Conodonts from the Sesong Slate and Hwajeol Formation (Guzhangian to Furongian) in the Taebaeksan Basin, Korea

Abundant conodont elements have been recovered from the Hwajeol Formation, to allow five zones to be erected: Proconodontus, Eoconodontus notchpeakensis, Cambrooistodus minutus, Cordylodus proavus, and Fryxellodontus inornatus-Monocostodus sevierensis-Semiacontiodus lavadamensis zones, in ascending order. More confident biozones are recognized in the Sesong Slate and lower Hwajeol Formation in the Makgol section, a part of the southern limb of the Baekunsan syncline, Taebaeksan Basin, Korea, especially focusing on the conodont biostratigraphic boundary of two units, and the subdivision potential of the previous "Proconodontus Zone", lowermost biozone of the Hwajeol Formation. Similarly, only a few conodont elements recovered from upper 14.5 m interval, namely the Furongian portion of the Sesong Slate, in the Makgol section did not allow erection of a biozone. Nevertheless, this part of the unit plus the basal 2.5 m interval of the Hwajeol Formation is characterized by the occurrence of Prooneotodus rotundatus(Druce and Jones), Teridontus nakamurai(Nogami), Phakelodus elongatus(An) and Phakelodus tenuis Müller. This interval marks the early Furongian "Prooneotodus rotundatus Zone". The rest of the measured section yielded relatively abundant conodonts, so three conodont biozones are proposed, based on the successive appearance of key species: Proconodontus tenuiserratus, Proconodontus posterocostatus, and Proconodontus muelleri zones, in ascending order, and thus allowing subdivision of the previous "Proconodontus Zone". The four conodont biozones are correlated with the relevant biozones of North and South China, and North America.     

A Middle–Upper Devonian Boundary Section in the Open Platform,Platform Margin Facies of Guilin, South China

Abstract: The Caiziyan Middle and Upper Devonian boundary section is located approximately 30 km northeast of Guilin. It hosts relatively abundant benthic and common–rare pelagic fossils, including brachiopods, corals, tentaculites, and conodonts, which may serve as a better suitable section for pelagic and neritic stratigraphic correlation. In this section, 10 “standard” conodont zones are recognized across the Givetian–Frasnian boundary, including, in descending order, the Lower hassi Zone, punctata Zone, transitans Zone, the Upper falsiovalis Zone, the Lower falsiovalis Zone, disparilis Zone, the Upper hermanni–cristatus Zone, the Lower hermanni–cristatus Zone, the Upper varcus Zone, and the Middle varcus Zone, all of which are defined by the first occurrence of their defining conodont species. The Middle–Upper Devonian (Givetian–Frasnian) boundary is defined by the first occurrence of Ancyrodella pristina in accordance with the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), which is assigned at 6.2m above the base of bed 19 in the Caiziyan section.     

Biostratigraphic and Chemostratigraphic Correlation for the Base of the Middle Ordovician between Yichang and Western Zhejiang Areas, South China

The base of the Middle Ordovician (i.e. Dapingian Stage) has been defined at the first appearance datum (FAD) of conodont Baltoniodus? triangularis at Huanghuachang, Yichang, China, but the precise correlation of the boundary to regions of other facies remain to be resolved. Herein we review the biostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy of the Huanghuachang Global Standard Stratotype-Section and Point (GSSP) section, and present our latest stratigraphic work on the nearby Chenjiahe section in Yichang, and the Hengtang Quarry section, Jiangshan, Zhejiang, which is regarded as representative of slope facies. The conodont and graptolite biostratigraphy as well as chemostratigraphy of the Chenjiahe section indicate that the base of the Middle Ordovician also falls within the graptolite Azygograptus suecicus Zone, and coincides with a high or maximum δ13C value within a minor positive carbon isotope excursion, suggesting that the base boundary can be readily recognized across the entire Yangtze Gorges area. The integrated graptolite and conodont biostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy of the Hengtang section, Jiangshan, indicates that the basal boundary probably falls within the graptolite Isograptus caduceus imitatus Zone that overlies the Azygograptus suecicus Zone, and coincides with a remarkable drop of δ13C. This difference indicates that a multi-disciplinary approach is critical to identify the base boundary in those regions where the Baltoniodus? triangularis is absent.     

