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Changes in the values of δ13Соrg in the lower part of the Permian deposits, obtained in the Kuba-lakh Section of the lower reaches of the Lena River and integrated with biostratigraphic data are detected in northeastern Russia for the first time. A comparison with isotope-carbon trends identified in the Asselian and Sakmarian stages of the Southern Urals is proposed. Based on the established sequence of negative shifts of the carbon isotope composition of organic matter, a conclusion is made that the Carboniferous–Permian boundary in the Kubalakh Section is located at the 80 m thick gap in section. The first data independent of the biostratigraphic and paleontological records are obtained on the Late Asselian age of the Tuora-Sis Formation beds containing the Bulunites ammonoid association, the stage assignment of which has been debated for many decades. The chronostratigraphic indefinite interval between the Asselian and Samarian stages is significantly reduced to the upper parts of the Jakutoproductus lenensis Beds. The data obtained indicate that the continuation of the work on the chemostratigraphy of stable carbon isotopes has good prospects for substantiating the division into stages and the interregional correlation of the Lower Permian deposits in Verkhoyanie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Acanthonautilus Foord, 1896 (family Solenochilidae Hyatt, 1893) from Asselian–Sakmarian reef deposits of the Shakhtau quarry are described. The history of the study of Solenochilidae is briefly discussed, and they are compared with other Paleozoic cephalopods of similar morphology. Morphometric parameters proposed by D. Raup were used for more precise characterization of the new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new Diaphanopterodea (Insecta, Palaeoptera, Megasecopteromorpha), Sinoelmoa yangquanensis gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a single specimen discovered from the Shuiquan Gully locality (Shanxi For--mation; Permian, Cisuralian, Asselian; China). A broad comparative analysis of the wing venation of the known members of the diaphanopterodean families Parelmoidae and Elmoidae allowed assigning the new taxon to the former family. This new occurrence represents the first record of a Permian Diaphanopterodea from China, and both the earliest and most oriental record for the Parelmoidae. It sheds new light on the distribution and diversity of these extinct taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of changing views on the taxonomy and classification of nautilids of the family Liroceratidae Miller et Youngquist, 1949 is briefly discussed. The diagnosis of the genus Shikhanonautilus Leonova et Shchedukhin is emended based on a study of new material from the Asselian-Sakmarian deposits in the Shakhtau Quarry. A new species S. compressus is described and a more detailed characterization of the type species S. siphonoventralis Leonova et Shchedukhin is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earliest known representative of the genus Pinna, P. pacata sp. nov., is described from the Lower Permian deposits of the Shakhtau Reef (South Urals, Russia). Until now, the earliest representatives of Pinna were known from the Lower Triassic. The new species adds to the list of species ancestral to Mesozoic forms, which allows the Ural Strait to be considered as one of the centers of Late Paleozoic mollusk diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pseudoreticulatispora confluens–P. pseudoreticulata spore-pollen zonal datum typically coincides with the end of widespread Permian glacial deposits in Western Australia. Although previously attributed to the mid-Sakmarian, chemical abrasion isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) dating of zircons from volcanic tuffs in the Ditji Formation of the Bonaparte Basin and the Grant Group in the Canning Basin point to an Asselian age of about 295.25 Ma for this datum. All dated zircons from the Ditji Formation came from petroleum well cuttings but the accompanying palynology was mostly from sidewall cores; however, all Grant Group samples were from conventional core. TIMS dates from the Ditji Formation range in age from 295.2 to 292.7 Ma whereas the only productive tuff from the Grant Group yielded a 296.26 Ma date. By comparison, there are no zircon dates to constrain the onset of glacial deposition in Australia. The Bonaparte Basin ages overlap with those for the Edie Tuff (296.1–294.5 Ma) in Queensland's Galilee Basin, approximately 2000 km to the southeast, which also lies close to the base of the P. pseudoreticulata Zone. To date the only fossil group within the P. confluens Zone in Western Australia to provide independent age control, albeit loosely, are goniatites from the northern Perth Basin (Uraloceras irwinense and Juresanites jacksoni) that have consistently been attributed to the Sakmarian; these require a reassessment of their affinity with Russian faunas and therefore to global stratotypes. The position of the Carboniferous–Permian boundary is elusive in