Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Succession and global correlation of late Tremadoc graptolite zones from South China

  • Published:
Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Tremadocian is the first stage of the Ordovician System and is subdivided into two parts in general. The Upper Tremadocian, spanning a temporal interval of ca. 8 Ma, yields graptolite faunas crucial for biostratigraphic division and correlation in high resolution. Relatively complete successions of Upper Tremadoc graptolite zones have been proposed in Scandinavia, and North and South America. In South China, the coeval graptolite strata are widespread in deep water facies, but the successions of graptolite zones recognized so far are quite incomplete and thus very difficult to be correlated with those in other countries. In recent years, we have sampled bed by bed the Nanba section in the Yiyang area, Hunan Province and, below the Tetragraptus approximatus Zone, identified four Upper Tremadoc graptolite zones in descending order: the Hunnegraptus copiosus Zone, the Araneograptus murrayi Zone, the Aorograptus victoriae Zone and the Adelograptus tenellus Zone. To date, the Nanba section is the only section in China that presents a relatively complete and globally comparable succession of Upper Tremadoc graptolite zones. Therefore, this study not only confirms the existence of some Upper Tremadoc graptolite zones that were never found before in China, but also facilitates a highly resolved division and correlation for the Upper Tremadoc graptolite strata in China.

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

  1. Cooper R A, Nowlan G S, Williams S H. Global stratotype section and point for the base of the Ordovician System. Episodes, 2001, 24(1): 19–28

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bergstrom S M, Lofgren A, Maletz J. The GSSP of the second (upper) stage of the Lower Ordovician Series: Diabasbrottet at Hunneberg, Province of Vastergotland, Southwestern Sweden. Episodes, 2004, 27(4): 265–272

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cooper R A, Maletz J, Wang H F, et al. Taxonomy and evolution of early Ordovician graptolites. Norsk Geol Tidsskr, 1998, 78: 3–32

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cooper R A. Ecostratigraphy, zonation and global correlation of early Ordovician planktic graptolites. Lethaia, 1999, 32: 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jackson D E, Lenz A C. Some graptolites from the late Tremadoc and early Arenig of Yukon, Canada. Can J Earth Sci, 2000, 37: 1177–1193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Jackson D E, Lenz A C. Taxonomic and biostratigraphical significance of the Tremadoc graptolite fauna from northern Yukon, Canada. Geol Mag, 2003, 140: 131–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Maletz J, Egenhoff S O. Late Tremadoc to Early Arenig graptolite faunas of southern Bolivia and their implications for a worldwide biozonation. Lethaia, 2001, 34: 47–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Cooper R A. The Ordovician time scale: Calibration of graptolite and conodent zones. Acta Univ Carolinae (Geol), 1999, 43(1–2): 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lindholm K. Ordovician graptolites from the early Hunneberg of southern Scandinavia. Palaeontology, 1991, 34: 283–327

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mu E Z. On the complication of graptolite’s rhabdosomes (in Chinese). Acta Palaeontol Sin, 1963, 11: 346–377

    Google Scholar 

  11. Mu E Z. Evolution, classification and distribution of Graptoloidea and graptodendroids. Sci Sin, 1974, 17: 227–238

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chen X, Rong J Y, Wang X F, et al. New advances in the study of Ordovician biostratigraphy in China (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 1993, 17(2): 89–99

    Google Scholar 

  13. Williams S H, Stevens R K. Late Tremadoc graptolites from western Newfoundland. Palaeontology, 1991, 34: 1–47

    Google Scholar 

  14. Erdtmann B D, Kley J, Muller J, et al. Ordovician dynamics and graptolite data from the Tarija region, eastern Cordillera, South Bolivia. In: Cooper R A, Droser J D, Finney S C, eds. Ordovician Odyssey. California: SEPM, 1995. 69–73

    Google Scholar 

  15. Maletz J, Egenhoff S, Erdtmann B D. Late Tremadoc to Early Arenig graptolite succession of southern Bolivia. Acta Univ Carolinae (Geol), 1999, 43(1–2): 29–32

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wang X F, Wang C S. Tremadocian (Ordovician) graptolite diversification events in China. Alcheringa, 2001, 25: 155–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang Y D, Erdtmann B D, Feng H Z. Tremadocian (Early Ordovician) graptolite biostratigraphy of China. Newsl Strat, 2004, 40(3): 155–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Fang Y T, Yu J H, Hu X C. Early Ordovician graptolite-bearing strata at Nanba, Yiyang County, Hunan Province (in Chinese). J Nanjing Univ (Earth Sci), 1991, (1): 35–39

  19. Feng H Z, Erdtmann B D, Li M. Biostratigraphic succession of upper Tremadoc to lower Arenig graptolites from a new section in the Jiangnan Slope Region of South China. In: Yang Q, Wang Y D, Weldon E A, eds. Ancient Life and Modern Approaches-Abstracts of the Second International Palaeontological Conference. Hefei: University of Science and Technology of China Press, 2006. 238–239

