Integrated Silurian Chitinozoan and Graptolite Biostratigraphy of the Banwy River Section, Wales

The succession of 38 upper Llandovery–lower Wenlock chitinozoan taxa from graptolitic horizons in the Banwy River section (Powys, Wales) is described. Five new species are named: Bursachitina nestorae Conochitina leviscapulae Conochitina mathrafalensis Belonechitina cavei Belonechitina meifodensis . A further ten taxa are described under open nomenclature. Seven chitinozoan biozones are recognized in the Banwy River section, three of which ( Cingulochitina bouniensis Conochitina acuminata Salopochitina bella ) are new. The base of each biozone is correlated with the graptolite biostratigraphical scheme as follows: Angochitina longicollis Biozone — upper spiralis Biozone; Conochitina acuminata Biozone — lowermost lapworthi Biozone; Margachitina banwyensis Biozone — upper lapworthi Biozone; Margachitina margaritana Biozone — lowermost insectus Biozone; Cingulochitina bouniensis Biozone — upper murchisoni Biozone; Salopochitina bella Biozone — upper firmus Biozone. The succession of chitinozoan biozones in the Banwy River section is compared with that in other sections which have graptolite biostratigraphical control. This has highlighted the following: (1) the correlation of the base of the dolioliformis Biozone with the graptolite biozonation is imprecise; (2) E. dolioliformis is recorded only from levels after the first A. longicollis in Sweden (although this may reflect previously unrecognized synonymies); (3) the longicollis Biozone may be diachronous, its base correlating with levels low in the Telychian in Sweden, Norway and Estonia and with the upper Telychian spiralis Biozone in Wales and the Prague Basin; (4) data herein and from the Prague Basin indicate that the base of the margaritana Biozone correlates with a level low in the insectus Biozone.     

A chitinozoan morphological lineage and its importance in Lower Silurian stratigraphy

Margachitina margaritana is a distinctive, chain-forming chitinozoan taxon of the uppermost Telychian Stage (Llandovery Series) to lower Homerian Stage (Wenlock Series). M. margaritana is shown to be the end member of a morphological lineage that developed from Calpichitina densa via the intermediate Margachitina banwyensis sp. nov. A local M. banwyensis Biozone, which correlates with the upper lapworthi graptolite Biozone, is proposed for the Banwy River section. The morphological lineage described provides a tool for the enhanced subdivision of the uppermost Llandovery Series, which may prove global in extent. This research suggests also that the base of the Wenlock Series may correlate with a level below the centrifugus graptolite Biozone and it also brings into question the systematic status of Calpichitina and Margachitina, although both genera are retained herein.     

Age of the Silurian Wuxiahe Formation in Langao,Northwest China: New conodont data

A recent study of conodonts from the Wuxiahe Formation (lower to middle part) in the Ziyang-Langao region suggested its age of middle Telychian (Llandovery) to lower Sheinwoodian (Wenlock), contradicted by subsequent graptolite studies indicating an age of late Telychian for the same interval. New samples from the Qiaoxi section for conodonts to re-access the age of the Wuxiahe Formation collected in this study show that the lower to middle part of the formation belongs to the Pterospathodus amorphognathoides amorphognathoides Biozone, suggesting the age of late Telychian; thus, the Llandovery–Wenlock boundary in the section is most probably higher than previously estimated, but its precise position is not determined since the identification of the Wenlock graptolite Cyrtograptus cf. lundgreni in the section is to be further confirmed. Based on the conodont faunas recognized in the Qiaoxi and Tianwancun sections, the base of the Wuxiahe Formation in the Ziyang-Langao region is diachronous, i.e., not higher than the upper Telychian Pterospathodus amorphognathoides amorphognathoides Biozone at Qiaoxi, but not lower than the lower Sheinwoodian Kockelella ranuliformis Biozone at the Tianwancun setion.     

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.     

A high-precision global biostratigraphy of myodocope ostracods for the Silurian upper Wenlock Series and Ludlow Series

The wide, trans-oceanic geographical distribution of myodocope ostracods during the Silurian (especially during the Ludlow and Pridoli epochs), and their widespread preservation in rocks of that age, permits the establishment of a transcontinental biostratigraphy of comparable resolution to coeval graptolite/chitinozoan/conodont biozones. Seven myodocope biozones, extending from the Homerian Stage, upper Wenlock Series Cyrtograptus lundgreni graptolite biozone to the middle part of the Ludfordian Stage of the Ludlow Series, enable a time-resolution for each biozone of circa 1 million years. These biozones can provide high-resolution correlation across Europe into Arctic Russia and Central Asia. There is also the potential for a myodocope biostratigraphy applicable from the uppermost Silurian (Pridoli) to the Carboniferous.     