Australia and will remain so until additional volcanic tuffs containing young datable zircons are found; however, spore-pollen and zircon dates from Namibia place this boundary within the P. confluens Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of a study of new cephalopod collections from the Shakhtau quarry. The latter has so far been little explored as a separate locality of cephalopods: the first descriptions of several pseudorthoceratid species from the Shakhtau reef massif were made in the mid-20th century, only from the Artinskian part of it, and contained the lists of the numerous Asselian-Sakmarian nautilids, without descriptions; a more detailed study of the Shakhtau cephalopod complexes has been carried out relatively recently. In this study, two representatives of the order Pseudorthoceratida were recorded for the first time in the Asselian-Sakmarian deposits of the Shakhtau locality: Uralorthoceras tzwetaevae Shimansky and Kionoceras serenum Shimansky. Additionally, several forms of the order Nautilida were newly identified here: Gzheloceras uralense Ruzhencev et Shimansky, ?Temnocheilus sp. A; two new genera (Genus A and Genus B) from the family Rhiphaeoceratidae and two new forms related to the family Grypoceratidae (Genus C and Genus D), with an intricately dissected suture line. They may belong to a new family of the Permian nautilids. In the Asselian-Sakmarian community, they are both related to the Carboniferous and completely new species and genera of nautilids. The ratio of life forms brings the near-riff Asselian-Sakmarian community of the Shakhtau quarry closer to the similar Kazanian (Roadian) community from the Volga-Ural region. The results obtained are of great importance for understanding and reconstructing the evolutionary pathways of the Early Permian non-ammonoid cephalopods.

The article reviews the evolution of the family Rhiphaeoceratidae and provides information on the stratigraphic and geographical distribution of its representatives. A new genus Eximioceras with the type species E. venustum sp. nov. and a new species Pararhiphaeoceras parvum, also belonging to this family, are described within Rhiphaeoceratidae. New records expand our understanding of the taxonomic diversity of the Shakhtau Reef cephalopod community and add to its ecological interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article briefly discusses the evolution of views on the taxonomic position of Bactritoidea within the class Cephalopoda. The history of establishment of the genus Ctenobactrites and its species is reviewed. The bactritoid studied is the first bactritoid to be found in the Asselian–Sakmarian interval of the Shakhtau Quarry and is identified as C. costatus Shimansky. It is noteworthy that this shell is larger than all known representatives of this subclass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to introduce the history of Russian and Soviet study of Permian ammonoids, from the middle of the 19th century to the present, to a wider audience of geologists, and particularly to a younger generation of students and researchers. Permian ammonoids played the leading role in the substantiation of all stages of the lower series of the Permian (Cisuralian). The Artinskian Stage was first established in the late 19th century by A.P. Karpinsky, the Sakmarian Stage in 1938, and the Asselian Stage in 1954, both by V.E. Ruzhencev. The Carboniferous-Permian boundary was established and ratified based on the changes in assemblages of conodonts, ammonoids, and fusulinids. Its stratotype (GSSP) was officially accepted in the Aidaralash Section, first proposed by V.E. Ruzhencev. Permian ammonoids have been a subject of study since the recognition of the Permian System; the first described Artinskian taxon was Goniatites orbignyanus Verneuil, 1845. The initial stage of the study consisted mainly of the accumulation and generalization of data, including the first attempts to study phylogenesis. It is associated with the names of A.P. Karpinsky, P.I. Krotov, A.A. Chernov, T.M. Emelyantsev and others. The first collections of Permian ammonoids came mainly from the Southern Urals. Then they were discovered in the Darvaz Range and in the Crimea. Major progress was made, both in the study of taxonomic diversity and in the classification of the collected data, in the middle of the 20th century, starting in the 1930s. V.E. Ruzhenсev made a huge contribution to the research of this group of fossils. At the same time, the foundations of onto-phylogenetic studies of ammonoids were developed. The geography of the Permian ammonoid sites has expanded, as reflected in the publication of numerous regional works with monographic descriptions of the ammonoid faunas of the Northeast and Far East of Russia, as well as Central Asia. Currently, Permian ammonoid studies are very diverse, and, along with the description of new taxa, reconstruction and analysis of the phylogenies and morphogenesis of taxa of family rank, include multidisciplinary ecosystem, morphofunctional, and biogeographical research. Ammonoid biostratigraphy also remains in demand.

