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Cambrian brachiopods from the area of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear-testing site, Chingiz Ranges, Kazakhstan

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Abstract

The first Cambrian (Miaolingian to Furongian) rhynchonelliform brachiopods are described from the Chingiz–Tarbagatai early Palaeozoic island arc system in eastern Central Kazakhstan. The Miaolingian (Wuliuan) assemblage from the volcano-sedimentary Athei Formation includes the kutorginide Bellistrophia askarensis sp. nov. Popov and Nikitina, protorthide Psiloria karasuensis sp. nov. Popov and Nikitina, chileide Matutella sp. and an unidentified naukatide, which occur together with the acrotheloid Schizopholis sp. A single specimen of Bellistrophia exhibit an incompletely preserved fossilised Nisusia-type pedicle. The co-occurrence of Psiloria and Schizopholis indicates a clear Gondwanan affinity of the fauna. The Furongian Irisai Formation contains extensive brachiopod shell beds formed by poorly preserved, disarticulated valves of Billingsella sp. Stilpnotreta magna is for the first time documented from Chingiz Ranges¸ where it occurs in the Ordotas Formation. The Cambrian stratigraphy of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear-testing site is reviewed, and the Irisai Formation is formalised.

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Acknowledgements

Leonid Popov acknowledges logistical support from the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Fieldwork and research of Olga I. Nikitina, Tatiana Pirogova, and Gappar Kh. Ergaliev was supported by the K.I. Satpaev Institute of Geological Sciences, Almaty. We are grateful to Michael G. Bassett (formerly National Museum of Wales) for useful discussions and suggestions at the early stages of our work on the manuscript. We thank Christian Baars and Amanda J. Valentine, National Museum of Wales, for SEM photography and for their assistance in laboratory work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Sciences, National Museum of Wales, CardiffWales, CF10 3NP, UK

    Leonid E. Popov

  2. Institute of Geological Sciences, K.I. Satbaev University, 69/94 Kabanbai Batyr str, 050010, Almaty, Kazakhstan

    Olga I. Nikitina, Tatiana E. Pirogova & Gappar Kh. Ergaliev

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  1. Leonid E. Popov
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  2. Olga I. Nikitina
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Correspondence to Leonid E. Popov.

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Popov, L.E., Nikitina, O.I., Pirogova, T.E. et al. Cambrian brachiopods from the area of the former Semipalatinsk nuclear-testing site, Chingiz Ranges, Kazakhstan. PalZ 95, 275–290 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-020-00540-9

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