The ecological,significance of variation in the generic composition of Rawtheyan (late Ordovician) trilobite faunas from North Wales,U.K.

Contemporaneous trilobite faunas from Rawtheyan rocks forming the local base to the Ashgill Series change in their generic composition along the outcrop between Bala and Corris. The change, although overall a very marked one, is progressive and is held to reflect original ecological control along a depth gradient between a locally elevated area around Bala and the deeper central part of the Welsh Basin. Along this intrabasinal slope three distinctive trilobite generic associations–the Ceraurinella-Encrinuroides Association, the Nankinolithus-Opsimasaphus Association and the Novaspis-cyclopygid Association–succeeded each other in gradually deeper water. Faunas of all three associations differ markedly from contemporaneous faunas of shallower shelf environments.     

Coronate echinoderms from the Ordovician of the Llanddowror area,South Wales

A large sample of coronates (over 90 specimens) from a narrow horizon in the Upper Ordovician, Sholeshook Limestone, at Talfan Farm, Llanddowror, South Wales allows assessment of variation and growth in a population of these rare Palaeozoic echinoderms. Variation is extensive and we synonymize two previously described species. This occurrence extends the stratigraphic range of Cupulocorona rugosa Donovan and Paul down to Cautleyan, Zone 2. Internal moulds reveal new morphological features, especially of the coronal canals. The flattened blade‐like and kite‐shaped portions support the idea that the coronal canals functioned in respiratory gas exchange by increasing the surface area. We suggest that internal currents flowed up the inner (adoral) canal and down the outer (aboral) canal. Quantitative estimates of flow rate suggest that a volume of coelomic fluid equivalent to the entire body cavity could be flushed through the coronal canals in 10 seconds at most. These coronates probably lived attached by a relatively long stem with a simple, conical holdfast and bent over in gentle currents. They seem to have been characteristic of relatively high‐energy environments and are not generally distributed in the Sholeshook Limestone of South Wales. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Observations and speculations on the northeast Towy ‘axis’, mid-Wales

Late Ashgill and Llandovery sedimentation across the Towy ‘axis’ southeast of Rhayader is interpreted within the context of the rapid southeasterly thickening of the upper portion of the Ashgill best demonstrable in the Chwefru valley. This thickening sequence overlies deep-water middle-fan arenites and is interpreted as a northwest prograding shelf/slope association. The slope eventually became non-depositional and was onlapped by the basinal facies of the Llandovery during relative sea-level rise. The non-depositional slope and associated major slump-scars at the shelf-edge explain many of the non-sequences- in the region previously ascribed to erosion related to episodes of tectonism. The regional strain history is thus simplified.     

An endemic brachiopod fauna from the Middle Ordovician of North Wales

The brachiopod fauna from the base of the Bryn Siltstone Formation (middle Caradoc), Glyn Ceiriog, north Berwyn Hills, North Wales, consists of Platystrophia elevata sp. nov., Salopia abbreviata sp. nov., Kiaeromena ungula (M'Coy) and unnamed species of Hesperorthis?, Reuschella and Bicuspina. The dominant brachiopod species, Leptaena (Leptagonia) ungula M'Coy, 1851 is revised and its current assignment to the leptaenid genus Kiaeromena confirmed, based on the examination of type and topotype material from the Bryn Siltstone Formation. Kiaeromena spjeldnaesi nom. nov. is proposed to replace the junior homonym K. ungula Spjeldnæs, 1957 for that congeneric species from the upper Caradoc rocks of Ringerike, southern Norway. The fauna as a whole is unusual within the context of the Anglo-Welsh province and may represent a rare preserved nearshore community.     

The ashgill rocks of the glyn ceiriog district. North wales

The Ashgill rocks of the Glyn Ceiriog district comprise a relatively thick sequence of mudstones and siltstones with subordinate sandstones and locally developed limestone members. Closely related deposits are found in the inliers of Cym-y-brain and Mynydd Cricor to the north. Correlation with other areas of Ashgill rocks suggests that the Dolhir Formation, of the Glyn Ceiriog district, can be dated as mid-Cautlcyan to Rawtheyan while the overlying Glyn Formation is high Rawtheyan to Himantian. In the inliers to the north, that part of the Cyrn-y-brain Formation which is exposed is dated as Rawtheyan and both the Plas Uchaf Formation (Cym-y-brain) and Cricor Formation (Mynydd Cricor) are taken to be Hirnantian. The succession is interpreted as a transgressive-regressive sequence in which shallow shelf mud-stones and siltstones with storm-sand and coquinid layers are overlain by shallow water shoreline deposits. Although the base of the Ashgill is not exposed in the inliers to the north, in the Glyn Ceiriog district it is seen to rest unconformably on older Ordovician strata; in all three areas the Ashgill is apparently conformably overlain by Lower Llandovery shales and sandstones.     