    Google Scholar 

  20. Feng H Z, Erdtmann B D, Li M, et al.. New data on upper Tremadocian to lower Floian graptolite succession in South China. In: Li J, Fan J X, Percival I, eds. Proceedings of the 10th ISOS, 3rd ISSS and IGCP 503. Acta Palaeontol Sin, 2007, 46(Suppl): 120–127

  21. Hunan Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. Regional Geology of Hunan Province (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1988. 1–718

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lai C G. The Ordovician System of China (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1982. 1–297

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hsu S C, Ma C T. The Ichang Formation and the Ichangian fauna. Bull Nat Res Inst of Geol, Acad Sin, 1948, 8: 1–51

    Google Scholar 

  24. Li J J, Chen X. Cambrian and Ordovician graptolite from Sandu, Guizhou (Kuichou) (in Chinese). Acta Palaeontol Sin, 1962, 10: 12–35

    Google Scholar 

  25. Chen X, Yang W R, He Z Q, et al. Ordovician graptolite bearing beds from Xingan, Guangxi (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 1981, 5(1): 36–45

    Google Scholar 

  26. Wang G. On the discovery of new graptolites from the Tungtze Formation (Lower Ordovician) in Gulin of Sichuan (in Chinese). Acta Palaeontol Sin, 1981, 20: 349–352

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mu E Z, Song L S, L i J S, et al. Hemichordata (in Chinese). In: Xi’an Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, ed. Palaeontological Atlas of Northwest China (Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1982. 294–347

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wang X F, Liu Y R, Zhou G Q. Graptolites from the early Ordovician Xinchang Formation in Taishan of Guangdong (in Chinese). Acta Palaeontol Sin, 1979, 18: 493–504

    Google Scholar 

  29. Xiao C X, Xue C D, Huang X C. Early Ordovician graptolite bearing beds from Chongyi, Jiangxi (in Chinese). Acta Geol Sin, 1975, 49(2): 112–125

    Google Scholar 

  30. Xiao C X, Xia T L. The early Early Ordovician graptolite-bearing stratigraphy of Chongyi, Jiangxi (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 1984, 8(3): 222–224

    Google Scholar 

  31. Xiao C X, Chen H Y. Graptolites from early Ordovician Maoping Formation of Chongyi, Jiangxi (in Chinese). Acta Palaeontol Sin, 1993, 32(3): 355–371

    Google Scholar 

  32. Chen X, Han N R. Lower graptolite-bearing beds from Yushan, Jiangxi (in Chinese). Geol Rev, 1964, 22(2): 81–90

    Google Scholar 

  33. Chen X, Yang D Q, Han N R, et al. Graptolites from the Tetragraptus (Etagraptus) approximatus Zone of the lowermost Ningkuo Formation in Yushan, NE Jiangxi (in Chinese). Acta Palaeontol Sin, 1983, 22: 324–330

    Google Scholar 

  34. Chen X, Wang Z H. The base of Arenig Series in China. Newsl Strat, 1993, 29(3): 159–164

    Google Scholar 

  35. Mu E Z, Lin Y K. Xinchangian Graptolites from Western Zhejiang. In: Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, ed. Stratigraphy and Palaeontology of Systematic Boundaries in China: Cambrian-Ordovician Boundary (1). Hefei: Anhui Science and Technology Publishing House, 1984. 165–182

    Google Scholar 

  36. Yu J H, Liu H B, Fang Y T. Anisograptidae of Xinchangian Age (Early Ordovician) from the Xiushui drainage basin (in Chinese). Acta Palaeontol Sin, 1984, 23: 532–541

    Google Scholar 

  37. Feng H Z, Erdtmann B D. Early Tremadoc graptolite sequence in the Wuning area, South China and its international correlation. Acta Univ Carolinae (Geol), 1999, 43(1–2): 21–24

    Google Scholar 

  38. Feng H Z, Erdtmann B D, Zhang Y D. Taxonomy and phylogeny of Staurograptus Emmons from the base of the Ordovician. Palaeontology, 2005, 48: 1007–1019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Erdtmann B D. The earliest Ordovician nematophorid graptolites: Taxonomy and correlation. Geol Mag, 1988, 125: 327–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Zhang Y D, Wang Z H, Feng H Z, et al. Tremadocian (Ordovician) graptolite biostratigraphy of China—A review (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 2005, 29(3): 315–335

    Google Scholar 

  41. Maletz J, Erdtmann B D. Adelograptus tenellus (Linnarsson 1871): Its astogenetic development and its stratigraphical and palaeogeographical distribution. Bull Geol Soc Den, 1987, 35: 179–190

    Google Scholar 

  42. Jackson D E, Norford B S. Biostratigraphical and ecostratigraphical significance of Tremadoc (Ordovician) graptolite faunas from Misty Creek Embayment and Selwyn basin in Yukon and Northwest Territories. Can J Earth Sci, 2004, 41: 331–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Cooper R A, Stewart I R. The Tremadoc graptolite sequence of Lancefield, Victoria. Palaeontology, 1979, 22: 767–797