A proposed new global stratotype for Aeronian Stage of the Silurian System: Hlásná Třebaň section,Czech Republic

The current Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP ) for the Aeronian Stage (Llandovery Series, Silurian System), on Trefawr track in the Llandovery area of Wales, is an inadequate marker for precise, global, correlation. The International Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy has, therefore, undertaken the selection of a new GSSP for this level. The lowest occurrence of the graptolite Demirastrites triangulatus , 1.38 m above the base of the black‐shale succession of the ?elkovice Formation at the Hlásná T?ebaň section in Central Bohemia, is proposed to mark the base of the Aeronian Stage. The section, which fulfils all formal requirements for stratotype of a chronostratigraphical unit, should be considered as a candidate for the new GSSP . An abundant, well‐preserved, diverse graptolite fauna occurs through the section along with common chitinozoans, which indicate that the Spinachitina maennili Biozone spans the boundary interval. The section comprises the lower–middle Aeronian (D. triangulatus–Lituigraptus convolutus graptolite biozones) along with underlying Rhuddanian (Akidograptus ascensus–Coronograptus cyphus biozones) and Hirnantian strata. Several graptolite genera of primary importance in global correlation (Demirastrites , Petalolithus , Rastrites and Campograptus ) first appear in the lower part of the triangulatus Biozone. The structurally simple section is somewhat condensed, but there is a uniform succession of black shale without any evidence of disconformity in the broad boundary interval. The C_org isotope record exhibits a minor positive excursion just above the base of the triangulatus Biozone, whereas TOC and N isotope and elemental geochemical records provide evidence for uninterrupted sedimentation under stable, anoxic conditions.     

重庆石柱漆辽地区中、上奥陶统牙形刺序列—揭示达瑞威尔阶下部至桑比阶之间的沉积间断

本文详细描述了重庆石柱漆辽剖面奥陶系达瑞威尔阶(Darriwilian)牯牛潭组至凯迪阶(Katian)宝塔组的牙形刺序列及其对比。牙形刺序列由上而下可分为:宝塔组Hamarodus brevirameus生物带和Amorphognathus superbus生物带;大田坝组的Baltoniodus alobatus,Baltoniodus variabilis和Yangtzeplacognathus jianyeensis生物带;牯牛潭组的Yangtzeplacognathus crassus生物带和Lenodus variabilis生物带。其中Hamarodus brevirameus生物带至Baltoniodus alobatus生物带上部为凯迪阶,B.alobatus生物带下部至Yangtzeplacognathus jianyeensis生物带上部为桑比阶(Sandbian),而Yangtzeplacognathus jianyeensis生物带下部,Yangtzeplacognathus crassus生物带和Lenodus variabilis生物带归入达瑞威尔阶。根据文中所识别的牙形刺序列,该剖面显然缺失了达瑞威尔阶中上部的牙形刺生物带如Pygodus serra生物带(即Yangtzeplacognathus protoramosus和Y.foliaceus生物带),Eoplacognathus suecicus和Dzikodus tablepointensis生物带。因此,在重庆石柱漆辽剖面奥陶系牯牛潭组和大田坝组之间的地层是不连续的,存在一明显的沉积间断,缺失了相当于牯牛潭组标准剖面中上部的地层(达瑞威尔阶中上部)。而这一沉积间断所发生的时间正好与达瑞威尔中晚期全球海平面下降相吻合。     

安徽石台下、中奥陶统紫台组的牙形刺

下、中奥陶统紫台组以紫红色泥质灰岩、瘤状泥质灰岩为特征,具有稳定的空间分布范围,沿扬子台地东南缘呈条带状分布,与扬子台地上发育的湄潭组、大湾组等大致同期。作者研究了安徽石台栗阳柳树亭剖面紫台组的牙形刺,共描述19属23种,识别出四个牙形刺带,从下至上分别是Oepikodus evae带、Baltoniodus triangularis带、Baltoniodus navis带和Paroistodus originalis带,并可与同期笔石带对比。除扬子区外,紫台组还可与欧洲、阿根廷前科迪勒拉等地区的同期地层对比。     

Upper Silurian microplankton of the Leintwardine Group, Ludlow Series, in the type Ludlow area and adjacent regions