湖南地区晚奥陶世桑比期—凯迪期早期沉积特征及沉积模式*

湖南地区地处扬子陆块和华夏陆块之间,根据沉积地层的岩石学特征、古生物特征及其他沉积特征变化,将湖南地区晚奥陶世桑比期—凯迪期早期的沉积相,划分为开阔台地相、浅海陆棚相、深水盆地相和陆架边缘—斜坡相。开阔台地相以沉积“龟裂纹”灰岩和瘤状灰岩为特征,浅海陆棚相转为沉积砂质板岩,板岩并夹有粉砂岩及泥灰岩透镜体。深水滞流盆地发育黑色碳质页岩及含放射虫硅质页岩,沉积厚度很小,代表了一个相对缺氧还原的欠补偿深水环境;陆架边缘—斜坡相则为岩屑石英粉—细砂岩,长石石英粉—细砂岩及砂质板岩、板岩的韵律互层,沉积厚度超过1000m,具浊流沉积特征。晚奥陶世桑比期—凯迪期早期,湖南地区总体表现为由西北和东南方向往中部逐渐变深,湘中南一带为水体最深地区。     

The stratigraphy of the Drummuck Group (Ashgill), Girvan

The Drummuck Group of the Girvan district (S. W. Scotland) comprises a varied sequence of marine siliciclastic sedimentary rocks some 350 m thick and ranging in age from early Cautleyan to late Rawtheyan (Ashgill Series). Deposition in an unstable slope environment is envisaged. These upper Ordovician rocks crop out in the centre of the Craighead inlier, north of the Girvan valley and are sporadically exposed and locally very fossiliferous. A detailed revision of the Drummuck rocks has permitted, for the first time, the formal lithostratigraphical division of the group. Four main units, in ascending order, the Auldthorns, Quarrel Hill, Lady Burn and South Threave formations are recognized and, within these, a number of smaller, useful divisions are defined. Detailed geological maps of the Drummuck outcrop are presented. Brachiopods numerically dominate the shelly faunas and all the divisions named are characterized by distinctive brachiopod assemblages. Preliminary correlations are discussed with selected upper Ordovician successions elsewhere but the emphasis of this study is placed upon the establishment of a stratigraphical framework within which future detailed research on the Drummuck faunas may be carried out.     

Structure of the Ordovician succession around Aberdaron,southwest Llŷn,North Wales

Three deformation phases are recognizable within the Lower Ordovician metasedimentary sequence of the Aberdaron area and they are similar to those described for Lower Palaeozoic sequences in other parts of North Wales. There is no certain evidence however for a major Aberdaron Syncline as described by some previous workers. The first deformation phase produced southcast verging mesoscopic folds with steep to moderate dipping axial surfaces and a sporadic axial plane cleavage. The second deformation was relatively weak and produced only a low-dipping crenulation cleavage at a few favoured localities. The third phase gave rise to numerous small buckle folds, kinks in some pelitic units where the first cleavage was well developed, an axial plane cleavage, and a suite of quartz veins. The orientation of the third phase minor structures is not uniform and the fold trend and strike of axial plane cleavage varies from east-northeast to south-southeast, although retains a constant angular relationship to the local strike of bedding. The distribution of the third cleavage is bimodal and the third deformation phase may have been brought about by conjugate shears during a late brittle fracture stage of NW–SE compression. The structural sequence affecting the Ordovician cannot be correlated with that in the Mona Complex and it seems likely that the Mona Complex was deformed before the Arenig.     