    Google Scholar 

  44. Vandenberg A H M, Cooper R A. The Ordovician graptolite sequence of Australasia. Alcheringa, 1992, 16: 33–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Williams S H, Nowlan G S, Barnes C R, et al. The Ledge section at Cow Head, western Newfoundland: New data and discussion of the graptolite, conodont and chitinozoan assemblages. Acta Univ Carolinae (Geol), 1999, 43(1–2): 65–68

    Google Scholar 

  46. Erdtmann B D, Egenhoff S O. Ordovician graptolite stratigraphy of the South Bolivia Cordillera Oriental and Altiplano. Min ITGE, 1998, 23: 174–176

    Google Scholar 

  47. Cooper R A. Sequence and correlation of Tremadoc graptolite assemblages. Alcheringa, 1979, 3: 7–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Erdtmann B D, Vendenberg A H M. Araneograptus gen. nov. and its two species from the Tremadocian (Lancefieldian, La2) of Victoria. Alcheringa, 1985, 9: 49–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Lindholm K, Maletz J. Intraspecific variation and relationships of some Lower Ordovician species of the dichograptid, Clonograptus. Palaeontology, 1989, 32: 711–743

    Google Scholar 

  50. Mu E Z, Ge M Y, Chen X, et al. Lower Ordovician graptolites of Southwest China (in Chinese). Palaeontol Sin, 1979, 15613): 1–192

    Google Scholar 

  51. Wang X F, Ni S Z, Zeng Q L, et al. Biostratigraphy of the Yangtze Gorge area (2)—Early Palaeozoic Era (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1987. 1–641

    Google Scholar 

  52. Wang X F, Chen X H, Erdtmann B D. Ordovician chronostratigraphy—A Chinese approach. In: Webby B D, Laurie J R, eds. Global Perspectives on Ordovician Geology. Rotterdam: Balkema, 1992. 35–55

    Google Scholar 

  53. Berry W B N. A base for the Arenig: The Tetragraptus approximatus Zone. In: Webby B D, Laurie J R, eds. Global Perspectives on Ordovician Geology. Rotterdam: Balkema, 1992. 123–133

    Google Scholar 

  54. Webby B D. Towards establishing globally applicable boundaries for the Ordovician System: Major international division and criteria for definitions. Ord News, 1994, (11): 6–15

  55. Williams S H, Barnes C R, O’Brien F H C, et al. A proposed global stratotype for the second series of the Ordovician System: Cow Head Peninsula, western Newfoundland. Bull Can Petrol Geol, 1994, 42: 219–231

    Google Scholar 

  56. Maletz J, Lofgren A, Bergstrom S M. The Diabasbrottet section at Mt. Hunneberg, Province of Va(e)stergo(e)tland, Sweden: A proposed candidate for a global stratotype section and point (GSSP) for the base of the second series of the Ordovician System. In: Cooper J D, Droser M L, Finney S C, eds. Ordovician Odyssey. California: SEPM, 1995. 139–143

    Google Scholar 

  57. Erdtmann B D, Maletz J. The Lower Hunneberg interval (LHI): A proposal to solve the Tremadoc/Arenig boundary crisis. In: Cooper J D, Droser M L, Finney S C, eds. Ordovician Odyssey. California: SEPM, 1995. 137–138

    Google Scholar 

  58. Maletz J, Lofgren A, Bergström S M. The base of the Tetragraptus approximatus Zone at Mt. Hunneberg, S. W. Sweden: A proposed global stratotype for the base of the second series of the Ordovician System. Newsl Stratigr, 1996, 34(3): 129–159

    Google Scholar 

  59. Williams S H, Barens C R. Discussion of the Ledge section, western Newfoundland, as a suitable GSSP section for an Early Ordovician stage/subseries boundary. Ord News, 1996, (13): 47–53

  60. Bergström S M, Finney S C, Chen X, et al. Proposed names for three Ordovician global stages. Ord News, 2006, (23): 10–11

  61. Wang X F, Jin Y Q, Wu Z T, et al. Graptolithina. In: Hubei Institute of Geosciences, ed. A Palaeontological Atlas of Central South China (Early Palaeozoic) (in Chinese). Beijing: Geological Publishing House, 1978. 266–371

    Google Scholar 

  62. Chen X, Rong J Y, Wang X F, et al. Correlation of the Ordovician rocks of China. Int Uni Geol Sci Publ, 1995, (3): 1–104

  63. Chen X, Rong J Y, Zhang Y D, et al. A commentary on Ordovician chronostratigraphy (in Chinese). J Stratigr, 2000, 24(1): 18–26

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, China

    HongZhen Feng, LiXia Li & WenHui Wang

  2. Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100037, China

    Ming Li

  3. Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China

    YuanDong Zhang

  4. Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, D-10587, Germany

    Bernd-D. Erdtmann

Authors
  1. HongZhen Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ming Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. YuanDong Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bernd-D. Erdtmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. LiXia Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. WenHui Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to HongZhen Feng.

Additional information

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40472014)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Feng, H., Li, M., Zhang, Y. et al. Succession and global correlation of late Tremadoc graptolite zones from South China. Sci. China Ser. D-Earth Sci. 52, 287–299 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-009-0035-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-009-0035-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation