Zhang Yuandong (张元动)

Late Ordovician to earliest Silurian graptolite and brachiopod biozonation from the Yangtze region, South China, with a global correlation

Late Ordovician to earliest Silurian is an important geological period marked by large geological and biological events. However, the strata and fossils of this interval are not complete in many parts of the world. Based on studies of 43 sites in South China, in particular the continuous sections on the Yangtze platform, we recognize a complete succession including seven graptolite zones and two shelly faunas. In ascending order, the graptolite zones are the Dicellograptus complanatus , Dicellograptus complexus , Paraorthograptus pacificus (including Lower Subzone, Tangyagraptus typicus Subzone and Diceratograptus mirus Subzone), Normalograptus extraordinarius–Normalograptus ojsuensis , Normalograptus persculptus , Akidograptus ascensus and Parakidograptus acuminatus zones. The shelly faunas are the Foliomena–Nankinolithus and Hirnantia faunas, which may be correlated with D. complanatus Zone and N. extraordinarius–N. ojsuensis to part of N. persculptus zones respectively. The biozonation through this interval from the Yangtze region can be correlated with that of other parts of the world such as Dob’s Linn in Scotland, Spain and Portugal, Thuringia–Saxonia–Bavaria, Bohemia, Poland, Kazakhstan, Kolyma, Malaya Peninsula, Yukon, Canadian Arctic Islands, Nevada, Argentina, Niger and Victoria, Australia. The Hirnantian Substage, which has been proposed by us recently, includes the N. extraordinarius–N. ojsuensis Zone, Hirnantia fauna and N. persculptus Zone. The base of the Hirnantian Substage is marked by the First Appearance Data (FADs) of N. extraordinarius and N. ojsuensis , which have been determined to be synchronous on a global scale.

Ordovician graptolite-bearing strata in southern Jiangxi with a special reference to the Kwangsian Orogeny

The Ordovician graptolite sequence of the Yongxin-Chongyi area in southern Jiangxi was suggested as a standard for the correlation of Ordovician in the Zhujiang region of South China. Based on a restudy of the Upper Ordovician graptolites, the Shikou and Huamianlong formations are recognized herein as a part of the Hanjiang Formation, corresponding only to the Diplacanthograptus caudatus-Diplacanthograptus spiniferus Zone. Two graptolite zones in the Longxi Formation of Yongxin and Chongyi, the Nemagraptus gracilis Zone and Climacograptus bicornis Zone, are redefined here. A rapid replacement of facies from the typical deep-water graptolitic black shale of Longxi Formation to the rapidly-accumulated, shallow-water clastic deposits of Hanjiang Formation indicates the tectonic initiation of the Kwangsian Orogeny. The thick clastic deposits of the Hanjiang Formation are proposed to come from a nearby source area that rose during the Kwangsian Orogeny. The D. caudatus-D. spiniferus graptolite Zone of the Hanjiang Formation indicates the initiation time of this tectonic event.

Onset of the Kwangsian Orogeny as evidenced by biofacies and lithofacies

The onset timing of the Kwangsian Orogeny might differ among localities across South China. Refined stratigraphic works at different localities are necessary to reveal the details of this likely distinction. Recently, we recollected some graptolite specimens from the Ordovician Shixing and Longtouzhai formations (corresponding to the Longxi Formation of southern Jiangxi Province) at many localities in Guangdong Province. The palaeontological and biostratigraphical studies of these graptolite faunas indicate that the facies change from graptolitic shale to nearshore shallow-water, coarse clastics in Guangdong is slightly earlier than that in southern Jiangxi. This timing difference may imply a northward progression of the Kwangsian Orogeny. Based on the biostratigraphy and palaeontology of the Ordovician in the Zhujiang Basin (western part) and Chiangnan Slope Belt (including western Fujian, eastern Guangdong, northern Guangxi, northern Hunan, northeastern Jiangxi, southern Anhui, and western Zhejiang), the Sandbian to late Katian distribution and replacement of biofacies and lithofacies in the two regions are proposed and discussed, which display distinct features at different stages of the Kwangsian Orogeny.

