Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Middle Cambrian (Upper Series 3) protoconodonts and paraconodonts from the Machari Formation at Eodungol Section, Yeongwol, Korea

  • Published:
Journal of Earth Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Machari Formation ranges from the “upper Series 3” (Middle Cambrian) to Furongian (Upper Cambrian) in the Yeongwol area, Korea. It has been known to yield relatively diverse invertebrate fossils. Particularly, the trilobite biozones of the formation have been well defined. On the other hand, little has hitherto been studied on conodont microfossils for the formation. This paper reports a diverse and well-preserved protoconodonts and paraconodonts of Series 3 from the formation in the Eodungol Section, exposed along a southern mountain trail of Mt. Sambangsan, Yeongwol, Korea. Five of the 13 samples collected for conodont contain a rich protoconodont and paraconodont assemblage and numerous shelly fossils including trilobites, brachiopods, sponge spicules, hyolithids, and incertae sedis. Sample Eo 5 is extremely fossiliferous (465 elements, 96.5% of total collection), and the most abundant species was Phakelodus elongatus (236 elements, 62% of the Eo 5 collection). The preservation is relatively good, but some specimens are corroded and fragmentary. Some of the protoconodonts are exfoliated. Relatively larger ones were commonly preserved as phosphatized internal molds, particularly in specimens of Furnishina bigeminata, Furnishina leei n. sp., Muellerodus pomeranensis, Nogamiconus sinensis, and westergaardodids. Phakelodids were commonly preserved as clusters. Among 20 species referable to nine genera, Furnishina bigeminata, Furnishina leei n. sp., Nogamiconus sinensis, Huayuanodontus tricornis, Proscandodus obliquus, and Westergaardodina grandidens were previously undescribed species in Korea. This assemblage is named herein as the Westergaardodina matsushitai Zone, which is a new biozonal name replacing the old one, i.e., Gapparodus bisulcatus-Westergaardodina matsushitai-Westergaardodina moessebergensis Assemblage. The W. matsushitai Zone corresponds to the Lejopyge armata trilobite Zone and is well correlated with the upper Series 3 conodont biozones of the Westergaardodina matsushitai-Westergaardodina grandidens Zone of South China and the Westergaardodina matsushitai Zone of North China, respectively. The present data allow a useful correlation to China and Baltica in relation to new subdivision of the Cambrian. Furnishina leei n. sp. is newly described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References Cited

  • Abaimova, G. P., 1978. Late Cambrian Conodonts of Central Kazakhstan. Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal, 4: 77–87

    Google Scholar 

  • An, T. X., 1981. Recent Progress in Cambrian and Ordovician Conodont Biostratigraphy of China. Geological Society of America Special Paper, 187: 209–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • An, T. X., 1982. Study on the Cambrian Conodonts from North and Northeast China. Science Reports, Institute of Geoscience, University of Tsukuba, Section B, 3: 113–159

    Google Scholar 

  • An, T. X., Zhang, F., Xiang, W., et al., 1983. The Conodonts of North China and Adjacent Regions. Science Press, Beijing. 223 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagnoli, G., Qi, Y. P., Wang, Z. H., 2008. Conodonts from the Global Stratotype Section for the Base of the Guzhangian Stage (Cambrian) at Luoyixi, Hunan, South China. Palaeoworld, 17(2): 108–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bednarczyk, W., 1979. Upper Cambrian to Lower Ordovician Conodonts of Lena Elevation, NW Poland, and Their Stratigraphic Significance. Acta Geologica Polonica, 29: 409–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J. Y., Gong, W. L., 1986. Conodonts. In: Chen, J. Y., ed., Aspects of Cambrian-Ordovician Boundary in Dayangcha, China. Prospect Publishing House, Beijing. 93–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, D. K., 1998. The Yongwol Group (Cambrian-Ordovician) Redefined—A Proposal for the Stratigraphic Nomenclature of the Choson Supergroup. Geosciences Journal, 2: 220–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, D. K., Kim, E. Y., Lee, J. G., 2008. Upper Cambrian Trilobites from the Machari Formation, Yongwol, Korea. Geobios, 41: 183–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, D. K., Lee, J. G., 1995. Occurrence of Glyptagnostus Stolidotus Öpik, 1961 (Trilobita, Late Cambrian) in the Machari Formation of Korea. Journal of Paleontology, 69(3): 590–594