The GSSP of the Second （Upper） Stage of the Lower Ordovician Series： Diabasbrottet at Hunneberg, Province of Vaeistergoetland, Southwestern Sweden

Diabasbrottet, selected by the International Subcommisson on Ordovician Stratigraphy and in 2002 ratified by the International Commission on Stratigraphy as the GSSP of the Second (Upper) Stage of the Lower Ordovician, is located on the Hunneberg Mountain in southwestern Sweden. The stratigraphic succession represents an outer shelf environment near the Baltic Shield margin. The shale-dominated, biostratigraphically complete, richly fossiliferous boundary interval is completely exposed in a disused quarry. The GSSP is in the lower TФyen Shale 2.1 m above the top of the Cambrian and is marked by the first appearance of the graptolite Tetragraptus approximatus Nicholson. The boundary interval contains a diverse graptolite fauna and biostratigraphically diagnostic conodonts and trilobites that make it possible to define the boundary in terms of zone schemes based on these groups. In this respect, the Diabasbrottet and nearby sections are unique in the world among described localities having this boundary interval. Based on the appearance of T. approximatus, the base of the Second Stage can be identified in many graptolitiferous successions round the world but this level is currently more difficult to recognize precisely in some carbonate sequences outside Baltoscandia. We propose the Second Stage be called the Floan Stage. It is named for the Village of Flo, which is situated about 5 km southeast of the GSSP.     

Choice of conodont Idiognathodus simulator （sensu stricto） as the event marker for the base of the global Gzhelian Stage （Upper Pennsylvanian Series,Carboniferous System）

We propose that the level at which the conodont species Idiognathodus simulator （Ellison 1941） （sensu stricto） first appears be selected to mark the base of the Gzhelian Stage, because we believe that this is the optimal level by which this boundary can be correlated. This taxon has a short range and a wide distribution, as shown by correlation of glacial-eustatic cyclothems across the Kasimovian-Gzhelian boundary interval among Midcontinent North America and the Moscow and Donets basins of eastern Europe, based on scale of the cyclothems along with several aspects of biostrati- graphy. Outside of these areas, I. simulator （sensu stricto） is known also from other parts of the U.S., and is reported from the southern Urals and south-central China in its expected position between other widespread taxa. Its first appearance is consistent with the current ammonoid placement of the boundary （first appearance of Shumardites cuyleri）, and it is also compatible with certain aspects of the distribution of Eurasian fusulinid faunas （e.g., lectotype ofRauserites rossicus）.     

The Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary in Shallow-Water Facies Areas of China as Based on Conodonts

Traditionally, the lower boundary of the Aikuanian(Yanguanian) Stage has always been considered as the lower boundary of the Carboniferous in China. marked by the occurrence of the coral Cystophrentis.In recent years, some biostratigraphical research results have shown that the Cystophrentis zone is only distributed in the lower part of the Menggong'ao Formation(or the Gelaohe Formation) and that there is an interval zone namely the Cystophrentis-Pseudouralinia interval zone, wedged in just between the Cystophrertis zone and the Pseudouralinia zone in the upper part of the Menggong'ao Formation(or the GelaoheFormation). According to the current study of the conodont biostratigraphy, the coral Cystophrentis zone appears to be of latest Devonian age. So the lower boundary of the Aikuanian Stage is much lower than the lower Devonian-Carboniferous boundary and should no longer be regarded as the lower boundary of the Carboniferous in China. In this paper, two proposals for the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary in the shallow-water facies areas of China are put forward: 1) that the boundary is marked by the first appearance of the conodont Siphonodella(Eosiphonodella) simplex, and 2) that the boundary is recognized by the extinction of the coral Cystophrentis or the brachiopod Tenticospirifer.In addition, 4 species are newly estabished here: Icriodus obovatus sp. nov., Polygnathus lepidus sp. nov., Polygnathus paucidentatus sp. nov. and Polylophodonta jianghuaensis sp. nov.     

顺5孔的磁性地层学和早松山世的北京海侵

Vertically oriented samples collected from the care S-5 in the county of Shunyi,Beijing Plain, were measured on an astatic magnetometer, after demagnetized with a peak value of 150 or 200 Oe. The results have shown that the loose sediments up to a thickness of 640 m have recorded the Brunhes-Matuyama boundary at the depth of 160m, the Matuyama-Gauss boundary at the. depth of 468 m, and the short events corresponding to the polarity events during each epoch. 28 species of foraminiferal fossils were isolated from the sample at the depth of 428 m, 31% of this fauna is composed of planktonic foraminifera. Such an assemblage in dicates the warm, shallow-water, open-sea palaeoecological environments.According to the ages of magnetostratigraphic sequences, this marina bed composed of silts and sands with foraminiferal fossils marked by classical HyaliNea baltica,has been dated to be about 2.26 re.y, B.P., approximating the age of FAD of Hyalinea baltica in the section at Santa Maria in Italy (about 2.1 m.y.B. P). Its equivalent is also found in the other coree from the Beijing Plain. From these facts, it is postulatsd that during the early Matuyama epoch, an extensive transgression took place on the Beijing Plain. A new datum level of benthonic and planktonic foraminifera marked by the appearance of Hyalinea baltica has been found in Early Matuyama strata in the Beijing Plain. The first appearance of cold forms in the Vrica Section in Italy has been dated to be about 2:4 m.y.B.P. Based upon the up-to-date reports on calcareous nannoplankton, the interval of 2.3--1.6 m.y. is a distinet alternating stage in their evolution history. The climate in the Northern Hemisphere began to become obviously colder at about 2.5 m.y. ago. From the foregoing discussion, it is reasonable to set the Pliocene-Pleistoecne boundary in the Beijing Plain at the basal limit of the Matuyama epoch (2.43 m.y.).     

