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A recent study of conodonts from the Wuxiahe Formation (lower to middle part) in the Ziyang-Langao region suggested its age of middle Telychian (Llandovery) to lower Sheinwoodian (Wenlock), contradicted by subsequent graptolite studies indicating an age of late Telychian for the same interval. New samples from the Qiaoxi section for conodonts to re-access the age of the Wuxiahe Formation collected in this study show that the lower to middle part of the formation belongs to the Pterospathodus amorphognathoides amorphognathoides Biozone, suggesting the age of late Telychian; thus, the Llandovery–Wenlock boundary in the section is most probably higher than previously estimated, but its precise position is not determined since the identification of the Wenlock graptolite Cyrtograptus cf. lundgreni in the section is to be further confirmed. Based on the conodont faunas recognized in the Qiaoxi and Tianwancun sections, the base of the Wuxiahe Formation in the Ziyang-Langao region is diachronous, i.e., not higher than the upper Telychian Pterospathodus amorphognathoides amorphognathoides Biozone at Qiaoxi, but not lower than the lower Sheinwoodian Kockelella ranuliformis Biozone at the Tianwancun setion.

Mallines are Patagonian wetlands characterized by permanent waterlogging on its soils, sustaining small shallow lakes that hosts a vast biodiversity. In these ecosystems, aquatic plants (i.e. macrophytes) develop different life forms adapted to humid conditions, allowing them to regulate the physical and chemical conditions of the mallin. A distinctive characteristic of Patagonia is the exponential west-east decrease in rainfall, which generates three biozones: forest, ecotone and steppe. These biozones have been typified using landform plants, but whether macrophytes assemblages are related to each biozone or not has not been evaluated yet. The aim of this work is to compare the attributes of the macrophyte and wetlands landform plants community in each biozone. During the 2013-2014 austral Summer, 20 shallow lakes were sampled in the west province of Chubut, assessing macrophyte richness and physical and chemical water variables. Macrophytes were classified according to their life forms, origin, and its diversity was calculated. A total of 62 taxa were determined, most of them corresponding to the Cyperaceae, Poaceae and Ranunculaceae families. The steppe exhibited alkaline pH values, and higher conductivity and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) than the ecotone and the forest. High SRP values favored the abundance of macrophytes and macroalgae. However, three sites were eutrophic, exhibiting high chlorophyll a and total phosphorus values. Those sites showed higher abundances of macroalgae and emerging macrophytes. The sampled shallow lakes would act as reservoirs of macrophyte diversity at both local and regional scales. Thus, understanding the relationships among macrophytes and environmental variables could be useful for the mallines biodiversity conservation plans.

Seventeen samples of Hartha Formation in Balad (1) well, central Iraq, are studied on the basis of stratigraphic ranges of the recorded calcareous nannofossils for twenty species belonging to twelve genera. The studied section reveals three biozones arranged from oldest to youngest as follows; (1) Calculites ovalis Interval Biozone (CC19), (2) Ceratolithoides aculeus Interval Biozone (CC20), (3) Quadrum sissinghii Interval Biozone (CC21). These Biozones are correlated with other calcareous nannofossils biozones from both local and regional sections, leading to conclude the age of the Middle Campanian. Rerecorded eighteen ostracode species that belong to eleven genera are identified, all of which were previously recorded from Iraq and adjacent regions. The occurrence of these species leads to conclude a continental shelf environment, while they are typical of inner shelf-outer shelf depth.

The Ordovician shale (Wufeng Formation) in the Upper Yangtze Platform is now considered a successful development interval, independent of the Longmaxi Formation. However, accumulation mechanisms of organic matter (OM) within the Wufeng shale are rarely discussed and remain highly controversial. Petrological and geochemical characteristics were analyzed on 25 Wufeng samples from well X1 located in the Upper Yangtze Platform, and their implications for the OM accumulation mechanisms are further discussed. The Wufeng Formation is divided into three intervals based on graptolite biozones (named WF2, WF3, and WF4). Geochemical redox proxies (Mo, U, V, Ni, Cr, Co) suggest that WF2 and WF4 were deposited in oxic–suboxic conditions, whereas WF3 was deposited in suboxic–anoxic with episodes of euxinic conditions. Geochemical productivity proxies (Ba xs , P, Si xs ) indicate high paleoproductivity when WF2 and WF3 were deposited, which may have been controlled by upwelling as suggested by the high ratio of Cd/Mo. WF2 (averaged 1.42% TOC) is not as organic-rich because of poor preservation conditions and terrestrial dilution. High paleoproductivity and suitable preservation conditions were the controlling factors for the organic-rich WF3 interval (averaged 3.00% TOC). However, low paleoproductivity and poor preservation conditions caused low accumulation of OM in WF4 (averaged 0.82% TOC). OM accumulation within the Wufeng Formation reflects the interaction between the variations in redox conditions and paleoproductivity. The sedimentary environment during Wufeng deposition was mainly controlled by sea level, which, in turn, was controlled by global climate and global and regional tectonics.