Abstract Among the many Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian reef structures that are known worldwide, a Lower Permian 360 m long succession of reefal rocks in the Urals, interpreted as representing skeletal mounds, stands out for its complexity. The abundance of lime mud material, both in the skeletal mounds and in the adjacent sediments, indicates that they grew below fair‐weather wave base. An important feature of these Lower Permian organic buildups in the Urals is the widespread development of synsedimentary biologically induced cements, which often prevail in the rock volume. One of the most representative (and unique) skeletal mounds sequences in the Northern Urals is the Pisanyi Kamen’ section located on the Un'ya River. This paper aims to identify changes in the character of the palaeocommunity in the Pisanyi Kamen’ section. In the skeletal mounds development in the Lower Asselian interval of the Pisanyi Kamen’ section, seven events are distinguished. These are: (a) stabilisation of a soft sea floor by bryozoans and heterotrophic microbes; (b) colonisation of a hard sea floor by bryozoans and the appearance of abundant bioinduced cements; (c) displacement of bryozoans by a phylloid algae community; (d) appearance of a higher diversity community; (e) the mound top reaching the fair‐weather wave base; (f) collapse of the ecosystem; and (g) recurrent colonisation of a hard sea floor by phylloid algae. This work summarises the current state of knowledge regarding the Lower Permian skeletal mounds structure of the Northern Urals. The description of the ecological succession offers a new tool for the analysis of similar structures.

The late Carboniferous–early Permian represents a key period in the Phanerozoic history, given the major global geodynamic and climate modifications. The aim of this work is to better understand the context and characteristics of the sedimentation recorded in the continental environments of eastern equatorial Pangea at this time, through the example of the Autun Basin (northeastern Massif Central, France). The Autun Basin contains the historical stratotype of the Autunian continental stage, and its stratigraphy was recently improved by accurate numerical ages. This basin formed in an extensional tectonic context during the latest stages of the Variscan orogeny, and it is essential to study its paleoenvironmental evolution to provide new insights into the sedimentary evolution of contemporaneous surrounding basins. Using field and subsurface data, we propose a refined sedimentological model for the Autun Basin, relying on updated facies interpretations, organic matter content fluctuations, and sequence stratigraphy concepts and correlations. The continental environments of the lower sedimentary succession of the Autun Basin, previously considered to be fluvial and lacustrine, are herein re-interpreted as mainly lacustrine, comprising fine-grained organic matter-rich deposits, and supplied by coarser-grained deltaic siliciclastic sediments, without preservation of strict fluvial sedimentation. The determination of the sequence stratigraphy cycles, strengthened by the quantification of the organic matter content, and reflected by the temporal succession of progradational and retrogradational trends, is used to determine new correlations between several sections, as well as to reconstruct the paleoenvironment evolution at the Carboniferous–Permian transition. This study provides evidence that the sedimentation area of the Autun Basin at the time of its filling was much larger than the preserved basin area, and suggests connections with contemporaneous neighboring French basins, pointing to a large sedimentary system in the northeastern Massif Central area rather than narrow and isolated basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the many Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian reef structures that are known worldwide, a Lower Permian 360 m long succession of reefal rocks in the Urals, interpreted as representing skeletal mounds, stands out for its complexity. The abundance of lime mud material, both in the skeletal mounds and in the adjacent sediments, indicates that they grew below fair‐weather wave base. An important feature of these Lower Permian organic buildups in the Urals is the widespread development of synsedimentary biologically induced cements, which often prevail in the rock volume. One of the most representative (and unique) skeletal mounds sequences in the Northern Urals is the Pisanyi Kamen' section located on the Un'ya River. This paper aims to identify changes in the character of the palaeocommunity in the Pisanyi Kamen' section. In the skeletal mounds development in the Lower Asselian interval of the Pisanyi Kamen' section, seven events are distinguished. These are: (a) stabilisation of a soft sea floor by bryozoans and heterotrophic microbes; (b) colonisation of a hard sea floor by bryozoans and the appearance of abundant bioinduced cements; (c) displacement of bryozoans by a phylloid algae community; (d) appearance of a higher diversity community; (e) the mound top reaching the fair‐weather wave base; (f) collapse of the ecosystem; and (g) recurrent colonisation of a hard sea floor by phylloid algae. This work summarises the current state of knowledge regarding the Lower Permian skeletal mounds structure of the Northern Urals. The description of the ecological succession offers a new tool for the analysis of similar structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonoid collections assembled in recent years from the Upper Asselian-Lower Sakmarian limestones of the Sterlitamak Shakh-Tau shikhan enabled a detailed study of this small but very interesting assemblage. Currently, only seven ammonoid genera are known from this locality, including Properrinites sp. from the family Perrinitidae, which is the first record of this family from the Urals. Finds of several well-preserved specimens of Medlicottia subdorbignyi Gerassimov confirmed the occurrence of the earliest known Medlicottia at the top of the Asselian, and not in the upper Sakmarian, as was previously thought. The study of the Asselian-Sakmarian ammonoids of Shakh-Tau allowed the species composition of the genera Medlicottia and Somoholites to be revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An Early Permian gastropod assemblage from the reef limestones of southern Cisuralia is studied. The material was collected from the Asselian–Sakmarian interval of the Shakhtau Reef. With 91 species, this is one of the most diverse Early Permian assemblages ever described. This number of species is no more than 70% of the potential gastropod diversity in the Asselian–Sakmarian limestones of Shakhtau. Seven new generic level taxa are or have been established based on the material from Shakhtau: Perakella Mazaev, 2019, Termihabena Mazaev, 2019, Vicnigoria gen. nov., Bolicharewia gen. nov., Seleukella gen. nov., Bandelzyga gen. nov., and Monimirus gen. nov., and also 58 new species: Novlepatella uralensis sp. nov., Bellerophon shakhtauensis sp. nov., Tapinotomaria cancellata sp. nov., Peruvispira uralensis sp. nov., Ananias belaensis sp. nov., A. bashkiriensis sp. nov., Stenozone spiralis sp. nov., Globodoma magna sp. nov., Euconospira skuini sp. nov., Spiroscala elegans sp. nov., Shwedagonia pagoda sp. nov., S.korolukae sp. nov., Dictyotomaria balabanovi sp. nov., Eirlysia reticulatiformis sp. nov., Termihabena lirata Mazaev, 2019, Perakella shakhtauensis Mazaev, 2019, Baylea longispira sp. nov., Apachellarugosa sp. nov., Platyzona shikhanensis sp. nov., Callispira taosiformis sp. nov., Bellazona acuta Mazaev, 2019, Goniasma gerasimovi sp. nov., Orthonema