Conodont Biostratigraphy and Age Determination of the Lower–Middle Triassic Boundary in South Guizhou Province, China

The demarcation of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary is a disputed problem in global stratigraphic research. Lower–Middle Triassic strata of different types, from platform to basin facies, are well developed in Southwest China. This is favorable for the study of the Olenekian–Anisian boundary and establishing a stratotype for the Qingyan Stage. Based on research at the Ganheqiao section in Wangmo county and the Qingyan section in Guiyang city, Guizhou province, six conodont zones have been recognized, which can be correlated with those in other regions, in ascending order as follows: 1, Neospathodus cristagalli Interval-Zone; 2, Neospathodus pakistanensis Interval-Zone; 3, Neospathodus waageni Interval-Zone; 4, Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Assemblage-Zone; 5, Chiosella timorensis Interval-Zone; and 6, Neogongdolella regalis Range-Zone. An evolutionary series of the Early–Middle Triassic conodont genera Neospathodus-Chiosella-Neogongdolella discovered in the Ganheqiao and Qingyan sections has an intermediate type named Neospathodus qingyanensis that appears between Neospathodus homeri and Chiosella timorensis in the upper part of the Neospathodus homeri-N. triangularis Zone, showing an excellent evolutionary relationship of conodonts near the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary. The Lower–Middle Triassic boundary is located at 1.5 m below the top of the Ziyun Formation, where Chiosella timorensis Zone first appears in the Qingyan section, whereas this boundary is located 0.5 m below the top of the Ziyun Formation, where Chiosella timorensis Zone first appears in the Ganheqiao section. There exists one nearly 6-m thick vitric tuff bed at the bottom of the Xinyuan Formation in the Ganheqiao section, which is usually regarded as a lithologic symbol of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary in South China. Based on the analysis of high-precision and high-sensitivity Secondary Ion Mass Spectrum data, the zircon age of this tuff has a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 239.0±2.9Ma (2s), which is a directly measured zircon U-Pb age of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary. The Ganheqiao section in Wangmo county can therefore provide an excellent section through the Lower–Middle Triassic because it is continuous, the evolution of the conodonts is distinctive and the regionally stable distributed vitric tuff near the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary can be regarded as a regional key isochronal layer. This section can be regarded not only as a standard section for the establishment of the Qingyan Stage in China, but also as a reference section for the GSSP of the Lower–Middle Triassic boundary.     

Discussion on Induan—Olenekian Boundary in Chohu,Anhui Province, China

This paper proposes a scheme for the definition of the Lower Triassic Induan-Olenekian boundary(IOB) based on investigation of sections in Chaohu, Anhui Province, China as well as data accunulated from other studies elsewhere. The conodont Neospathodus waageni is suggested as the index fossil of the boundary. According to the FAD of N.waageni, the IOB is at the base of bed 25-2 of the West Pingdingshan Section in Chaohu,42.19 m above the Permian-Triassic boundary, and it is slightly higher than the base of the Flemingites-Euflemingites Ammonoid Zone at the section.     

The Huohua Section: a new Devonian-Carboniferous boundary section The Huohua section: a new Devonian-Carboniferous boundary section of deep-water facies in Ziyun County, Guizhou Province, China

This paper introduces a new section of the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary in Huohua area, Ziyun County, Guizhou Province, South China. The Huohua section of Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous is well-outcropped along a new countryside road. In this section, the D-C boundary beds can be grouped into three litho-units: the Daihua Formation, the Changshun Shale and the "Wangyou Formation", from which more than 30 conodont samples were collected and processed. According to our current study, some important conodonts in the Daihua Formation and the Changshun Shale have been recognized, such as Palmatolepis tenuipunctata, Pa. glabra, Pa. marginifera, Pa. gracilis, Polygnathus vogesi and Polygnathus purus purus. A few conodonts have been found from the Wangyou Formation, such as Polygnathus communis and Hindeodella subtilis. Based on the comparison with the Muhua section in Changshun county and the Hasselbachtal section in Germany in lithology, sedimentology and conodont biostratigraphy, the D-C boundary could be temporarily placed between Bed 25 and Bed 26, namely between the Changshun Shale and the Wangyou Formation.     