The acritarchs and prasinophyte algae from the Upper Bringewood, Lower Leintwardine, Upper Leintwardine and Lower Whitcliffe formations of the Ludlow type area and surrounding regions are described. The following new taxa are proposed: Cymatiosphaera pumila sp. nov., Melikeriopalla pustula sp. nov., Cheleutochroa beechenbankensis sp. nov., Cymbosphaeridium molyneuxii sp. nov., Flammulasphaera bella gen. et sp. nov., Percultisphaera incompta sp. nov., Salopidium aldridgei sp. nov. and Umbellasphaeridium? wicanderi sp. nov. A holotype is defined for Lophosphaeridium galeatum Hill and a further 34 new taxa are described under open nomenclature. Two biozones, identified by the first appearance of the zone taxon, are defined in the Sunnyhill section, Ludlow [Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Ludfordian Stage, Ludlow Series]. The base of the Leoniella vilis Biozone is identified at 4.52m below the top of the Upper Bringewood Formation at Beechenbank, Aymestrey. The base of the Triangulina sanpetrensis Biozone is identified at 15.49m above the base of the Lower Leintwardine Formation and Ludfordian Stage at the Sunnyhill section. These biozones allow correlation with sections in north–west Spain, Podolia and Gotland. The possibility of using Visbysphaera whitcliffense and U.? wicanderi as biozonal indicators is suggested.     

Volkhov graptolites from the lower-middle Ordovician boundary beds of the St. Petersburg region,Russia

The lower and lowermost Middle Ordovician strata of the Volkhov Stage exposed in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, Russia, yield a graptolite fauna at several stratigraphic levels, being more often confined to the mud-mound clays than to the normally stratified, Condensed carbonates. Overall taxonomic diversity of the Volkhov graptolites is relatively low and associations include no more than seven species in ail localities. TheTetragraptus, Didymograptus andXiphograptus species found are pandemic and have quite extensive stratigraphie ranges within the mid-Arenig Series. Based on the graptolite zonation, the Volkhov Stage can be correlated to thePseudophyllograptus angustifolius elongatus andDidymograptus (Expansograptus) hirundo graptolite biozones of Baltoscandia and to the upperDidymograptus simulans toDidymograptus (Expansograptus) hirundo biozones of the British graptolite succession. TheIsograptus victoriae lunatus lower zonal boundary probably falls within the graptolite-bearing interval of the lower Volkhov Stage. As the result of indirect biostratigraphic and interpretative lithological correlations, the first appearance ofUndulograptus austrodentatus at the base of the Darriwilian Stage is deemed to be close to the boundary of theMegistaspis simon andM. limbata trilobite biozones and the lowerBaltionodus norrlandicus conodont Biozone of the upper Volkhov Stage. Seven dichograptid species belonging to four genera are described, one of them,Azygograptus volkhovensis n. sp., new.      

Proposal for adoption of the base of the Undulograptus austrodentatus Biozone as a global Ordovician stage and series boundary level

The base of the Undulograptus austrodentatus Biozone appears to be a synchronous event that is widely recognizable within graptolitic facies around the world. It occurs within an interval in which graptolite species ranges are now well known and in which there is a rapid turnover in the composition of graptolite faunas. This turnover reflects the rapid evolutionary radiation of the Diplograptacea simultaneously with the appearance of several distinctive pseudisograptid and glossograptid species. These events provide the basis for the recognition of two thin but widely applicable subzones; a lower Arienigraptus zhejiangensis Subzone and an upper U. sinicus Subzone. The occurrence of the lower boundary of the U. austrodentatus Biozone within a succession of first appearances also permits accurate and reliable identification of the boundary as well as assessment of stratigraphic completeness across the boundary interval in correlated sections. Diverse graptolite faunas of late Yapeenian and early Darriwilian age occur in association with the Histiodella altifrons Biozone of the North American midcontinent conodont zonation and the Paroistodus originalis and Microzarkodina parva biozones of the North Atlantic conodont zonation. They also occur in association with the shelly-fossil zonations developed for several different continents. These features of the base of the U. austrodentatus Biozone make it a suitable level for use as the boundary level for a global stage. Its stratigraphic position within the Ordovician System relative to other likely global stages as well as its coincidence with one of the major events in graptolite evolutionary history suggest that this level also may be a suitable level for the base of a global Middle Ordovician Series.Ordovician System, Ordovician stages, graptolite zonation, chronostratigraphy, international correlation. Charles E. Mitchell and Jörg Maletz, Department of Geology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260-1550, USA; 13th July, 1994; revised 22nd May, 1995.     