perspicuum sp. nov., O. conspicuum sp. nov., O. nonnullum sp. nov., O. repandum sp. nov., Stegocoelia arta sp. nov., S. abscisa sp. nov., Arribazonaseleukensis sp. nov., Orecopia inopinata gen. et sp. nov., Vicnigoria monstrata gen. et sp. nov., Anomphalus glaucus sp. nov., Bolicharewia edita gen. et sp. nov., Tychonia fortis sp. nov., Anematina indiscreta sp. nov., Platyceras sagum sp. nov., Strophostylus fortuitus sp. nov., Orthonychia korotkovae sp. nov., Sallya bimaris sp. nov., S. indigena sp. nov., Trachydomia shkurkoi sp. nov., Palaeostylus confragosus sp. nov., P. nervosus sp. nov., Seleukella costata gen. et sp. nov., Pseudozygopleura applicata sp. nov., Plocezyga convexa sp. nov., P. boikoi sp. nov., P. venusta sp. nov., P. minuta sp. nov., Levizygopleura composita sp. nov., L. magna sp. nov., Bandelzyga elegans gen. et sp. nov., Stephanozyga seminuda sp. nov., Strobeus bashkiriensis sp. nov., Girtyspira oblonga sp. nov., Streptacis nalivkini sp. nov., Cristalloella (Wonwalica) permica sp. nov., and Monimirus bonus gen. et sp. nov. Two species are described in open nomenclature. Some species found in Shakhtau were previously known from Tethyan assemblages of Fergana: Bellerophonkaratshatyrensis, B. isfarensis, Permoconcha ferganica, Orthonema frequens, Amaurotoma kizilkiensis, Anomphalus planus, Yunnania romanovskyi, Pseudozygopleura knighti, P. rugosocostata, Strobeus ferganense, S. veberi; Sicily: Retispira lyelli, Naticopsis spallanzanii, and Soleniscus elegans; China: Porcellia (Porcellia) magninodosa, P. (P.) lingshuiensis, Platyzona eulkaiensis, and Stegocoelia quinquecostata. In addition, as shown in this paper, assemblages in South China contain: Bellerophon isfarensis and Baylea longispira sp. nov. It is worth mentioning that the Shakhtau assemblages contain representatives of such genera as Schwedagonia, Stenozone, Sallya, and Perakella, known from a Malaysian assemblage described by Batten (1972, 1979) (see Mazaev, 2019b). Other species found in Shakhtau had previously been known from the Pennsylvanian and Permian of North America: Globodoma spironema, Baylea gurleyi, Straparollus (Euomphalus) cornudanus, Retispira lyelli, R. modesta, Euphemites batteni,Eirlysia reticulata, and Discotomaria basisulcata. In addition, the North American assemblages contain Bellerophon isfarensis. Thus, the studied gastropod assemblage from Shakhtau unequivocally suggests that the Uralian corridor was a migration pathway between the faunas of the North America and Tethyan basins. In addition, these "relict taxa" Orecopia inopinata sp. nov. and Bellazona acuta Mazaev, 2019a, Vicnigoria monstrata gen. et sp. nov., and also "Mesozoic taxa" Cristalloella (Wonwalica) permica sp. nov. and Monimirus bonus gen. et sp. nov., which significantly expands geographical ranges and geochronological intervals of these groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biostratigraphy of the latest Gzhelian‒Asselian fusulinoid fauna from the Banarizeh section located in the Abadeh region of the Sanandaj–Sirjan Zone is investigated. The most characteristic species among the fusulinoids are the species of Pseudoschwagerina?, Nonpseudofusulina, and Praepseudofusulina; the last one is represented by four species, namely, Praepseudofusulina kljasmica (Sjomina), P. cf. saratovensis (Chernova), P. incomperta (Scherbovich), and P. cf. impercepta (Jagofarova). A biostratigraphic correlation shows that the latest Gzhelian–Asselian fusulinoid assemblage from the Banarizeh section shares some common species with the contemporaneous assemblages of the Russian Platform and Southern Urals. It can also be compared to those of the Alborz, Tabas Block (East Iran), and Yazd Block (Central Iran). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobleria bicuspis, a coniferophyte seed cone, is described from the Jambi Palaeoflora, Sumatra of Asselian (early Permian) age. A morphometric analysis based on cones, paired fertile units, and fertile and sterile scales, demonstrates their close relationship. Small paired fertile units occur mainly in cones. Mediumsized paired fertile units occur mainly on scales. And large paired fertile units are mainly dispersed. The cones are considered female and the paired fertile units are considered to represent the seeds. The cones are composed of helicoidal, bilaterally symmetrical and deeply incised scales with paired seeds. A comparison can be made with the Voltziales female taxon Schizolepis from the Triassic and Jurassic. Tobleria is regarded as having a voltzian Voltziales affinity and dates from approximately 16 to 26 million years before any other such cones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The age of the Upper Paleozoic radiolarian Latentifistula crux Ecozone is revised. The Latentifistula crux assemblage was originally established by Nazarov and Ormiston (1985, 1990, 1993; Nazarov, 1988) in 1985 in the basal deposits of the Asselian Stage of the Nikolskoe section on the Ural River. The new biostratigraphic position of the radiolarian Latentifistula crux Ecozone corresponds to the terminal Streptognathodus bellus and Streptognathodus wabaunsensis conodont zones of the Gzhelian Stage (Chernykh, 2012, 2016). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gigantopterids are a morphological group consisting of a number of enigmatic fossil plants with angiosperm‐like leaves and reticulate venation that are of uncertain systematic affinity. Gigantopterid plants were abundant and a characteristic floral element in the Late Palaeozoic Cathaysian floras. However, in China, their oldest occurrence was much later than that in North America (Artinskian) and Indonesia (Asselian to Sakmarian). Here, we document the gigantopterid Gigantonoclea cf. mira from basal Permian (Asselian) strata in the North China Block that represents the oldest unequivocal evidence for the gigantopterids. The foliage is characterized by complex venation composed of four orders, small isodiametric meshes, and intercalary subsidiary veins arising directly from the rachis, being a distinctive morphological type of leaf venation. In addition, a nonmarginal feeding trace is detected on the lamina, extending the earliest record of plant–animal interaction between gigantopterid plants and arthropods to the earliest Permian. Our new observations show that the venation characters of Gigantonoclea mira and Gigantonoclea cf. mira more closely resemble Gigantopteris dictyophylloides than other members of gigantopterids including the evolutionary Callipteridium sequence to which it was previously assigned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five brachiopod associations were collected in the Permian successions of N Karakorum (Pakistan). The aim of this work is to describe the two oldest brachiopod assemblages. The oldest association has been assembled in the Asselian-Early Sakmarian Gircha Fm. It has been named Trigonotreta lyonsensis/Punctospirifer afghanus assemblage and it is characterized by low diversity and dominance of spiriferids, indicating cold climate conditions. The second assemblage was collected in the Sakmarian Lupghar Fm., Mb.1 of Upper Hunza valley and in the Sakmarian Lashkargaz Fm., Mb. 1 of Baroghil and Lashkargaz (Chitral). It has beennamed Hunzina electa gen. n. sp. n. assemblage and it is characterized by higher diversity than the oldest one, indicating warmer climate conditions. Furthermore Hunzina electa gen. n. sp. n. represents a marker in almost all the stratigraphic sections of N Karakorum. In the appendix two new genera, one new subgenus and nine new species of brachiopods collected in the Bolorian to Murgabian-Midian of Northern Karakorum are named and described.