滇西保山熊洞村栗柴坝组牙形石的发现及其地质意义

针对保山地层区熊洞剖面原属栗柴坝组的灰岩进行了牙形石样品分析,总计建立了5个牙形石带,分别为Pterospathodus pennatus procerus带、Kockelella walliseri带、Ancoradella ploeckensis带、Polygnathoides siluricus带和Polygnathus nothoperbonus带。该剖面第8层原属栗柴坝组,Polygnathus nothoperbonus分子的出现证实其为下泥盆统埃姆斯阶的地层,应归为向阳寺组。剖面总体对应志留系温洛克统底部到下泥盆统埃姆斯阶中部,中间缺失志留系罗德洛统卢德福特阶—下泥盆统埃姆斯阶之间的8～10个标准牙形石带,说明该地区后期可能受构造作用影响,志留系和泥盆系界线为断层接触。该剖面牙形石序列的建立一定程度上完善了滇西保山地层区志留系生物地层的研究程度,为下一步该区生物地层格架的建立奠定了基础。     

论吉林浑江大阳岔寒武、奥陶系的分界

<正> 我国寒武-奥陶系界线的研究在20年代就已涉及(孙云铸,1923),周志毅、张进林(1978)认为我国北方寒武-奥陶系的界线应该划在上寒武统的Mictosaukia orientalis组合与下奥陶统的Onychopyge-Leiostegium组合之间;并且认为这条界线大致可与澳大利亚昆士兰上寒武统Payntonian顶部的Mictosaukia perplexa带与下奥陶统Datsonian底部Cordylodus proavus带之间的界线进行对比。周志毅、王志浩等(1984)根据三叶虫、     

广西全州地区晚泥盆世牙形石和腕足类生物地层

广西东北部泥盆系发育良好,化石丰富,对研究中国华南地区泥盆纪生物地层具有重要意义。对广西全州地区东山剖面上泥盆统佘田桥组、锡矿山组和孟公坳组进行了系统的化石采集及室内分析,共获得104枚牙形石化石和34件腕足类化石。经鉴定,牙形石共21属19种,腕足类化石共6属9种。根据化石种属在东山剖面上的分布,自下而上可划分出8个牙形石带:Icriodus brecis带,Schmidtognathus hermanni-Polygnathus cristatus带,Schmidtognatus wittekindtii带,Palmatolepis linguiformis带,Palmatolepis triangularis带,Palmatolepis rhomboidea带,Icriodus cornutus带和Palmatolepis gracilis manca-Rhodalepis polylophodontiformis带,指示研究区内佘田桥组、锡矿山组、孟公坳组分别对应国际年代地层单位的弗拉斯阶上部、法门阶下部和法门阶中上部,并通过Palmatolepis triangularis的首现确立了该地区弗拉斯阶和法门阶(F-F)的界线;在东山剖面共划分出2个腕足类组合带:弓石燕(Cyrtospirifer)组合带和云南贝(Yunnanella)-帐幕石燕(Tenticosififer)组合带,它们分别与东山剖面中牙形石Palmatolepis falsiovalis-Palmatolepis linguiformis带、Palmatolepis rhomboidea-Palmatolepis marginifera带对应。     

Calibrating the middle and late Permian palynostratigraphy of Australia to the geologic time-scale via U–Pb zircon CA-IDTIMS dating

The advent of chemical abrasion-isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (CA-IDTIMS) has revolutionised U–Pb dating of zircon, and the enhanced precision of eruption ages determined on volcanic layers within basin successions permits an improved calibration of biostratigraphic schemes to the numerical time-scale. The Guadalupian and Lopingian (Permian) successions in the Sydney, Gunnedah, Bowen and Canning basins are mostly non-marine and include numerous airfall tuff units, many of which contain zircon. The eastern Australian palynostratigraphic scheme provides the basis for much of the local correlation, but the present calibration of this scheme against the numerical time-scale depends on a correlation to Western Australia, using rare ammonoids and conodonts in that succession to link to the standard global marine biostratigraphic scheme. High-precision U–Pb zircon dating of tuff layers via CA-IDTIMS allows this tenuous correlation to be circumvented—the resulting direct calibration of the palynostratigraphy to the numerical time-scale highlights significant inaccuracies in the previous indirect correlation. The new data show: the top of the Praecolpatites sinuosus Zone (APP3.2) lies in the early Roadian, not the middle Kungurian; the top of the Microbaculispora villosa Zone (APP3.3) lies in the middle Roadian, not the early Roadian; the top of the Dulhuntyispora granulata Zone (APP4.1) lies in the Wordian, not in the latest Roadian; the top of the Didecitriletes ericianus Zone (APP4.2) lies in the first half of the Wuchiapingian, not the latest Wordian; the Dulhuntyispora dulhuntyi Zone (APP4.3) is exceptionally short and lies within the Wuchiapingian, not the early Capitanian; and the top of the Dulhuntyispora parvithola Zone (APP5) lies at or near the Permo-Triassic boundary, not in the latest Wuchiapingian.     