Geochemical correlation of Ordovician flow tuffs in North Wales

Ordovician rhyolitic tuffs in North Wales are correlated on the basis of their whole-rock trace element composition. Multivariate statistics verify that major ignimbrite sheets are chemically unique, with Zr, Y and Nb being the most useful elements to characterize individual deposits. Fractionation processes during transport and emplacement of the pyroclastic flows results in little lateral variation in the whole-rock geochemistry of deposits; different diagenetic histories in subaerial and subaqueous environments did not mask recognition of primary ignimbrite units. A partially welded vitric ash flow tuff is correlated with the Pitts Head Tuff ash flow sheet, and a tuff horizon previously assumed to be reworked Pitts Head Tuff is shown to be chemically most similar to the fourth member of the Capel Curig Volcanic Formation. Validity of these correlations is upheld by biostratigraphic and sedimentological evidence. The new correlations necessitate a revision of the stratigraphy in North Wales and indicate a significant lapse of time (perhaps one million years) between emplacement of the Pitts Head Tuff and eruption of the Lower Rhyolitic Tuff of the overlying Snowdon Volcanic Group.     

Late Ordovician stratigraphy northwest of the Sugarloaf,mid-Wales — a discussion

Several modifications are proposed to the Ordovician stratigraphy recently proposed by Mackie and Smallwood (1987), based in particular on the recognition of a major Mynydd Trawsnant anticline on the northwest flank of the Tywi structure and on field relationships indicating the Foel Formation directly to overlay the Caradoc black shale succession and directly to underlay the Craig Las Formation. The Clyn Glas Formation is suggested to have accumulated at a slope base rather than a shelf–slope break.     

华南造山带下寒武统和中奥陶统发现放射虫

在华南造山带江西萍乡下寒武统牛角河组泥质板岩和湖南永州中奥陶统烟溪组硅质岩中首次发现放射虫。放射虫的发现表明萍乡—永州一带寒武纪—中奥陶世存在相当规模的处于低纬度的海盆。     

A late Ordovician (Hirnantian) karstic surface in a submarine channel,recording glacio‐eustatic sea‐level changes: Meifod,central Wales

The growth and decay of the end‐Ordovician Gondwanan glaciation is globally reflected by facies changes in sedimentary sequences, which record a major eustatic fall and subsequent rise in the Hirnantian Stage at the end of the Ordovician. However, there are different reported estimates of the magnitude and pattern of sea‐level change. Particularly good evidence for end‐Ordovician sea‐level change comes from a sequence at Meifod in central Wales, which has a karstified limestone unit within a channel incised into marine shelf sediments. Pre‐glacial (Rawtheyan) mudstones have a diverse fauna suggesting a mid‐to‐deep‐shelf water depth of c. 60 m. The channel, 20 m deep, was incised into these mudstones and partially filled with a mixture of fine sand and detrital carbonate. The taphonomy of bioclasts and intraclasts indicates that many had a long residence time on the sea floor or suffered diagenesis after shallow burial before being resedimented into the channel. The presence of carbonates on the Welsh shelf is atypical and they are interpreted as having accumulated as patches during a minor regression prior to the main glacio‐eustatic fall. Comparison of the carbon stable‐isotopic values of the bioclast material with the global isotopic record confirms that most of the material is of Rawtheyan age, but that some is Hirnantian. The resedimented carbonates lithified rapidly and formed a limestone, several metres thick, in the deepest parts of the channel. As sea‐level fell, this limestone was exposed and eroded into karstic domes and pillars with a relief of over 2 m. The overall, glacio‐eustatic, sea‐level fall is estimated to be in excess of 80 m. A succeeding sea‐level rise estimated to be 40–50 m is recorded in the laminated crust that mantles the karstic domes and pillars. The crust is formed of encrusting bryozoans, associated cystoids, crinoid holdfasts and clusters of the brachiopod Paromalomena, which is normally associated with mid‐shelf environments. Fine sands buried the karst topography and accumulated to fill the channel. In the sandstones at the base of the channel there is a Hirnantia fauna, while in the sandstones high in the channel‐sequence there is cross‐stratification characteristic of mid‐shoreface environments. This would indicate a fall of sea‐level of c. 30 m. The subsequent major transgression marking the end of the glaciation is not recorded at the Meifod locality, but nearby exposures of mudstones suggest a return to mid‐to‐deep‐shelf environments, similar to those that prevailed before the Hirnantian regression. The Meifod sequence provides strong evidence for the magnitude of the Hirnantian sea‐level changes and by implication confirm larger estimates for the size of the ice sheets. Smaller oscillations in relative sea‐level seen at Meifod may be local phenomena or may reflect eustatic changes that have not been widely reported elsewhere. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palaeomagnetism of the Tan y Grisiau granite,North Wales: Evidence for a subvolcanic origin in Late Ordovician times