The Tabas Block is part of the Central Iran microcontinent, located between the Lut Block in the East and the Yazd Block in the West. The Baghamshah Formation is the second lithostratigraphic unit from the sedimentary cycle of the Magu Group and the BaghamshahSubgroup in the Jurassic of Tabas Block. This formation is conformably underlaid with the grey pisoidal limestones of the Parvadeh Formation and overlaid with the Pectinid limestones of the Kamar-e-Mehdi Formation (Esfandiar Subgroup). In this research, the biostratigraphy of the Baghamshah Formation in the Rizu and Kamar-e-Mehdi sections, based on calcareous nannofossils, is examined. The thickness of the Baghamshah Formation in the Rizu section is 270 m (mostly including marl and green shales with intercalation of limestones and calcareous sandstones), and in the Kamar-e- Mehdi section is 236 m (composed of gypsiferous marly shales, marl, marly shales and alternation of marlshale with limestones and calcareous sandstones). According to the taxonomic studies in the Rizu section, 52 species belong to 24 genera, and in the Kamar-e-Mehdi section, 45 species belong to 23 genera of calcareous nannofossils. Based on index calcareous nannofossils, the CC1, CC2, CC3, and CC4 biozones established by Sissinghh in both sections were determined. It is mentioned that CC5 biozone only occur in Kamar-e-Mehdi section. According to the identified biozones, the suggested age of the Baghamshah Formation is early Berriasian–early Hauterivian in the Rizu section, and early Berriasian–late Hauterivian in the Kamar-e-Mehdi section. Keywords: biostratigraphy, Baghamshah, calcareous nannofossils, Tabas, Iran. RESUMO – O Bloco Tabas faz parte do microcontinente do Ira Central, localizado entre o Bloco Lut a leste e o Bloco Yazd a oeste. A Formacao Baghamshah e a segunda unidade litoestratigrafica do ciclo sedimentar do Grupo Magu e Subgrupo Baghamshah no Jurassico do Bloco Tabas. Esta formacao e conformavelmente subjacente com calcario pisoidal cinza da Formacao Parvadeh e sobrejacente ao calcario pectinideo da Formacao Kamar-e-Mehdi (Subgrupo Esfandiar). No presente trabalho e investigado a bioestratigrafia da Formacao Baghamshah nas secoes Rizu e Kamar-e-Mehdi baseada em nanofosseis calcarios. A espessura da Formacao Baghamshah na secao Rizu e 270 m (principalmente incluindo marga e folhelho verde com intercalacao de calcario e arenito calcario) e na secao Kamar-e-Mehdi e 236 m (composto de xisto margoso gipsifero, folhelho, folhelho margoso e folhelho margoso alternado com calcario e arenito calcario intercalados). De acordo com os estudos taxonomicos, na secao Rizu 52 especies pertencem a 24 generos e na secao Kamar-e-Mehdi, 45 especies pertencem a 23 generos de nanofosseis calcareos. Baseado no indice de nanofosseis calcareos, as biozonas CC1, CC2, CC3 e CC4 de Sissingh foram determinadasem ambas as secoes. E mencionado que a biozona CC5 somente ocorre na secao Kamar-e-Mehdi. De acordo com a biozonas identificadas, para a Formacao Baghamshah e sugerida a idade Eoberriasiana–Eo–hauteriviana na secao Rizu e Eoberriasiana–Neo–hauteriviana na secao Kamar-e-Mehdi. Palavras-chave: bioestratigrafia, Baghamshah, nanofosseis calcarios, Tabas, Ira.