Upper Ordovician (Sandbian–Katian) graptolite and conodont zonation in the Yangtze region, China

The graptolite and conodont biostratigraphy of the latest Darriwilian, Sandbian and early and middle Katian succession on the Yangtze Platform is reassessed based on numerous new fossil collections and previously published data. At least at some localities, the lowermost Miaopo Formation is of pre-Nemagraptus gracilis Zone age (uppermost Pygodus serra and lowermost P. anserinus conodont zones). The rest of this formation (except for the uppermost part, which lacks diagnostic graptolites) has a diverse graptolite fauna of the N. gracilis Zone. The uppermost part of the Miaopo Formation contains few biostratigraphically diagnostic graptolites but the occurrence of conodonts of the Baltoniodus alobatus Subzone of the Amorphognathus tvaerensis Zone suggests equivalence with part of the Climacograptus bicornis graptolite Zone. The conodont succession of the Datianba Formation is virtually identical with that of the Miaopo Formation, confirming that these units are coeval. The lowermost part of the overlying non-graptolitic Pagoda Formation represents the upper A. tvaerensis Zone, and its upper part represents the A. superbus Zone. The occurrence of Dicellograptus elegans in the overlying Chientsaokou Formation (equivalent to the Linhsiang Formation in Yangtze Gorges region) suggests equivalence with the Pleurograptus linearis Zone in Scotland, which is consistent with the relatively non-diagnostic conodont fauna in these Chinese units. The biostratigraphic data are in good agreement with the delta C-13 chemostratigraphy and permit the establishment of precise correlations with the Baltoscandic and North American successions.

Late Precambrian through Early Paleozoic Stratigraphic and Tectonic Evolution of the Nanling Region, Hunan Province, South China

The Late Precambrian through Silurian tectonic evolution of east-central South China is modeled in terms of a history of rift, drift, and collision during Late Proterozoic, Sinian, and Late Ordovician-Early Silurian times, respectively. We review the regional stratigraphie development of this area, focusing particularly on north-central Hunan province, and argue from our observations and those of others that the Jiangnan, Xuefeng, and Jiuling ranges of the Nanling realm approximately demarcate the paleogeographic transition in Sinian to Ordovician times of shelf to off-shelf environments developed along a passive-type continental margin that started rifting in the pre-Sinian Late Proterozoic. The rift sequence is recorded by the Penhsi (= Banxi) Group, which rests unconformably above an older-presumed Middle to early Late Proterozoic-low-grade metamorphic basement. The Penhsi varies markedly in thickness but is everywhere characterized by nonmarine to paralic clastic facies. The Penhsi conformably to disc...

Early Darriwilian graptolites from central and western China

Taxonomic restudy of Early Darriwilian graptolites from the Yangtze region, Chiadam and Alxa, has enabled a precise correlation of the Undulograptus austrodentatus Zone (including two subzones) across the three regions, and with the Darriwilian GSSP at Huangnitang in the Jiangshan-Changshan-Yushan (JYC) area. Based on specimens from 17 localities in the Yangtze region, the Exigraptus clavus and Undulograptus austrodentatus zones are recognised as replacements respectively of the Undulograptus sinodentatus (Lower) and U. austrodentatus (Upper) zones of Mu et al. (1979). The U. sinicus Subzone, the upper subzone of the U. austrodentatus Zone, is also recognised from the Sichuan-Guizhou area of the Yangtze region. Two subzones of the U. austrodentatus Zone have also been identified from the Chiadam region with more diverse graptolite fauna. The U. austrodentatus Zone fauna also occurs in the Alxa region. A general pattern of changing graptolite diversity from platform through basinal slope to deep basin is proposed, based on early Darriwilian bio- and lithofacies changes from the Yangtze Platform through the Jiangnan belt to the Zhujiang basin. The graptolite diversity increased with water depth and more off-shore setting. Key graptolite species are illustrated.

Biostratigraphic correlation of the Ordovician black shales in Tarim Basin and its peripheral regions

Ordovician black shales are widely distributed in the Tarim Basin and its peripheral regions, and some of them may serve as potential hydrocarbon source rocks. The present study of the Ordovician graptolite fauna from these shales, together with the yielded conodonts and chitinozoans etc., permits a refined correlation of the rocks. Based mainly on a new collecting of the graptolites and a study of the faunas in Kalpin and Kuruktag regions, and the successful identification of the new graptolite material from a few drill cores within the basin, we are able to update our knowledge of the Ordovician in the regions, and draw some conclusions: (1) The most widespread distribution of the black shales in the Tarim Basin and its peripheral regions, which correspond to the Nemagraptus gracilis Zone, may be related to a global sea-level rise during this time interval. (2) Black shales of Ordovician occur most frequently and extensively in the Kuruktag (also spelled as Quruq Tagh) region in eastern Tianshan Mountains, spanning Tremadocian to mid-Katian (D. spiniferus Zone) temporally and extending southeastwards into Manjiaer Depression. The black shales of the D. spiniferus Zone may even extend into the central Tarim Basin. (3) Three different bio- and litho-facies belts (Bachu: carbonate platform and reef belt; Kalpin-Aksu: marginal platform and upper slope belt; Wushi: slope belt) are recognized in the northwestern Tarim Basin. (4) The internationally well-correlated Saergan black shale, which has been considered to possess high potential for hydrocarbon source rock, may possess a restricted distribution in the Kalpin and Aksu areas.