Two new brachiopod species of Jakutoproductus, J. lenensis sp. nov. and J. talchanensis sp. nov., are described. J. lenensis occurs in the upper part of the J. verkhoyanicus Zone of the Khorokytian Horizon (Asselian-Sakmarian deposits) of the lower reaches of the Lena River and in the Sobolokh-Mayan and Allara-Khadaryn'ya river basins. J. talchanensis is identified from the Khorokytian Horizon of the Talchan River (Baraiy River basin). A new subzone, the J. lenensis Subzone, is proposed for the upper part of the J. verkhoyanicus Zone of the Khorokytian Horizon of the Verkhoyansk Region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The latest Carboniferous-Early Permian Dorud Group in the Chaman-Saver area of eastern Alborz, Iran is more than 222 m thick and includes thick sequences of oncolitic limestone, sandy limestone, sandstones and shales. The Emarat and Ghosnavi formations of this Group are dated here as latest Gzhelian to early Sakmarian Stages. During the Asselian Stage, the sea level fell abruptly and epeirogenic episodes occurred. These events generated a broad, shallow carbonate platform suitable for the growth and diversity of smaller foraminifers in the Chaman-Saver area which, consequently, displays faunal differences with the rest of the Alborz Mountains. Three foraminiferal biozones are proposed: Nodosinelloides potievskayae-Vervilleina bradyi Zone (latest Gzhelian), Calcitornella heathi-Nodosinelloides sp. Zone (latest Gzhelian-Asselian), and Rectogordius iranicus n. gen. n. sp.- Hemigordius schlumbergeri Zone (early Sakmarian). The new taxa described herein include: Pseudovidalina iranica n. sp., P. damghanica n. sp., Rectogordius iranicus n. gen. n. sp. and Tezaquina sp. 1. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Re-investigation of the western edge of the Lodève basin allows reassignment of one sandstone-conglomerate formation previously identified as “terminal Stephanian” to Early Autunian. The existence of two unconformable (Stephanian and Autunian) megasequences, separated by a sedimentary gap, which had been rejected, is thus re-affirmed. The authors also found, less than 20m above the basal Autunian conglomerate, a macroflora with taxa characteristic of the famous Tuilières flora from a site, located in the eastern part of the basin near Lodève, in the Grey Autunian group. This confirms that the new Mont Sénégra fossiliferous beds belong to the Lower Autunian. Moreover, the taxonomic differences between these plants and those from the underlying coal-bearing Stephanian beds indicate an important change in the vegetation between the Stephanian and the Autunian. The first Autunian sequences were initially deposited within a distal alluvial fan environment, which developed vertically into a floodplain, within an active volcanic context. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The earliest autochthonous cover of the Variscan basement of the Sakarya Composite Terrane (SCT) in NW Anatolia is represented by basal conglomerates and limestones. The microfacies types of the limestones in ascending order are: (1) bioclastic grainstone/packstone, (2) fusulinid grainstone/packstone, (3) smaller foraminiferal grainstone/packstone, (4) Anthracoporella (dasycladale) grainstone/packstone, and (5) wackestones. Twenty-three species assignable to 15 genera of fusulinids were recovered from the studied materials of the Kadirler section; Quasifusulina guvenci nov. sp. and Pseudoschwagerina beedei magna nov. subsp. are created. Rugosofusulinids, sphaeroschwagerinids, pseudoschwagerinids, occidentoschwagerinids, pseudochusenellids, quasifusulinids, rugosochusenellids and paraschwagerinids are the main faunal elements of the succession, which shows two distinct faunal intervals. Eoschubertella, Schubertella, Biwaella?, Rugosofusulina stabilis group, and Pseudochusenella correspond to the first interval at the base; the second interval is characterized by the species of Sphaeroschwagerina, Pseudoschwagerina, Occidentoschwagerina, the Rugosofusulina latispiralis group, and diverse quasifusulinids. A biostratigraphic correlation shows that the Kadirler section in the SCT in NW Anatolia shares many common species with Central Asia in the East but especially with the Carnic Alps and Karavanke Mountains in the West. The new data suggest that the close faunal relationship in the Late Carboniferous between eastern Alps, Ural Mountains, NW Turkey and Central Asia also continued during the Asselian. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Early Permian (Asselian) brachiopods collected from the Gircha Formation of western Karakorum (Pakistan) are described. They includeBandoproductus girchensissp. nov.,Kiangsiellasp. indet.,Trigonotreta lyonsensisArchbold and Thomas,Trigonotreta larghiisp. nov., Spirelytha petaliformis(Pavlova), Punctospirifer afghanusTermier, Termier, de Lapparent and Marin, and ?Dielasmasp. indet. and belong to theTrigonotreta lyonsensis–Punctospirifer afghanusAssemblage Biozone, the oldest so far recovered from the Permian succession of Karakorum. The faunal succession of Karakorum records a significant biotic change from the Asselian to the Sakmarian, a shift in diversity and composition that is also recorded along most of the Gondwanan margin and Peri-Gondwanan regions and that should be related to a major climatic change: the end of the Gondwanan glaciation. A palaeobiogeographical analysis has been performed by means of multivariate methods applying cluster and ordination analyses based on the Jaccard Coefficient and Simpson Index to a matrix consisting of the presence/absence of 23 brachiopod genera from seven geographical operational units from central Afghanistan to eastern Australia. The results suggest the occurrence of a single biotic province during the Asselian, the Indoralian Province, embracing all the faunal stations examined, as a consequence of the global cold phase related to the last pulse of the Gondwanan glaciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late Paleozoic genera Chansitheca Regè , Oligocarpia Göppert and Szea Z. Yao et T. N. Taylor are small ferns that represent putative early members of the Gleicheniaceae based on their morphology and the anatomy of their fertile organs. However, the rachis and cauline anatomy are unknown, rendering their systematic affinities controversial. Here we document rachides with partly preserved anatomical structure associated with compression/impression specimens of Chansitheca wudaensis from the Wuda Tuff Flora. The in situ preservation of the flora, occasional organic connection and close association, and matching size, proportions and xylem structure indicate that these rachides belonged to the same plant that produced fertile fronds of the Chansitheca wudaensis type and vegetative fronds of the Sphenopteris type co-occurring in this flora. The new details of the anatomy and morphology necessitate emendations to the diagnosis for this species. As the Wuda Tuff Flora has been dated to be 298.34 ± 0.09 million years ago (Asselian, Permian), this represents the oldest unequivocal evidence of Gleicheniaceae. Our results thus demonstrate that the Gleicheniaceae had already diverged from other ferns families, including the Osmundaceae, by this time. • Early Permian gleicheniaceous rachis with anatomical structure. • Whole-plant reconstruction proposed with rachis, fertile and vegetative fronds. • Earliest stratigraphical occurrence of a member of the Gleicheniaceae documented. • Gleicheniaceae diverged from other ferns by 298.34 ± 0.09 million years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• During the latest Gzhelian–Asselian Iran was located at the northern margin of the Palaeotethys. • The studied assemblage is comparable to other areas in the Peri-Tethyan realm. • This assemblage indicates the low latitude position with the warm and humid conditions. The taxonomic diversity of smaller foraminiferal faunas of the uppermost Carboniferous–lowermost Permian (upper Gzhelian–lower Asselian interval) has been accurately investigated in the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, Iran. They predominantly contain three foraminiferal classes: Fusulinata, Miliolata and Nodosariata, and six orders: Tuberitinida, Earlandiida, Archaediscida, Endothyrida, Cornuspirida, and Nodosariida. The presence of some remarkable taxa in palaeobiogeography such as Hemidiscus carnicus , that is reported for the first time in Iran, along with Rectogordius is noticeable. Furthermore, these smaller foraminifers are associated with significant fusulinid genera including Praepseudofusulina , " Nonpseudofusulina ", Pseudoschwagerina , and " Schellwienia ?", which indicated that during the latest Gzhelian–Asselian, the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone was in the northern margin of the Palaeotethys, in a relatively low latitudinal position (ca. 30°S), with warm and humid conditions. This claim can also be evidenced by the presence of sandstones with high degree of chemical weathering, together with the limonite accompanied with a palaeosol in the Upper Carboniferous strata. The presence of a red earthy laterite with lenses of pisolitic bauxite along with a piece of fossil wood in the lowermost Permian beds, confirms the Peri-Tethyan position of the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone during this period. This study also shows that the first appearance of Frondicularia in the Iranian material, that is the latest Gzhelian–early Asselian, is probably older than what is argued in materials from north-central Siberia (Late Permian and Triassic) and Germany (Sakmarian to Anisian, up to the Jurassic). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]