Preliminary palynological investigation of Saudi Arabian Upper Ordovician glacial sediments

An Ordovician stratigraphically admixed palynomorph assemblage that contains palynomorphs eroded from Middle through Upper Ordovician strata characterizes the Hawban Member (restricted) of the Sarah Formation in central Saudi Arabia. This distinctive assemblage, combined with detailed sedimentology, helps identify the presence of Hirnantian Gondwanan glacial sediments on the Arabian Plate. Similar Ordovician admixed assemblages have been recognized from Upper Ordovician glacial sediments elsewhere along the Gondwanan margin. Within Saudi Arabia the composition of reworked assemblages depends upon the stratigraphic succession exposed to glacial erosion. Sylvanidium? hawbanense, which is one of the acritarchs found in glacial sediments, is newly described from Arabian Upper Ordovician strata.     

山西兴县中奥陶统马家沟组五5亚段遗迹化石组合及其古环境意义

鄂尔多斯盆地东缘关家崖剖面奥陶系马家沟组五5亚段地层中保存大量无脊椎动物遗迹化石,可识别出居住迹、牧食迹、觅食迹三大类,共7个遗迹属、14个遗迹种,分别是Arenicolites isp.,Cylindricumisp.,Helminthopsis abeli,Helminthopsis isp.1,Helminthopsis isp.2,Lorenziniaisp.,Planolites isp.,Planolites beverleyensis,Planolites montanus,Teichichnus rectus,Thalassinoides isp.1,Thalassinoides isp.2,Thalassinoides isp.3,Thalassinoides isp.4。根据遗迹化石特征及其沉积环境,可划分3个遗迹组合:1、Helminthopsis-Planolites组合,该组合以觅食迹为主,部分为居住迹,出现在潮间带和潮下带;2、Thalassinoides-Teichichnus组合,该组合遗迹化石种类较单一,主要为觅食迹,分布于潮间带和潮上带;3、Thalassinoides-Helminthopsis组合,该组合出现在潮间带。基于遗迹化石组合的分布特点,提出山西兴县奥陶系马家沟组五5亚段的沉积环境模式。     

Trace fossil associations related to facies of an upper Ordovician low wave energy shoreface and shelf, Oslo-Asker district, Norway

Three trace fossil associations have been identified from facies interpreted as low wave energy upper, middle and lower shoreface deposits, transitional shoreface/shelf deposits and open epicontinental shelf deposits. These were developed in pre-regressive, regressive and transgressive phases associated with eustatic sea level changes caused by the upper Ordovician glaciation. The three associations are the Skolithos-Diplocraterion association, the Diplichnites-Phycodes association and the Thalassinoides association. The Skolithos-Diplocraterion association inhabited upper, middle and lower shoreface environments, the Diplichnites-Phycodes association a lowermost shoreface environment and the Thalassinoides association inhabited offshore epicontinental shelf environmcnts. The Skolithos-Diplocraferion and Diplichnites-Phycodes associations bear strong affinities with previously described Skolithos ichnofacies assemblages (indicating shoreline environments) and the Cruziana ichnofacies forms (indicating shallow water environments down to wave base) respectively. The Thalassinoides assemblage, however, closely compares with assemblages described from Mesozoic epicontinental shelf sequences. Trace fossil diversity achieves a maximum in the lowermost shoreface environment and reduces in deeper water and shallower water environments. This accords with diversity patterns identified in analogous Jurassic epicontinental palaeonvironments. The stratigraphic distribution of some trace fossil association boundaries accords with those of contemporary body fossil associations. However, several body fossil associations are included within the volume of distribution of a single trace fossil assemblage. □ Trace fossil association, shoreface and shelf, Oslo district, upper Ordovician.     