Diversity history of Ordovician graptolites and its relationship with environmental change

Statistical analysis based on global data indicated that the planktonic graptolites presented a distinguished pattern from that of benthic communities during the great Ordovician biodiversification. The graptolites started to diversify from the beginning of Ordovician and reached an acme in the early Middle Ordovician, but subsequently underwent a steady decline to the end of Ordovician. During the Ordovician, many clades of the graptolites made their originations, flourishing and replacements. However, in different regions and distinct environments across the world, graptolites may presumably display distinct patterns of radiation and evolution, a hypothesis to be tested. Herein a study of the graptolite diversity in the Early to Middle Ordovician in the Upper Yangtze Region (Platform) and Jiangnan Region (Slope), South China, is conducted. The results indicate that graptolites underwent a remarkable increase in both regions, but with distinct magnitude, scope, process and patterns. The diversification of graptolites in the Upper Yangtze Region, though less prominent, is divided into four stages and includes two peaks. In the Jiangnan Region, the graptolite diversification is far more prominent and includes three stages and one peak. Based on the distinct diversity histories and composition of graptolites in the two representative regions, a ‘deep-water origin and shallow-water dispersal’ model is proposed for the Ordovician graptolite faunas. According to the model, the major graptolite faunas of Ordovician originated in the deep-water region on the continental slope, the source of the graptolite novelties, and subsequently spread into shallow-water region on the shelf.Besides, we also conduct a comparison study of the Ordovician graptolite diversity in South China and other major regions. The results display that the graptolites diversified globally in the Early and Middle Ordovician. At the beginning of Ordovician, graptolites underwent a significant ecological innovation of graptolites: planktonic forms were derived from their benthic ancestors. This derivation resulted in the great guild expansion of graptolites. In late Early Ordovician (Floian), the global expansion of graptolites commenced. From the Floian to the end of Middle Ordovician, the graptolites diversity increased remarkably and displayed three peaks for all the regions. However, the peaks are somewhat distinct in magnitude and timing among regions. The Darriwilian peak is prominent in both South China and Baltic region, but inconspicuous in Australasia. No close relationship between the graptolite diversification and the palaeolatitudes are supported herein. Instead, the graptolite diversification seems to coincide with the global sea-level rises, suggesting a possible intrinsic relationship between them.

Discovery of the late Middle Ordovician Saucrorthis fauna (Brachiopoda) from the Sibumasu palaeoplate, western Yunnan, SW China

A relatively diverse Saucrorthis brachiopod fauna is reported for the first time from the Sibumasu palaeoplate in the Shihtien Formation (Darriwilian, upper Middle Ordovician) at Laojianshan of Baoshan, western Yunnan Province, southwest China. It contains 25 brachiopod genera, amongst which orthides, strophomenides and billingsellides are predominant, but quantitatively Saucrorthis and Leptestiina are the most abundant. Numerical analyses of 23 global Darriwilian brachiopod faunas show two major clusters, the Saucrorthis Group and the Aporthophyla Group, representating two major palaeobiogeographical regions developed during the Darriwilian, corresponding to lower and higher palaeolatitudinal habitats, respectively.

Darriwilian graptolites of the Shihtien Formation (Ordovician) in west Yunnan, China

West Yunnan in southwestern China formed an important part of the Sibumasu Terrane during the Ordovician. The Ordovician rocks of the region are exposed at many localities but have been strongly affected by several phases of tectonic activity, especially by the most recent Himalayan phase that commenced in the Paleogene. For these reasons, together with the difficult access to the localities, the Ordovician graptolites and biostratigraphy of this region are rather poorly known. Herein, we describe a Darriwilian graptolite fauna from the Shihtien Formation at Baoshan and Shidian, western Yunnan. The fauna comprises 11 genera and 15 species, including Didymograptus artus, D. murchisoni, D. spinulosus, Pterograptus sp., Hustedograptus vikarbyensis, H. teretiusculus, Archiclimacograptus angulatus, A. riddellensis, Haddingograptus oliveri, Proclimacograptus angustatus, and the dendroids Dictyonema, Palaeodictyota, Dendrograptus, Callograptus and Ptilograptus, indicating an age of middle to late Darriwilian. Two graptolite biozones are recognized: the Didymograptus artus and Didymograptus murchisoni biozones, in ascending order. The graptolite fauna is substantially similar to those of Baltica and South China.