Apparent conflicting Roadian–Wordian (middle Permian) CA-IDTIMS and palynology ages from the Canning Basin,Western Australia

U–Pb dating of zircons from thin middle Permian tuffs in the Canning Basin of Western Australia by chemical abrasion-isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry reveals a conflict with the established spore-pollen zonation. Normally, the first appearance datum of Dulhuntyispora granulata across the continent lies stratigraphically above assemblages assigned to the Microbaculispora villosa Zone. However, the youngest tuffs within non-marine facies from the M. villosa Zone in Pittston SD-1, drilled in the southwest of the Canning Basin, yielded an age of 267.04 ± 0.14 Ma, which is 1.7 million years younger than tuffs associated with the D. granulata Zone in marginal-marine facies from core holes 350–400 km to the northeast. The apparent conflict in ages is possibly due to the non-marine depositional environment having wielded a strong local influence on the palynoflora along the edge of this basin. Although the present information indicates an age 2.5 million years younger than the 266.6 Ma age previously suggested for the top of the M. villosa Zone, revisions to the ages of Roadian–Wordian spore-pollen zones are not considered justifiable without further supporting evidence. Furthermore, considerable care is needed when comparing palynological assemblages from significantly differing facies. Two basaltic sills (43.5 m and 20 m thick) immediately below the tuffaceous beds in Pittston SD-1 are coincidental, as Ar–Ar dating indicates a Late Triassic age for the intrusions.     

芙蓉统和排碧阶底界全球层型剖面的牙形刺生物地层

寒武系芙蓉统和排碧阶全球层型剖面——湖南花垣排碧剖面底界界线层的牙形刺生物地层,由下至上划分为Westergaardodina tetragonia带、Westergaardodina matsushitai带和Westergaardodina bicuspidate 3个牙形刺带,可与该界线层的三叶虫带进行很好对比;同时讨论了芙蓉统和排碧阶底界划在牙形刺Westergaardodina mat-sushitai带和Westergaardodina bicuspidata带之间的合理性;此外,还将该牙形刺分带与华北和东北地区寒武系牙形刺带进行了对比。     

Upper Famennian and Lower Tournaisian sections of the Moravian Karst (Moravo‐Silesian Zone,Czech Republic): a proposed key area for correlation of the conodont and foraminiferal zonations

Foraminiferal and conodont faunas at the Devonian–Carboniferous (D–C) boundary in the southern part of the Moravian Karst (Czech Republic) were studied in different facies of the basin slope. The joint presence of foraminifers and conodonts in calciturbidites along with a positive δ¹³C excursion of the Hangenberg anoxic event enabled the high‐resolution calibration of the late Famennian–early Tournaisian interval (Upper expansa–crenulata conodont zones). The conodont stratigraphic and biofacies succession reveals a strong correlation with other European areas. The Siphonodella sulcata morphotype (close to Group 1 sensu Kaiser and Corradini and “nov. gen. nov. sp. 1” sensu Tragelehn) enters prior to the Hangenberg Event, which resembles Upper and Uppermost Famennian conodont successions from Franconia, Bavaria and Morocco. The diversification of the early siphonodellids takes place after the Hangenberg Event and after the protognathodid radiation. In terms of foraminiferal biostratigraphy, the D–C boundary interval is characterized by the first appearance datum (FAD) of Tournayellina pseudobeata close below the D–C boundary followed by a sequence of Tournaisian bioevents, where apart from the last appearance datums (LADs) of quasiendothyrs, the FADs of the Neoseptaglomospiranella species and chernyshinellids play an important role in a similar manner as in Eastern Europe. The correlation of these bioevents elsewhere is often hindered by glacioeustatically‐driven unconformities and widespread occurrences of unfavourable facies for plurilocular foraminifers (Malevka beds and Bisphaera beds). Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.