Graptolites from glacial erratics of the Laerheide area,northern Germany

Ordovician and Silurian glacial erratics of the Laerheide area (Lower Saxony, north-western Germany) bear well-preserved graptolites. The faunas provide important information on the origin and transport direction of the sediments preserved in a kame, representing the Drenthe stadial of the Saalian glaciation. The faunas even include species not commonly encountered in the successions of mainland Sweden, from where the erratics presumably originated. The most common graptolites are from Upper Ordovician (Sandbian to Katian) limestones and from Katian black shales. More common, however, are greenish limestones, sand- and siltstones, often combined in the term ‘Grünlich-Graues Graptolithengestein’, in which upper Wenlock to Ludlow (upper Silurian) graptolites are common.     

A New Ichnogenus for Crustacean Trace Fossils from the Upper Miocene Camacho Formation of Uruguay

Maiakarichnus currani ichnogen. et isp. nov. is a crustacean trace fossil from the Upper Miocene Camacho Formation of Uruguay. This trace fossil is a subspherical chamber preserved in full relief, with numerous thin shafts radiating in a stratigraphically upward direction mainly from its upper part and from the sides. In the Camacho Formation it can be found intergrading with Ophiomorpha and Thalassinoides . Previous (unnamed) findings of similar material are only from the Pamlico Morphostratigraphic Unit (Pleistocene) of North Carolina; these have been interpreted as callianassid brood structures. In this paper we also interpret Maiakarichnus as a brood structure of callianassid origin based on its association with Thalassinoides and Ophiomorpha .     

Ordovizische Problematika III.Ancientia Ross, 1967 aus Europa

The problematicumAncientia Ross, 1967, hitherto known only from the Upper Ordovician of Ohio, is described for the first time from the Middle and Upper Ordovician of Europe. Three species are new.     

The graptolite correlation of the North American Upper Ordovician Standard

The North American Upper Ordovician reference standard, the Cincinnatian Series, contains rich shelly microfossil faunas in its type area in the Cincinnati Region but graptolites are uncommon in most of its shallow-water calcareous sediments. Consequently, the graptolite correlation of this key sequence has remained uncertain, in part, even controversial. A review of both previously published recently discovered graptolite Occurrences in the type Cincinnatian, combined with data from the important graptolite successions in Oklahoma New York-Quebec, has not only clarified the graptolite correlation of the Cincinnatian but also added new data on the morphology taxonomy, the vertical horizontal distribution, of several taxa. The information now at hand indicates that the Edenian Stage correlates with the C. spiniferus Zone, the Maysvillian Stage with the C. pygmaeus lower middle P. manitoulinensis Zone, the Richmondian Stage with the upper P. manitoulinensis , the D. complanatus , possibly part of the C. inuiti Zone. Comparison between graptolite conodont biostratigraphic evidence reveals no apparent conflict. Correlations are proposed between Upper Ordovician North American stages, graptolite conodont zones, successions in Texas, Oklahoma, Sweden, European graptolite zones, British series.     

The effects of the final stages of the Late Ordovician glaciation on marine palynomorphs (chitinozoans, acritarchs, leiospheres) in well Nl-2 (NE Algerian Sahara)

Palynomorph assemblages, especially chitinozoans and acritarchs, from the Upper Ordovician of well Nl-2 (north-east of the Algerian Sahara) are studied in order to precisely date the ultimate effects of the Late Ordovician glaciation and to document the impact of this major climatic stress on the diversity of the palynoplankton. References are made to stable isotope excursions and to global eustatic sea level variations in order to improve the local age determination. The Hassi el Hadjar Formation, i.e. glacio-marine diamictites, is interpreted as a transgressive event resulting from the melting of the northern Gondwana ice cap. It yields poorly preserved and moderately diverse chitinozoans of late Hirnantian age. Acritarchs are more abundant in the lower part of these "microconglomeratic clays", but display a low diversity and are badly preserved throughout the whole formation. Reworked individuals are recorded in both groups. The marine sediments of the M'Kratta Formation of latest Hirnantian age contain better preserved, more abundant and more diverse palynomorph assemblages, especially in the Upper Member. The composition of this palynoplankton indicates a fairly good faunal and phytoplankton recovery after the early Hirnantian climatic stress.The extinction of the Ordovician forms, and the appearance of Silurian type taxa occur only in the uppermost Hirnantian, i.e. following with a slight delay the glacial event. The overlying black shales of Wenlock age (lower part of the Oued Mehaiguène Formation) are indicative of marine anoxic environments. They yield a virtually exclusive, but enormous number of Tasmanacea. The very peculiar composition of this palynoplankton seems to be independent of the Late Ordovician glaciation and is most likely related to the factors that, later, generated and maintained anoxic conditions in this area.A new species of chitinozoan, Spinachitina oulebsiri sp. nov. from the latest Hirnantian M'Kratta Formation, is described and illustrated.     

