Systematics, biometry of the species Opsidiscus from the Middle Cambrian succession of the Spiti basin, India

The Middle Cambrian succession of the Parahio Valley in general and Debsakhad section in particular is dominated by trilobites. Genus Opsidiscus, along with other trilobite forms dominates the lower Middle Cambrian succession. In the present study two new species of Opsidiscus, Opsidiscus wadiai and Opsidiscus srikantiai are reported from the lower Middle Cambrian succession of Debsakhad section. The species were differentiated on their morphological features and their multivariate analysis. The multivariate analysis applied here is used as a supplement method to qualitative analysis in order to differentiate between the cranidial characters of Opsidiscus. The qualitative study of each species studied individually shows more or less close affiliation as is observed by different quantitative methods. The presence of Opsidiscus has a great stratigraphic significance in this region, as they first appear from informal Stage 5 of Series 3 and goes up to the Drumian Stage of Series 3 of the Cambrian System in the Debsakhad section, which helps to correlate this section with other well known sections of the Middle Cambrian.     

Cambrian stratigraphy of Kashmir and its boundary problems

The biostratigraphy of the Cambrian of Kashmir based on trilobite assemblage zones and trace fossils has been attempted. Faunal gaps occur in lower part of Lower Cambrian, upper Lower Cambrian, lower Middle Cambrian and upper part of Upper Cambrian. In the Lower Cambrian Cruziana—Rusophycus and Redlichia Zones, in the Middle Cambrian Solenopleura—Tonkinella, Tonkinella—Anomocare, Anomocare—Bailiella and Bolaspidella Zones, and in the Upper Cambrian Chuangia and Dikelocephalites Zones are recognized. The position of intrasystem boundaries is also discussed. While the various taxa have lithological preferences and are not necessarily found in a continuous sequence, an attempt has been made to interpret the ranges of different genera. The affinities of the fauna with that of other Cambrian basins of the world are discussed. It is concluded that the bulk of the fauna is of a cosmopolitan nature.     

Peri-Gondwana Late Early–Middle Cambrian trilobites from the Kuhbanan Formation in Dahu section,Kerman Province,Iran

Outcropped of the Kuhbanan Formation at Dahu, near Zarand, about 63 km north of Kerman, Iran contains peri-Gondwana trilobites. In this study, 185 trilobite samples including six species and genera were identified and described from Dahu section. This trilobite’s assemblage including Redlichia noetlingi, Redlichia sp., Kermanella kuhbananensis, Kermanella lata lata, Kermanella lata minuta, Iranoleesia pisiformis, and Iranaspis sp. based on occurrence of the trilobite fauna a late Early to Middle Cambrian (Series 2–3) is suggested for this strata. These trilobite fauna help confirm conclusions from recent geological studies that place the Kerman Basin of Iran during the Cambrian.     

Stratigraphic significance of the Cambrian ichnofauna of the Zanskar region,Ladakh Himalaya,India

The Cambrian succession in the Zanskar Basin of Tethys Himalaya contains an abundant ichnofossils like in the other Tethyan Himalayan successions. The ichnofossils are stratigraphically important as they occur below the trilobite body fossils and are useful to define the basal part of the Cambrian. The ichnofossil assemblage reported from the Zanskar Basin of Ladakh Himalaya is significant to demarcate the Early Cambrian age due to lack of other faunal elements so far. The body fossils of trilobites recorded from the overlying beds indicates the earliest part of the Middle Cambrian age. Sixteen ichnogenera identified include: Bifungites, Cruziana, Diplichnites, Dimorphichnus, Isopodichnus, Lockeia, Merostomichnites; Monomorphichnus, Psammichnites, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Rhizocorallium, Skolithos, Taphrhelminthopsis, Teichichnus, Trepitichnus and trilobite scratch marks etc. The ichnogenera reported so far from this part of the Tethyan Himalayan region belongs mostly to the traces of arthropod origin. The ichnofauna ranges in age from Lower Cambrian to late part of the Middle Cambrian. The ichnofaunal assemblage can be assigned to repichnial, cubichinial, pascichnial, to fodinichnial behaviour. The distribution of ichnofossils in the studied sections shows that the ichnofossils are predominately less in occurrence in the sections were trilobites dominates and higher in the successions the abundance of ichnofossils decreases.     