Ordovician conodont biostratigraphy of the Willara Formation in the Canning Basin,Western Australia

The conodont fauna from the Willara Formation, a carbonate-dominated stratigraphic unit widely distributed in the subsurface Canning Basin of Western Australia, is represented by 41 species, including a new species, Erraticodon neopatu Zhen n. sp. The Jumudontus gananda and Histiodella altifrons biozones are recognized in the lower and upper parts, respectively, of the Willara Formation. Deposited primarily in shallow nearshore settings, the Willara Formation is characterized by the occurrence of predominantly long-range coniform species of Triangulodus, Scalpellodus, Drepanoistodus, Drepanodus, and Kirkupodus. Several widely distributed age-diagnostic species, including Histiodella altifrons, Histiodella holodentata, Histiodella serrata, and Jumudontus gananda, serve as keys for biostratigraphic analysis and correlation. Our study also shows that the basal and top boundaries of the Willara Formation are diachronous across the basin, extending from the middle Floian (Oepikodus communis Biozone) to middle Darriwilian (Histiodella holodentata-Eoplacognathus pseudoplanus Biozone). This contribution provides crucial new biostratigraphic data for precise correlation of the Willara Formation with its time equivalents regionally and internationally.     

The diachronism of the Wenlock Limestone

A quick transgressive event occurs near the top of the Wenlock Limestone. The initiation of this is thought to be synchronous, proving the top of the Wenlock Limestone to be diachronous and younging southwards. As a result the top of this rock unit cannot be used satisfactorily as a time line. It is suggested that the initiation of the transgression be taken as the practical means for the correlation of the Wenlock-Ludlow Series boundary. The Birmingham Siltstone Formation is erected for the strata between Dudley and Ludlow which are younger than Wenlock Limestone and older than the transgression. The Wenlock Limestone of Usk was deposited after the transgression and is unrelated to the main Wenlock Limestone. Thus it is treated as a separate entity and named here the Usk Limestone Formation.     

The Downton Series as the fourth Series of the Silurian System

A review of lithofacies and fossil distributions in the Downton strata of the Welsh Borderland and Wales indicates that these beds form a suitable basis for definition of a chronostratigraphical division of Series rank within the Silurian System. The basal boundary stratotype for the Downton Series is defined at the base of the Ludlow Bone Bed Member of the Downton Castle Sandstone Formation in a section at Whitcliffe Road, Ludlow. Shallow water marine sediments span the boundary, with no evidence of a measurable time break. Correlation of the base of the Downton Series from eastern North America through Baltoscandia and Poland suggests that it lies at or very close to the base of the Monograptus ultimus Biozone and thus approximates to the base of the Přiacute;dolí beds of Bohemia. This paper formed a submission to the Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy in May. 1981. □ Silurian, Downtown Series, standard subdivision, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, correlation.     

The base of the Middle Ordovician in China with special reference to the succession at Hengtang near Jiangshan, Zhejiang Province, southern China

Extensive work during the last decade has led to the recent decision by the International Subcommission on Ordovician Stratigraphy that the base of the Middle Ordovician Series should be placed at the base of the Baltoniodus triangularis Conodont Biozone in the Huanghuachang GSSP (Global Stratotype Section and Point) section near Yichang, Hubei Province, China. A review of the biostratigraphy of successions in many parts of China shows that for various reasons, it is currently difficult to recognize the precise boundary level in many regions, and additional studies are clearly needed. A newly exposed, previously poorly known, condensed section in deeperwater facies at Hengtang near Jiangshan in the Chiangnan (Jiangnan) belt has yielded a substantial number of important graptolites and conodonts through the boundary interval. It provides a more informative illustration of the relations between the ranges of several key taxa of these groups than any other section in China, and the level of the base of the Middle Ordovician appears to be within an about 1.8 m thick interval of Ningkuo Formation, and lies in the lower Isograptus caduceus imitatus Biozone.     

First documentation of Llandovery (Silurian) conodont genus Astropentagnathus in China (Langao,Shaanxi Province) and the age of Baiyaya Formation

Age of the Baiyaya Formation in the Ziyang-Langao region of Shaanxi Province remains debatable. Ten samples were taken for conodont biostratigraphical studies from the Tianwancun section. The first discovery of Astropentagnathus in China indicates that the genus has a wider geographical distribution than previously known. Conodont fauna from the Baiyaya Formation suggests that the lower part of the unit corresponds to the Pterospathodus eopennatus Superbiozone, and its upper part to the lower Wenlock (probably mainly to the Kockelella ranuliformis Superbiozone). Diachroneity of the Baiyaya Formation in the region is confirmed by conodont studies from the Tianwancun and Qiaoxi sections. Further studies are required to find out age-variation of the formation more precisely.     