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, D. K., Lee, J. G., Sheen, B. C., 2004. Upper Cambrian Agnostoid Trilobites from the Machari Formation, Yongwol, Korea. Geobios, 37(2): 159–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, K. S., Lee, E. K., 1992. Diagenesis of the Machari Formation (Upper Cambrian) in the Yeongweol Area, Kangweon-do, Korea. In: Chough, S. K., ed., Sedimentary Basins in the Korean Peninsula and Adjacent Seas. Hallimwon Publishing Co., Seoul. 104–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong, X. P., 1990. A Potential Candidate for the Middle-Upper Cambrian Boundary Stratotype—An Introduction to the Paibi Section in Huayuan, Hunan. Acta Geologica Sinica, 3(3): 309–327, doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.1990.mp3003007.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong, X. P., 1993. Late Middle and Early Late Cambrian Conodonts from Huayuan, Hunan. Acta Micropaleontologica Sinica, 10(4): 345–362 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong, X. P., 1997. Evolutionary Trends of Paraconodonts. Geological Review, 43: 498–502

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong, X. P., 1999. Succession of Cambrian Conodonts from South China. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 29: 339–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong, X. P., 2000. Succession of Cambrian Conodonts from South China. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 43(3): 317–327, doi:10.1007/BF02906828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong, X. P., Bergström, S. M., 2001. Middle and Upper Cambrian Protoconodonts and Paraconodonts from Hunan, South China. Palaeontology, 44(5): 949–985, doi:10.1111/1475-4983.00210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong, X. P., Repetski, J. E., Bergström, S. M., 2004. Conodont Biostratigraphy of the Middle Cambrian through Lowermost Ordovician in Hunan, South China. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 78(6): 1185–1206 doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2004.tb00776.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fortey, R. A., Landing, E., Skevington, D., 1982. Cambrian-Ordovician Boundary Sections in the Cow Head Group, Western Newfoundland. In: Bassett, M. G., Dean, W. T., eds., The Cambrian-Ordovician Boundary: Sections, Fossil Distributions, and Correlations. National Museum of Wales, Geological Series No 3, Cardiff. 95–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Heredia, S., 1999. Los Paraconodontes del Cambricio del Cerro Pelado, Precordillera de Mendoza, Argentina. Ameghiniana, 36: 345–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong, P., Lee, J. G., Choi, D. K., 2003. Lejopyge Armata and Associated Trilobites from the Machari Formation (Middle to Late Cambrian) of Korea and Their Stratigraphic Significance. Journal of Paleontology, 77: 895–907

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, W., Zhang, F., Zhou, X., et al., 1986. Conodonts-Paleontology. Southwestern Petroleum Institute. 287

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, P. J., 1971. Lower Ordovician Conodonts from the Bonaparte Gulf Basin and the Daly River Basin, Northwestern Australia. Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Bulletin, 177: 1–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, T., 1961. The Cambrian-Ordovician Formations and Faunas of South Korea, Part 8, Paleontology 7, Cambrian Faunas of the Mungyong (Bunkei) District and the Samposan Formation of the Yeongweol (Neietsu) District. Journal of the Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, Section 2, 13: 181–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, T., 1962. The Cambrian-Ordovician Formations and Faunas of South Korea, Part 9, Paleontology 8, the Machari Fauna. Journal of the Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, Section 2, 14: 1–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, T., 1966. Stratigraphy of the Chosen Group in Korea and South Manchuria and Its Relation to the Cambro-Ordovician Formations and Other Areas, Section A, the Chosen Group of South Korea. Journal of the Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo, Section 2, 16: 1–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, T., Yosimura, I., Iwaya, Y., et al., 1942. The Yokusen Geosynclines in the Chosen Period—Brief Notes on the Geologic History of the Yokusen Orogenic Zone, 1. Proceedings of the Imperial Academy of Tokyo, 18: 579–584

    Google Scholar 

  • Landing, E., 1977. “Prooneotodus” Tenuis (Müller, 1959) Apparatuses from the Taconic Allochton, Eastern New York: Construction, Taphonomy and the Protoconodont “Supertooth” Model. Journal of Paleontology, 51: 1072–1084