The oldest trilobites in Cambria: Early Cambrian trilobite faunas from the Llanberis Slates Formation,Gwynedd, North Wales

Historical published works on the fossil fauna of the Llanberis Slates Formation in Gwynedd, North Wales, concentrated on the endemic trilobite Pseudatops viola (Woodward, 1888), and placed the formation towards the top of Stage 3 (Series 2) of the Cambrian chronostratigraphy.The impression given was that the fauna is not particularly diverse and fossils are rare. However, recent collecting has produced a comprehensive fauna of sponges, hyolithids and diverse arthropods including over 250 trilobite specimens from two localities of the uppermost Green Slate horizon. Among them are examples of the endemic trilobite Pseudatops viola, sufficiently well preserved to enable a reappraisal of its status. The most abundant trilobite is a form of Strenuella (cf. strenua), but the collection includes previously unrecorded eodiscoid trilobites and specimens representing unrecorded and potentially new taxa. These additions result in the most comprehensive lower Cambrian trilobite assemblage yet described from Wales, and place it in the lower part of Stage 4, Series 2 in standard global terms.     

湘西中、晚寒武世牙形刺研究现状及存在问题

湘西中、上寒武统剖面在寒武系全球层型的竞争中具有明显优势 ,其中三叶虫生物地层研究已取得重大进展 ,但一些重要层段的牙形刺详细研究尚未进行 ,而牙形刺在全球界线层型研究中发挥着愈益重要的作用。文内详细介绍了湘西中、晚寒武世牙形刺的研究现状及存在问题 ,并结合《国际地层指南》(第二版 )对全球层型的要求以及国际地层委员会寒武系分会的最新工作进展 ,提出了今后几年湘西中、晚寒武世牙形刺的研究方向及主要任务是建立该地区中、上寒武统候选层型剖面的标准牙形刺序列 ,为我国摘取寒武系内部的“金钉子”并力争用中国的阶填补《国际地层表》中寒武系的空白提供重要依据     

Morphology and ontogeny of Hunanocephalus ovalis (trilobite) from the Cambrian of South China

The juvenile morphology and ontogeny of the Cheiruroidid trilobite Hunanocephalus ovalis Lee, 1963 from the lower Cambrian Shuijingtuo Formation in Hubei Province, South China is presented. The new material comprises a relatively complete meraspid ontogenetic series (degree 0 to 10), which reveals more details on their morphological changes such as the contraction and disappearance of the pronounced posteromedial notch in the pygidium and the addition of the trunk segments, which are all documented for the first time and can also be used as developmental markers defining their ontogenetic phases. The trunk segmentation schedule of H. ovalis is also discussed, which is similar to the other early Cambrian oryctocephalid trilobites, i.e. as the boundary between the thorax and pygidium migrated posteriorly there is no change in the trunk segment number; the processes of liberation of the thoracic segment and segment insertion into the pygidium are separated from one another, implying that the control of trunk exoskeletal segment appearance and articulation might be decoupled in these trilobites.     