塔中16井区晚奥陶世良里塔格组的沉积相

塔里木板块中央隆起区的塔中低隆带上奥陶统凯迪阶良里塔格组礁相群落是晚奥陶世生物礁演化阶段的例证。该组分为5个岩性段。塔中16井区位于塔中Ⅰ号断裂坡折带向台地内部延伸的缓坡区,海水深度和水流能量显著控制碳酸盐岩的岩相分布。良里塔格组所赋存的典型动物格架礁集中于台地边缘的高能区,而塔中16井区不属于大型动物格架礁建造的富集区域,其早期多以低能带沉积为主,特别是塔中16井和塔中166井灰泥坪常见;晚期常见高能滩相和灰泥丘以及近礁沉积,可划归为台缘坡折带大型格架礁建造向台内的延伸区,这里的水深和能量变化更频繁。偏西北的井在良二段沉积之后抬升较早,东南的塔中161井则保存部分良一段沉积。     

塔里木柯坪地层区中-上奥陶统萨尔干组碳酸盐岩微相和古地理

塔里木板块西北柯坪地层区中-上奥陶统萨尔干组的分布和相变受控于当时西浅东深的海底深度差异。萨尔干组的厚度10米左右,为富含有机物的黑色页岩并夹少量灰岩薄层或透镜体。位于研究区西南的伽师西克尔剖面缺失大部分奥陶纪地层,上奥陶统铁热克阿瓦提组碎屑岩不整合于下-中奥陶统鹰山组灰岩之上,中-晚奥陶世的大部分时段属于暴露海面的剥蚀区;北部乌什的亚科瑞克剖面无萨尔干组岩性单元,为红色居多且粒度偏粗的碎屑岩夹白云岩薄层,属于近岸带碎屑岩为主的沉积区。西克尔向东北延伸150km至柯坪羊吉坎亦无萨尔干组,与萨尔干组同期沉积的地层在此表现为大湾沟组上部浅海灰岩的相变,且与上奥陶统桑比阶坎岭组偏深水相的红色薄层含泥瘤状灰岩之间呈整合接触;由西向东出露于柯坪苏巴什沟、柯坪大湾沟、阿克苏四石厂3个剖面的萨尔干组黑色泥页岩指示典型的滞流盆地相,而夹含于萨尔干组下部和上部的薄层灰岩之微相特征差异甚为显著,表现为该组下部可见数层密集砂屑颗粒形成泥粒状灰岩或颗粒灰岩,可解释为西部相邻的浅海碳酸盐岩台地区灰岩经重力流搬运后的再沉积;而该组上部含生屑泥状灰岩则属滞流盆地相区类似于黑色页岩环境的正常沉积。从羊吉坎灰岩台地到苏巴什沟滞流盆地相之间距离仅20余千米,坡度偏大是导致重力流形成的主要原因。     

Discovery of rhombifera (Echinoderms) in the Ordovician of Mongolia

Two new rhombiferan species Echinosphaerites mongolicus sp. nov. and Stichocystis altaicus sp. nov., described from a recently discovered Upper Ordovician locality in the Mongolian Altai, on the Chegertei River, suggest possible biogeographic links between this region and Gondwana and Baltica in the Ordovician. In the Upper Ordovician beds in the East Gobi Depression near Saishand Well, we identified the crinoid Ristnacrinus, previously recorded from the Ordovician of Estonia and Central Asia.     