安徽石台奥陶纪弗洛期-大坪期牙形刺多样性的演变

基于安徽石台栗阳柳树亭下、中奥陶统紫台组牙形刺的系统研究,对该地区早奥陶世弗洛期一中奥陶世大坪期牙形刺多样性演变作了初步分析,发现牙形刺的简单分异度在弗洛晚期Oepikodusevae带达到峰值,有17属20种。之后,牙形刺分异度呈下降趋势。演变的总体趋势与湖北宜昌地区同期牙形刺的研究结果一致,其峰值出现的时间（Oepikodusevae带,相当于笔石Didymograptellus eobifidus带上部,Corymbograptusdeflexus带,及Azygograptussuecicus带下部）与华南上扬子区腕足动物宏演化趋势（首次峰值出现在Didymograptelluseob—ifidus带）大体相似,但比三叶虫多样性演变在奥陶纪的首次峰值（出现在Exigraptus clavus带）早,比扬子台地笔石多样性演变的首次峰值（在Acrograptusfiliformis带和Didymograptelluseobifidus带下部）晚。分析显示,该地区早、中奥陶世牙形刺多样性演变与海平面变化存在密切关联。     

Biostratigraphy, biodiversity and palaeoenvironments of the chitinozoans and associated palynomorphs from the Upper Ordovician of the Central Anti-Atlas, Morocco

The range, abundance and diversity of Upper Ordovician chitinozoans and of various other organic-walled microfossils (i.e., acritarchs, leiospheres, scolecodonts) have been documented in the Bou-Ingarf section, Central Anti-Atlas, Morocco. The goal of this study is to provide a refined biostratigraphic scheme for the Lower Ktaoua, the Upper Tiouririne, the Upper Ktaoua and the Lower Second Bani formations in order to locate the initial effects of the Late Ordovician glaciation on the composition of assemblages of organic-walled microfossils. Five Late Ordovician chitinozoan biozones belonging to the North Gondwana zonation are identified. During the late Caradoc and early Ashgill, no significant changes in chitinozoan assemblages are recorded that could be attributed to any dramatic climatic and/or environmental events. The almost absence of phytoplanktonic elements (acritarchs and leiospheres) and of cryptospores in the fistulosa/barbata and in the nigerica biozones are interpreted as resulting of lower offshore environmental conditions. The reappearance of a variety of palynomorphs in the lower part of the elongata biozone does not indicate drastic climatic changes but more likely a shallowing trend of the marine environment and an increased primary production, possibly related to a cooling of the surface water masses subsequently to early effects of a general climatic cooling. The first obvious evidence of the Late Ordovician glaciation occurs in the lower part of the elongata biozone, at the base of the sandy member topping the Lower Second Bani Formation. This sandy deposit is interpreted as the result of a dramatic fall of the sea level due to the development of the Hirnantian ice cap on Gondwana. This short-lived glaciation ended when the northern Gondwanan ice cap melted during the upper part of the elongata and the oulebsiri biozones. A biological crisis affected both the chitinozoans and the acritarchs just after this glaciation, i.e., in the latest Hirnantian.     

MIDDLE LLANDOVERY (AERONIAN) GRAPTOLITES OF THE WESTERN MURZUQ BASIN AND AL QARQAF ARCH REGION, SOUTH-WEST LIBYA

Abstract:  The taxonomy and biostratigraphy of the Aeronian graptoloid graptolites of the Tanezzuft Formation (Murzuq Basin and Al Qarqaf Arch area) is presented and discussed with respect to their palaeoenvironmental setting and palaeobiogeographical links. The gregarius-libycus , ' leptotheca ', convolutus and sedgwickii assemblage biozones and tenuis Subzone are recognized and correlated with the generalized zonal scheme and with graptoloid successions in peri-Gondwanan Europe. The Rhuddanian/Aeronian boundary is tentatively placed at the base of the gregarius-libycus Biozone. Telychian faunas have not been identified. Fourteen of the 23 species recorded herein belong to the middle Aeronian convolutus Biozone assemblage. The overall low diversity may be the result of inhabiting unstable, occasionally turbulent and/or oxic environments. The lowest diversity, but with abundant graptoloid rhabdosomes, is observed in proximal silty and sandy deposits. The presence of ' Paraclimacograptus' libycus suggests biogeographical links to Aeronian graptolite faunas of Jordan and South America. The convolutus Zone assemblage is very similar to the coeval faunas of the Saudi Arabian Qusayba shales. The occurrence of several species endemic to northern and north-western Gondwana and peri-Gondwana provides further evidence for a distinct palaeoclimatic/palaeolatitudinal control on graptolite distribution.