont communities are analysed in sections of different environmental settings across the Frasnian–Famennian (F–F) boundary in the stratotype area, Montagne Noire, France. The evolution of conodont biofacies and abundances matches the overall pattern already observed in many sections elsewhere in the world and supports the interpretation of an important eustatic sea-level fall during the Upper Kellwasser event. The change from late Frasnian deep-water palmatolepid–polygnathid biofacies to shallower-water polygnathid-icriodid biofacies during the Upper Kellwasser event occurred in all sections studied. The shallowing trend culminated at the end of the Kellwasser Event as indicated by the substantial increase of formerly poorly represented icriodids, whereas palmatolepids concomi-tantly diminished. This event occurred earlier on oxygenated outer platform submarine rises than in oxygen-depleted depressions. The sudden sea-level fall prior to the Frasnian–Famennian boundary was followed, at the beginning of the Famennian, by a deepening trend when palmatolepids dominated again. These changes in conodont generic associations and abundances occurred rapidly and synchronously. As a result, the stratigraphic resolution obtained with the evolution of biofacies is higher: it permits not only a more accurate location of the base of the Upper Kellwasser event in environments where it cannot be distinguished lithologically, but it also allows the recognition of intrazonal gaps.