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. S., 1990. Conodont Fauna of the Hwajeol Formation (Upper Cambrian-Lowest Ordovician) in the Sabuk Area, Kangweondo and Its Implication on Stratigraphy. Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 26: 293–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. S., 1992. Some Macrofossils from Limestone Interbeds near the Base of the Machari Formation in the Yeongweol Area. Journal of the Paleontological Society of Korea, 8: 133–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. S., 2002. Conodonts from the Upper Cambrian Sesong and Hwajeol Formations in the Sabuk Area, South Korea. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition), 76(2): 155–165, doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2002.tb00082.x

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. S., Choi, D. K., Lee, H. Y., 1991. Conodonts from the Machari Formation (Middle?-Late Cambrian) in the Yeongweol Area, Kangweon-Do, Korea. Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 27: 394–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. S., Lee, H. Y., 1988. Upper Cambrian Conodonts from the Hwajeol Formation in the Southern Limb of the Paekunsan Syncline, Eastern Yeongweol and Samcheog Areas, Kangweondo, Korea. Journal of the Geological Society of Korea, 24: 356–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. S., Lee, Y. I., Miller, J. F., et al., 2009. Conodont Fauna of the Machari Formation (Middle and Upper Cambrian), Yeongweol Area, Gangweon Province, Korea. Ameghiniana (Rev. Asoc. Paleontol. Argent.), 46(2): 407–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H. Y., 1975. Conodonts from the Upper Cambrian Formations, Kangweon-Do, South Korea. Yonseinonchong, Yonsei University Graduate School Bulletin, 12: 97–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. G., 1995. Late Cambrian Trilobites from the Machari Formation, Yeongweol, Korea: [Dissertation]. Seoul National University, Seoul. 418

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. G., Sheen, B. C., Choi, D. K., 1997. The Machari Fauna: Middle to Late Cambrian Trilobites from the Machari Formation, Korea. 2o International Trilobite Conference (Lugar), Abstracts with Programme, Brock University, St. Catherines, Ontario. 31–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnarson, J. G. O., 1869. Om Vestergötlands Cambriska Och Siluriska Aflagringar. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar, 8: 1–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y. H., Lin, H. L., 1989. The Cambrian Trilobites of Western Zhejiang. Paleontologica Sinica, 178B: 1–287 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mei, S. L., 1993. The Biostratigraphy of the Middle and Late Cambrian Conodonts and Trilobites from Wanxian, Hebei. Journal of Stratigraphy, 17: 11–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Mens, K., Viira, V., Paalits, I., et al., 1993. Upper Cambrian Biostratigraphy of Estonia. Procedings of the Estonian Academy of Science and Geology, 42: 148–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, K. J., 1959. Kambrische Condonten. Zeitung Deutsche Geologische Gessellschaft, 111: 434–485

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, K. J., 1971. Cambrian Condont Faunas. Geological Society of America Memoir, 127: 5–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, K. J., Hinz, I., 1991. Upper Cambrian Conodonts from Sweden. Fossils and Strata, 28: 1–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Nogami, Y., 1966. Kambrische Conodonten von China. Teil 1, Conodonten aus den Oberkambrischen Kushan-Schichten. Memoir of College of Science, University of Kyoto, Series B, 32: 351–367

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng, S. C., 1992. Upper Cambrian Biostratigraphy and Trilobite Faunas of Cili-Taoyuan Area, North-Western Hunan, China. Memoir of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 13: 1–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng, S. C., Robison, R. A., 2000. Agnostid Biostratigraphy across the Middle-Upper Cambrian Boundary in Hunan, China. Paleontological Society, Memoir, 53: 1–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Qi, Y. P., Bagnoli, G., Wang, Z. H., 2006. Cambrian Conodonts across the Pre-Furongian to Furongian Interval in the GSSP Section at Paibi, Hunan, South China. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 112(2): 177–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Reedman, A. J., Um, S. H., 1975. Geology of Korea. Korean Institute of Energy and Resources, Seoul. 139

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Science Education, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, Korea

    Byung-Su Lee

Authors
  1. Byung-Su Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Byung-Su Lee.

Additional information

This study was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Korea (No. 110439).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, BS. Middle Cambrian (Upper Series 3) protoconodonts and paraconodonts from the Machari Formation at Eodungol Section, Yeongwol, Korea. J. Earth Sci. 24, 157–169 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-013-0318-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-013-0318-1

Key Words

Search

Navigation