Serpukhovian (Mississippian) foraminiferal zones from the Fenghuangshan section, Anhui Province, South China: implications for biostratigraphic correlations

Abstract

In traditional Chinese Carboniferous zonal schemes, Serpukhovian foraminiferal zones were broadly defined by genera, long-ranging species or local species, making it difficult to correlate to equivalent foraminiferal zones worldwide. The Serpukhovian Hezhou Formation at the Fenghuangshan section on the Lower Yangtze Platform was deposited in an open to restricted shallow-water environment, in which foraminifers flourished. Four foraminiferal zones named for cosmopolitan species found in this formation are established. In ascending order, they are the Plectomillerella tortula Zone, Eostaffellina paraprotvae Zone, Bradyina cribrostomata Zone and Monotaxinoides transitorius Zone. These zones permit reasonable correlation of the regional Chinese Dewuan (Serpukhovian) Stage to regional Russian substages (Tarussian, Steshevian, Protvian and Zapaltjubian). Preliminary correlations are also proposed between the Dewuan Stage and western European regional Mississippian substages (late Brigantian, Pendleian and Arnsbergian) and Chesterian formations of the type Mississippian region in North America.

Foraminifers of the Viséan–Serpukhovian boundary interval in Western Palaeotethys: a review

“…; Sheng & Wang ; Sheng et al . ). A correlation between the deep‐water sections of the slope and the platform facies based on sequence stratigraphy, δ 13 C isotopes and biostratigraphy has been recently published by Chen et al .…”

“…; Sheng et al . ). Nevertheless, these studied sections are located in a distinct region of China, with little relationship with the Nashui section, and correlations are based on the comparison with the foraminifers of the Moscow Basin, because foraminifers in the Nashui section were of little significance (Hance et al .…”

“…Foraminiferal data from some shallow-water platform sections in China around the Vis ean-Serpukhovian boundary have been published (e.g. Wang et al 2008;Groves et al 2012;Sheng & Wang 2015;Sheng et al 2017). A correlation between the deep-water sections of the slope and the platform facies based on sequence stratigraphy, d 13 C isotopes and biostratigraphy has been recently published by Chen et al (2016).…”

“…On the other hand, in China, where the deepwater Nashui/Naqing succession is currently under study as a potential GSSP section for the Vis ean-Serpukhovian boundary, utilizing its record of the Lochriea lineage, well-contrasted and correlated shallow-water platforms are more questionable, although great advances have been achieved according to recent publications (Groves et al 2012;Sheng & Wang 2015;Chen et al 2016;Sheng et al 2017). Nevertheless, these studied sections are located in a distinct region of China, with little relationship with the Nashui section, and correlations are based on the comparison with the foraminifers of the Moscow Basin, because foraminifers in the Nashui section were of little significance (Hance et al 2011;Groves et al 2012) and recent data are of questionable biostratigraphical interpretation.…”

Middle to Late Mississippian and Early Pennsylvanian foraminiferal zonal scheme of South China—a case study from the Youjiang Basin: biostratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical implications

“…However, the foraminiferal zones defined in these publications as well as those authors in other regions of China (e.g. Ye et al 1987), are defined on long-ranging or local species, and thus, they are difficult to correlate with international biozones for the Viséan and Serpukhovian (Sheng et al 2018). Recently, there have been an increasing number of studies on conodonts in Mississippian deepwater facies (e.g.…”