华南过渡区凯里组及同期地层的初步研究

<正> 凯里组为卢衍豪教授1963年所建,周志毅等(1980)详细工作后,面貌比较清楚。它是分布于贵州东部丹寨、台江、玉屏一带的以泥、页岩为主厚约300m的一套地层,属过渡区。化石丰富,以三叶虫Pagetia,Oryctocephalids,Ptychopariids最为发育,由下而上建立了4个三叶虫带。与滇东陡坡寺组对比,顶、底界线一致;与黔北扩大的高台组(周志毅等1980,278页)对比,顶界略高于高台组。时代暂定为中寒武世(周志毅等1979,     

华北板块寒武系开腔骨类（Chancelloriids）化石新材料

文章对采自华北板块山东潍坊、河北唐山和辽宁大连的寒武系开腔骨类化石的新材料进行了研究，这些化石鉴定为 Chancelloria 属。辽宁大连地区的Chancelloria 产自寒武系第二统第四阶馒头组下部的黄绿色页岩；山东潍坊地区的 Chancelloria 产自苗岭统乌溜阶馒头组上部的黄绿色页岩和鼓山阶张夏组的深灰色中厚层灰岩；河北唐山地区的Chancelloria 产于芙蓉统江山阶长山组的薄层灰岩，该层位是目前Chancelloria 属在中国产出的最高层位，也是全球的最高层位之一。这 些来自华北寒武系第二统—芙蓉统的Chancelloria 骨片与早期的骨片相比，展现出骨片形态趋于规则、基面从浑圆趋于平 整、骨片整合度提升的特点，进一步印证了之前关于此类问题的研究结论。     

华北板块寒武系开腔骨类(Chancelloriids)化石新材料

文章对采自华北板块山东潍坊、河北唐山和辽宁大连的寒武系开腔骨类化石的新材料进行了研究,这些化石鉴定为 Chancelloria 属。辽宁大连地区的Chancelloria 产自寒武系第二统第四阶馒头组下部的黄绿色页岩;山东潍坊地区的 Chancelloria 产自苗岭统乌溜阶馒头组上部的黄绿色页岩和鼓山阶张夏组的深灰色中厚层灰岩;河北唐山地区的Chancelloria 产于芙蓉统江山阶长山组的薄层灰岩,该层位是目前Chancelloria 属在中国产出的最高层位,也是全球的最高层位之一。这 些来自华北寒武系第二统-芙蓉统的Chancelloria 骨片与早期的骨片相比,展现出骨片形态趋于规则、基面从浑圆趋于平 整、骨片整合度提升的特点,进一步印证了之前关于此类问题的研究结论。     

Trilobite biostratigraphy in the Middle and Upper Ordovician of western Leningrad Region

Biostatigraphical significance of trilobites of the Middle and Upper Ordovician in the eastern Baltic area is discussed, based on a new material from numerous outcrops from Leningrad Region. The study of the Middle and Upper Ordovician trilobites in the Mednikovo, Viivikonna, Gryazno, Khrevitsa and Elizavetino formations allows establishing two trilobite interval-zones. The zone of Chasmops odini in the upper part of the Uhaku and Kukruse stages, and the zone of Chasmops marginatus in the lower part of the Haljala Stage (the Idavere Substage). The upper part of the Haljala Stage (J~ohvi Substage) is characterized by the occurrence of Rollmops wenjukowi. Distribution and biostratigraphical significance of some trilobite taxa (Asaphus (Neoasaphus) lepidus, Illaenus intermedius, Toxochasmops maximus) is discussed.     

Trilobite Biostratigraphy of the lower Paleozoic (Cambrian–Ordovician) Joseon Supergroup, Taebaeksan Basin, Korea

In Korea,trilobites are among the most intensively studied fossil groups in the past century and provide invaluable information about lower Paleozoic stratigraphy,paleogeography,and tectonics of the Korean Peninsula. Trilobites occur in the lower Paleozoic Joseon Supergroup of the Taebaeksan Basin which was part of the Sino-Korean Craton in the Paleozoic. The Joseon Supergroup is divided into the Taebaek,Yeongwol,and Mungyeong groups. The Taebaek and Yeongwol groups are richly fossiliferous,while the Mungyeong Group is poorly fossiliferous. Contrasting trilobite faunal contents of the Taebaek and Yeongwol groups resulted in two separate biostratigraphic schemes for the Cambrian–Ordovician of the Taebaeksan Basin. A total of 22 biozones or fossiliferous horizons were recognized in the Taebaek Group; 19 zones were established in the Yeongwol Group; and four biozones were known from the Mungyeong Group. These trilobite biozones of the Taebaeksan Basin indicate the Joseon Supergroup ranges in age from the Cambrian Series 2 to Middle Ordovician and can be correlated well with the formations of North China,South China,and Australia.     

山东张夏期(中寒武世晚期)三叶虫生物地层

根据山东长清张夏虎头山至黄草顶、淄博市淄川区峨庄乡黑石寨谢家峪及新泰县九龙村九龙山的中寒武世晚期地层剖面的新材料 ,分析了山东张夏期三叶虫的地层分布 ,讨论了张夏组的顶底界线 ,扼要地比较了张夏期的 6个多节类三叶虫带与华南过渡区的 4个球接子带。     

Paleobiogeography,paleoecology and paleoenvironmental significance of the Cambrian trilobites from the Zanskar region (Zanskar-Spiti-Kinnaur Basin), Northwest Himalaya

In present study the newly recorded latest Middle Cambrian trilobite fauna from the Cambrian succession of the Zanskar region of Zanskar-Spiti-Kinnaur Basin (Tethyan Himalaya) is analyzed critically to assess relationships with other Cambrian faunal elements of equatorial peri-Gondwanaland. The identification of genus Neoanomocarella, Parablackwelderia, Kunmingaspis, Fuchouia, Damesella and Dorypyge from the Cambrian of the Zanskar region and their comparison with those of South China and Australia is significant. It constitutes the basis for assessing the paleobiogeographic affinities during the Cambrian. The latest Middle Cambrian trilobite fauna from Zanskar shows proximity of Indian margin with that of southwest China “outboard” micro-continent. The recovery of analogous Middle Cambrian species i.e., Dorypyge perconvexlis, Fuchouia bulba, Fuchouia cf. oratolimba, Parablackwelderia sp. and Damesella sp. from the Zanskar region (Tethyan Himalaya) suggests a contiguous close proximity with south China and Australia during the latest Middle Cambrian, which supports the model of Meert and Van der Voo (1997) for assembly of Gondwanaland. The presence of Kunmingaspis in Zanskar and similar reports from northwestern Yunnan-Tibetan region, northern Henan, central and southeastern Hubei, north China, western Xinjiang and Yangtze platform reveal a close affinity between the Indian margin and the Yangtze platform during the Middle Cambrian. The trilobite fauna indicates the deeper shelf-shallow slope environment of deposition under fluctuating conditions of relative sea-level. The faunal elements of the Lejopyge acantha and Proagnostus bulbus zones indicate that the sea inundated the northern margin of Zanskar region during the latest Middle Cambrian time (Teta transgression) which is synchronous with globally recognized eustatic events during Lejopyge laevigata Zone.     

Additional late Middle Cambrian trilobites from Karsha Formation (Haimanta Group) Zanskar region of Zanskar-Spiti basin, Northwest Himalaya

Additional latest Middle Cambrian polymerid trilobites are recorded from the Teta Member (Karsha Formation) along the Tangze-Yogma-Kuru section, Kurgiakh Valley, southeastern Zanskar, Northwest Himalaya. It includes record of a new genus Pianspis Saito & Sakakuru, 1936 of family Lisianiidae and others associated fauna comprises of Neoanomocarella asiatica (Lisianiidae), Parablackwelderia sp., (Damesellidae) and two undetermined pygidium and one unidentified cranidia. All these specimens are collected from the level representing the Lejopyge acantha Zone of Guzhangian Stage (Cambrian Series 3) of the Middle Cambrian. The fauna is mainly correlated with the South China, North Korea, Kazakhastan, Uzbekistan, Siberia and Australia.     

山东长清、薛城一带中、上寒武统界线新认识

<正> 华北中寒武统与上寒武统界线问题,实际上也涉及崮山组时代的归属问题。国外学者如B.Willis和E.Blackwelder(1907),C.D.Walcott(1913),A.W.Grabau(1924),T.Kobayashi(1935)和R.Endo(1937)等认为崮山组应归中寒武世晚期。1959年由Moore主编的《三叶虫专著》(Treatise on Invertebrade Palaeontology Part O.)将崮     

Geological significance of middle Cambrian trilobites from near Melba Flats,western Tasmania

In western Tasmania, near Melba Flats, a basalt within the Serpentine Hill Complex is overlain unconformably by Dundas Group sediments (Hodge Slate). About 32 m above the unconformity, a siltstone contains agnostoid and polymerid trilobites that indicate correlation with the middle Cambrian Ptychagnostus punctuosus Zone (Drumian Stage of unnamed Epoch 3 of the Cambrian). This provides an upper limit of about 505.2–504.5 Ma to the emplacement of ultramafic allochthons in western Tasmania. Other fossils present include dendroids, inarticulate brachiopods, hyolithids, helcionellids and sponges. The widespread agnostoid trilobite Ptychagnostus affinis (Brøgger 1878) and the holocephalinid trilobites Meneviella and Holocephalina are recorded for the first time in Tasmania.     

The oldest bivalved arthropods from the early Cambrian of East Gondwana: Systematics,biostratigraphy and biogeography

The oldest bradoriid fauna from Australia, occurring in the lower Cambrian Ajax and Wirrapowie limestones of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia consists of eleven taxa, including one new genus and species, Quadricona madonnae gen. et sp. nov. and two new species, Liangshanella circumbolina sp. nov. and Zepaera jagoi sp. nov. In the Ajax Limestone, Liangshanella circumbolina sp. nov. occurs c. 20 m below the FAD of the zonal trilobite Abadiella huoi. This pre-trilobitic occurrence represents the oldest bivalved arthropod hitherto known from East Gondwana and suggests a lower Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 3) age for the assemblage. The recognition of distinct bradoriid assemblages associated with the Abadiella huoi (Atdabanian), Pararaia tatei, P. bunyerooensis and P. janeae (all Botoman) trilobite biozones in South Australia indicates great potential for future regional biostratigraphic correlation. Quantitative biogeographic analysis including new taxonomic data from the lower Cambrian of South Australia, highlights the strong endemism displayed by early Cambrian bradoriid communities and strengthens the close faunal affinities with South China and Antarctica.     

A middle Cambrian shallow water trilobite fauna from the Comstock Formation,near Queenstown,western Tasmania

A limestone lens within the Comstock Formation, from low in the Tyndall Group near the Lyell Comstock Mine near Queenstown, western Tasmania, contains a small trilobite fauna. The trilobites include Ammagnostus cf. laiwuensis, Kootenia sp., Sudanomocarina? sp. and a possible member of the Monkaspidae. These suggest an age somewhere in the range from the upper Ptychagnostus atavus Zone to the Lejopyge laevigata Zone, with regional stratigraphic correlations suggesting the latter zone. This is only the second Tasmanian Cambrian fossil assemblage described from limestone; almost all previously described Tasmanian Cambrian faunas are found in siltstones and shales.     

Trilobite trace fossils and their stratigraphical significance in the Cambrian sequence of the Holy Cross Mountains,Poland

Abundant and varied trilobite trace fossils are recognized and described in the Cambrian sequence of the Holy Cross Mountains. Cruziana and Rusophycus are stratigraphically significant and some of the described traces may be used as local index fossils. The first recognition of the Cruziana barbata ichnozone in Poland is made and it occurs in the uppermost Middle Cambrian. A new position for the Middle/Upper Cambrian boundary is established. Three new ichnospecies are described: Cruziana magna, C. regularis and Rusophycus crebus.