No abstract

Data are provided on the new Ordovician stage standard of the International Stratigraphic Chart: Tremadocian, Floian, Dapingian, Darriwilian, Sandbian, Katian, and Hirnantian. Graptolite and conodont zonal and infrazonal successions are used for a precise estimation of the chronostratigraphic position of the boundaries of the previous and newly proposed Ordovician regional stratigraphic units (horizons) in the western Altai–Sayan Folded Area. The chronostratigraphic position of the boundaries of most of the Ordovician formations showing a wide lateral distribution in southern Siberia has been described in detail in terms of the new stage standard of the General Stratigraphic Scale of Russia.

A volcanosedimentary complex of Middle–Late Devonian deposits in northwestern Rudny Altai is described. Analysis of sedimentologic processes, the kind of manifestation and specific composition of volcanism, and petrographic and chemical compositions of sedimentary rocks permitted reconstruction of paleogeographic and geodynamic settings, which confirmed the hypothesis of the island-arc nature of the Rudny Altai zone in the Middle–Late Devonian. Also, an alternative variant of its rift nature is considered. The rift buildings are referred to as local isolated complexes confined to positive paleovolcanic structures rising above the bottom in the fore-arc basin. The denudated part of the rift system is formed mainly by slope facies. Clastics of rift buildings, together with fragments of silicite and felsic-volcanics layers, compose widespread olistostrome breccias. We have established the humid type of lithogenesis, which, together with minor sea level fluctuations, favors karst processes and the formation of red-colored and bauxite-like rocks. The coeval volcanics composing lava flows and tuff layers are mainly rhyolites and are often of ultrafelsic composition.

No abstract

We summarize data on the biostratigraphic units of the Siberian Ordovician deposits based on pelagic groups of fauna: graptolites, conodonts, and chitinozoans. It is shown that graptolite and conodont zones and beds have a high potential for correlation. We have determined the precise zonal position of most of the lower boundaries of the Ordovician stages and informal Ordovician substages of the International Stratigraphic Chart in the Lower Paleozoic key sections of the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberian Platform, and Altai–Sayan Folded Area.