Ichnofossil tiering analysis of a rhythmically bedded chalk-marl sequence in the Upper Cretaceous of Alabama

Ichnofossils are typically well expressed at bed transitions within rhythmically bedded marine sequences. This is because most discrete biogenic structures therein are actively or passively filled with sediment derived wholly or partly from overlying layers; hence they contrast sharply with ambient sediments. These bed transitions, or 'piped zones', provide the opportunity to assess the nature of infaunal tiering using two different approaches: (1) cross-cutting relationships among recurring ichnotaxa; and (2) apparent maximum penetration depths of piped-zone ichnofossils below their intervals of origination (primary strata). Both approaches were applied to piped zones at chalk-marl and marl-chalk transitions within the rhythmically bedded Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Demopolis Chalk of western Alabama. Quantitative analysis of cross-cutting relationships indicates the existence of a deep Chondrites tier, a shallow Thalassinoides tier, and a diverse intermediate tier characterized by Anconichnus, Planolites, Taenidium, Teichichnus , and Zoophycos. Analyses of penetration depths similarly document the presence of a deep Chondrites tier but indicate that the Thalassinoides producer occupied the same tier as the tracemakers of the remaining five ichnotaxa. The latter approach, which should be broadly applicable to heterolithic sequences of various sorts, appears to yield a more accurate picture of tiering because it provides a more direct reading of the depths of activity of tracemakers within a substrate, and because results are less likely to be influenced by behavioral factors (e.g., phobotaxis and preferential sediment exploitation) or other parameters (e.g., burrow size differences) that can impact cross-cutting relationships. Results of both approaches indicate that the tiering structure in pelagic carbonate substrates may not be as organized or complex as indicated by previous qualitative analyses of cross-cutting relationships in analogous chalk sequences.     

河南内乡晚奥陶世石燕河组牙形石及其地质意义

将河南内乡晚奥陶世石燕河组牙形石自下而上建立了Ｏｕｌｏｄｕｓｕｉｒｉｃｈｉ－Ａｐｈｅｌｏｇｎａｔｈｕｓｓｈｏｓｈｏｎｅｎｓｉｓ带，Ｏｎｏｄｕｓｒｏｂｕｓｔｕｓ带，Ａｐｈｅｌｏｇｎａｔｈｕｓｇｒａｎｄｉｓ带，Ａｐｈｅｌｏｇｎａｔｈｕｓｄｉｖｅｒｇｅｎｓ带和Ａｐｈｅｌｏｇｎａｔｈｕｓｚｕｏｑｕｅｎｓｉｓ带。这个序列与北美中大陆的很相似，两者可详细对比。充分证实了北美中大陆型牙形石动物群以及中国合此类型牙形石的最高奥陶纪地层在华北地台以南的武当地块北缘的存在，并指明了其古生物地理分区和构造意义。     

An Upper Ordovician chitinozoan biozonation in British Avalonia (England and Wales)

An Upper Ordovician chitinozoan biozonation for British Avalonia is established. The new scheme is based on chitinozoan faunas from the historical Caradoc- and Ashgill-type sections in the Anglo-Welsh area; these data are supplemented with information from other key British sections that have accurate graptolite control. As a result, the chitinozoan biozonation for British Avalonia is tied to both the British chronostratigraphical framework and the graptolite biostratigraphy. It consists of 13 chitinozoan bio(sub)zones and for the first time provides a formal chitinozoan biozonal scheme for the Upper Ordovician of Britain, which can be tied with the well-established biozonation in Baltoscandia. This predominantly Baltoscandic signature of the new British chitinozoan biozonation is consistent with Avalonia's northwards migrating palaeogeographical position during the Ordovician.     

ORDOVICIAN ODONTOPLEURID TRILOBITES FROM ESTONIA AND LATVIA

All available type and other odontopleurid material from Estonia and Latvia is described and figured. This includes the new species Acidaspis aviensis from the Upper Ordovician Porkuni Stage (F_II) and Middle and Upper Ordovician (D₁-F_Ia) material belonging to at least 3 new species of Diacanthaspis. However, because of the incompleteness of this latter material, no specific names are given to it.     

The trace fossil Sinusichnus from the Upper Ordovician of Anticosti Island,eastern Canada

Branched, sinusoidal burrows assigned to Sinusichnus cf. seilacheri Knaust et al. 2016; occur in Upper Ordovician (Hirnantian) carbonates on Anticosti Island. These are abundant and monospecific at the base of the Oncolite Bed of the uppermost Ellis Bay Formation, marking a regional discontinuity surface during the multiphase Ordovician mass-extinction event. In contrast to Mesozoic and Cenozoic records of Sinusichnus, commonly attributed to the activity of decapod and isopod crustaceans, the burrow systems from Anticosti Island were probably produced by other arthropods of unknown affinity. A combined dwelling, locomotion and feeding behaviour of their trace maker is assumed. This is the oldest record of the ichnogenus Sinusichnus, previously only known since the Triassic, and its first evidence from North America.     

Comments on the pseudo-microfossil linotolypen

Hollow, black reticulate ‘microfossils’ of unknown affinity found in Ordovician to late Cretaceous sediments from North America, Europe and Australia were given the name Linotolypa by Eisenack in 1962. In 1978, he recognised that they were pseudo-microfossils consisting of asphalt, and noted that their structure resembled that of soap bubbles formed in agitated suspensions. These objects are well known as a component of the particles caught from the air by pollen and spore traps at the present day. They are correctly termed ‘cenospheres’ and are formed from coal and possibly pitch and fuel oil by incomplete combustion. If their presence were to be confirmed in Palaeozoic sediments, this would provide important new evidence for the occurrence of fire in the geological record and of the history of levels of O₂ in the atmosphere.     

Microbrachiopods and the end‐Ordovician event

Millimetre sized chitinophosphatic brachiopods ("microbrachiopods") largely, but by no means entirely, centred around the family Acrotretidae are commonly regarded as being in decline after the early Ordovician. Work on Irish Upper Ordovician limestones however shows that this is not the case, material recovered showing both numerical abundance and taxonomic diversity in beds of Ashgill age. Although forms are known from the Devonian, the published record of these neglected fossils from the Silurian is sparse, so that the effects, if any, of the end‐Ordovician event on this ecologically enigmatic group cannot as yet be determined.     

Geology of the Loch Lomond catchment

Loch Lomond is unusual in its geographical position and relationship to underlying geological structures. To the north-west of the Highland Boundary Fault the bedrock is composed mainly of the Dalradian Supergroup, a sequence of regionally metamorphosed Late Precambrian marine sediments. Immediately to the south-east of the Highland Boundary Fault the Highland Bonder Complex includes fragments and slices of ophiolitic origin and sediments with a range of Ordovician ages. The Dalradians may have originated in a remote location on the northern margin of Gondwanaland. To the south-east of the Highland Border the bedrock lies within the Midland Valley of Scotland and consists entirely of Upper Palaeozoic rocks of Devonian and Carboniferous age. The nature of the bedrock has an influence on the environment of Loch Lomond with respect to slope stabilities and water quality.     

Upper Ordovician and Lower Silurian chitinozoans from central Nevada and Arctic Canada

Late Ordovician and Early Silurian chitinozoans from the uppermost Vinini Formation, and the Hanson Creek Formation in central Nevada and the lower Cape Phillips Formation, Cape Manning section, in Arctic Canada have been re-investigated and a new chitinozoan biozonation is proposed. The Upper Ordovician of central Nevada can easily be correlated to that of Arctic Canada through the common occurrence of the Ordochitina nevadensis biozone in both regions. No such correlation, however, is possible with the Late Ordovician of Anticosti Island in eastern Canada because of the absence of the index Upper Ordovician chitinozoan zonal species of central Nevada such as Belonechitina tenuispinata sp. nov, Ordochitina nevadensis sp. nov. and Nevadachitina vininica gen. nov., sp. nov. in the former area.One new genus, Nevadachitina, and nine new species, Eisenackitina ripae, Belonechitina martinica, Nevadachitina vininica, Nevadachitina praevininica, Ordochitina nevadensis, Belonechitina tenuispinata, Belonechitina parvispinata, Tanuchitina laurentiana, Angochitina hansonica are described and illustrated in this paper and four species are left in open nomenclature.