Progressive thermal demagnetization of samples from the Tan y Grisiau granite defines a coherent easterly positive characteristic remanence (D/I = 124.9/60.3°;, 42 samples, R = 40–51, a₉₅ = 4.8°;) residing in magnetite. An ancient reversal of magnetization is recovered in the highest blocking temperature spectrum of a few samples and suggests that a cooling-related dipolar axis is recorded by this pluton. Only facies of the granite which have been reddened, probably by submagmatic streaming, have recorded a stable remanence. Adjustment for tilt yields a very steep remanence (D/I = 193/88°;) incompatible with any known Early Palaeozoic and younger field direction from Britain. The in situ remanence has a similar declination to the primary magnetization in Late Ordovician dolerites from the Welsh Borderlands and yields a comparable palaeolatitude (41.5°;S). It is concluded that the Tan y Grisiau pluton was magnetized in Late Ordovician times after deformation. Folding in this region is therefore interpreted to be substantially of Taconic (Late Ordovician) origin and not Acadian in age. As both in situ and tilt-adjusted remanence directions are incompatible with Silurian and younger palaeofield directions from Britain, the pluton is interpreted as a subvolcanic component of the North Wales igneous province. Large anticlockwise rotation of Avalonia is identified between Late Ordovician and Late Silurian times.     

中国主要块体奥陶纪达瑞威尔期（Darriwilian）晚期—凯迪期（Katian）早期海相红层及其构造意义

根据中国主要块体奥陶纪达瑞威尔期地层学、古生物学和岩石学的特点,本文主要论述了中国9个块体,其中包括5个主要块体（扬子克拉通、中朝克拉通、塔里木克拉通、拉萨地块和喜马拉雅北坡）中达瑞威尔晚期—凯迪期早期海相红层的分布、岩性特征和古动物群。它们的岩性特征：如红色灰岩;古生物群特征：如牙形石Pygodus serra动物群,P.anserinus动物群和Hamarodus europaeus动物群,珊瑚Yohophyllum动物群,以及头足类Sinoceras chinense动物群均十分相似或相同。这就充分阐明,中华古陆块群（包括扬子、中朝和塔里木克拉通等）与冈瓦纳古陆北缘古陆块群（包括拉萨地块和喜马拉雅北坡等）之间的关系十分密切,可能在此之前它们同属于冈瓦纳古陆。这对于阐明中华古陆块群与冈瓦纳古陆之间的关系具有重要意义。此外,还将海相红层分为两类：陆棚红层和大洋红层。陆棚红层主要见于寒武纪至三叠纪,大洋红层主要见于白垩纪至现代。     

A revision of the Ordovician stratigraphy for the western Ireland Caledonides and implications for tectonic models

The western Ireland Ordovician stratigraphy has been previously used to constrain the timing of docking of an island arc and its fore‐arc basin with the margin of Laurentia for the British and Irish Caledonides. New field relationships and age data indicate that one of the key formations, the Rosroe Formation (459.2 ± 0.8 and 465.1 ± 2.1 Ma), and its supposed lateral equivalent, the Maumtrasna Formation are younger than previously interpreted. New age data for a tuff band in the Maumtrasna Formation (468.9 ± 1.3 Ma) also support previous studies showing it can be correlated to the adjacent Mweelrea Formation. The new field evidence, age data and geochemistry contradict some previous studies and show that the Maumtrasna, Rosroe and Derrylea formations can no longer be considered lateral equivalents. Based on the new stratigraphy a revised tectonic model is required with sedimentation in this part of the Caledonides taking place in a fore‐arc basin outboard of a continental arc and the oceanic arc was an along‐strike equivalent of this arc situated in an embayment of the Laurentian margin. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geophysical down-hole recognition of the Lower Devonian ‘Psammosteus’ Limestone and Townsend Tuff Bed,South Wales

Geophysical down-hole logs from the Maesteg and Senghenydd boreholes permit the recognition of the Townsend Tuff Bed and ‘Psammosteus’ Limestone markers on the basis of distinctive log motifs. The thickness of the interval between these markers is greater than at basin-margin localities and may be an indication of rapid deposition in the centre of the Anglo-Welsh basin in Lower Devonian times.     

Petrology and geochemistry of the Fishguard Volcanic Complex,Wales

The Fishguard Volcanic Complex represents an important volcanic episode which occurred within the Welsh sector of the British Caledonide region during early Ordovkian times. A variety of extrusive and contemporaneous intrusive rocks are present, ranging in composition from basic, through intermediate to acidic. Mineral and whole-rock chemical analyses have been determined on a representative suite of rocks from the complex and, despite secondary alteration effects, the original tholeiitic characteristics of the suite can be discerned. The variation observed is considered to result largely from low-pressure crystal fractionation, although the origin of the acidic magma remains speculative in view of subsequent extensive recrystallization. The rocks of the Fishguard Volcanic Complex formed in the Welsh Basin, which has been likened by earlier workers to a marginal basin. Comparison of the geochemical characteristics of the Fishguard Volcanic Complex with that of documented marginal basin rocks appears to favour this contention.     

Rugose corals from the Upper Ordovician Sholeshook Limestone of southwest Wales with an assessment of the coral affinities and biofacies

Limestone horizons of Upper Ordovician (Katian) age in southwest Wales contain diverse fossil faunas including rugose corals. The existence of Ordovician Rugosa in Wales was first reported by Murchison in the 1830s, but since then hardly any specimens have been documented systematically until this present study. Newly collected material from the area around Llanddowror (Carmarthenshire) has now confirmed the diversity of rugose corals in the Sholeshook Limestone (Katian age), an arenaceous limestone originating from the shelf edge of the palaeocontinent Avalonia. The majority of the specimens are preserved as moulds. This means that in many instances preservation of the fossils was insufficient for specific identification; nevertheless, it was possible to document a diverse rugose coral fauna, including Helicelasma, probable Grewingkia and Kenophyllum, and a potential early mucophyllid. While associated with considerable difficulties, as some diagnostic features of Rugosa are not visible in moulds, it is demonstrated here that the work with such specimens can result in faunal information which would otherwise be unobtainable. An assemblage of rugose and tabulate corals in the Sholeshook Limestone can be differentiated from a similar assemblage in the neighbouring Robeston Wathen Limestone which has a slightly different lithology. The fauna has strong similarities with other Avalonian (Irish, English, Belgian) as well as Baltic (Estonian and Norwegian) rugose coral faunas. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ashgill trilobite faunas from the Llŷn Peninsula,North Wales,U.K.

The Crugan Mudstone Formation is formalized and the Dwyfor Mudstone Formation proposed for restricted Ashgill outcrops respectively near Llanbedrog and Llanystwmdwy in the Llŷn Peninsula. These mudstones contain brachiopods of the Foliomena fauna and a total of 26 determined genera of trilobites, one, Pseudosphaeroxochus represented by a new species, P. seabornei sp. nov. Elements of the trilobite fauna are used to demonstrate a Rawtheyan age for the mudstones. The generic assemblages both of brachiopods and of trilobites present in the mudstones indicate relatively deep water environments of deposition, that of the Dwyfor Mudstones probably being the deeper. The trilobites belong to what is here described as the Nankinolithus-Opsimasaphus association.     

南祁连哈拉湖地区中奥陶世花岗岩地球化学特征及年代学意义

哈拉湖地区奥陶纪花岗岩相对富钠（Na2O>K2O）,具有中钾-高钾钙碱性系列特征,岩石类型以辉长闪长岩和花岗闪长岩为主。岩石稀土及微量元素特征均显示物质来源有地幔物质参与,构造环境判别图显示形成于大洋俯冲的环境。利用LA-ICP-MS进行锆石U-Pb同位素年龄测定,样品锆石206Pb/238U年龄加权平均值为466±4 Ma,限定该花岗岩的形成时代为中奥陶世,该时期北祁连洋发生双向扩张俯冲,南部中祁连陆块遭受俯冲挤压,导致地幔物质上涌,同时陆壳部分熔融,岩体为两者混合形成的产物,该岩体年龄的确定为祁连洋的多阶段俯冲提供了新的证据。