This research addresses paleoclimatic variations using sedimentological, geochemical, and planktic foraminifera. The study was carried out in a survey core (ANP 1011) collected on the continental slope of the Icarai Sub-basin (Ceara Basin), on the coast of the Municipality of Itapipoca, CE, Brazil. Particle size analysis, CaCO3 content, Ti/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios, and the analysis of foraminifera associations for biostratigraphic purposes were performed. Based on the relative abundance of planktic foraminifera, with indicators of warm and cold water throughout the studied cores, two biozones (Y: Upper Pleistocene and Z: Holocene), and two subzones (Z2 and Z1) were recognized. The data of sedimentological markers obtained confirmed the occurrence of more wet phases in northeastern Brazil during the early stages of the Holocene. The Ti/Ca and Fe/Ca ratios, as well as the geochemical and micropaleontological proxies, indicated a farther north displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. This may have caused greater precipitation in the Northeastern region of Brazil, effectuating the entry of a high volume of terrestrial sediments directly into the ocean basin. Keywords: Quaternary biostratigraphy, marine sedimentation, ITCZ mobility, paleoclimate. RESUMO – Esta pesquisa aborda as variacoes paleoclimaticas, utilizando foraminiferos planctonicos, marcadores sedimentologicos e geoquimicos. O estudo foi realizado em um testemunho de sondagem (ANP 1011) coletado no talude continental da Sub-bacia Icarai (Bacia do Ceara), costa do Municipio de Itapipoca, CE. Foram realizadas analises granulometricas, teor de CaCO3, razoes Ti/Ca e Fe/Ca e estudo das associacoes dos foraminiferos para fins bioestratigraficos. Com base nas abundâncias relativas de foraminiferos planctonicos indicadores de aguas quentes e frias ao longo dos testemunhos estudados, foram reconhecidas duas biozonas (Y: Pleistoceno superior e Z: Holoceno) eduas subzonas (Z2 e Z1). Os dados de marcadores sedimentologicos obtidos confirmam a ocorrencia de mais fases umidas no Nordeste do Brasil durante o inicio do Holoceno. As razoes dos elementos Ti/Ca, Fe/Ca, indicam, como os proxies geoquimicos e micropaleontologicos, um deslocamento mais ao norte da Zona de Convergencia Intertropical (ZCIT) na transicao Pleistoceno-Holoceno, provocando maior precipitacao na regiao nordestino do Brasil com entrada de um volume alto de sedimentos terrigenos diretamente para a bacia oceânica. Palavras-chave: bioestratigrafia do Quaternario, sedimentacao marinha, mobilidade da ZCIT, paleoclima.

The Krapperup drill core from Scania (Skane), southern Sweden, includes one of the most important graptolitic Darriwilian (upper Middle Ordovician) successions of Baltica. Only some intervals have been documented previously and especially the uppermost part of the succession has been completely unknown. A fairly complete succession of mid- to late Darriwilian age provides insight into the early evolution of the axonophoran (biserial) graptolites and demonstrates a distinct biogeographical faunal differentiation during this time. Graptolites from the mid-Darriwilian Holmograptus lentus and Nicholsonograptus fasciculatus biozones are discussed and important specimens and species from the Krapperup drill core are illustrated. Ekstroemograptus inexpectatus n. gen., n. sp. from the Holmograptus lentus Biozone is described as new.

A relatively complete Late Maastrichtian succession of the upper part of the Shiranish Formation (Upper Cretaceous) in the Duhok area is investigated for the planktic foraminiferal assemblages. This studied interval consists mainly of bluish shale, marl, and thin beds of hard marly limestone all with grey-blue color. The upper contact of the Shiranish Formation is conformable with the overlies Danian Aaliji Formation. Based on the recorded planktic foraminifera and their ranges, the studied succession is subdivided into three main biozones of the latest Maastrichtian age, these zones are Pseudoguembelina hariaensis (CF3) Interval Zone, Pseudoguembelina palpebra (CF2) Interval Zone, and Plummerita hantkeninoides (CF1) Total Range Zone. These zones show continuous and complete Upper Cretaceous sediments, which are preserved in the Bade section of the Duhok area

The end-Ordovician mass extinction, linked to a major glaciation, led to deep changes in Hirnantian–Rhuddanian biotas. TheHirnantiaFauna, the first of two Hirnantian survival brachiopod-dominated communities, characterizes the lower–mid Hirnantian deposits globally, and its distribution is essential to understand how the extinction took place. In this paper, we describe, illustrate, and discuss the first macrofossiliferousHirnantiaFauna assemblage from Belgium, occurring in the Tihange Member of the Fosses Formation at Tihange (Huy), within the Central Condroz Inlier. Six fossiliferous beds have yielded a low-diversity, brachiopod-dominated association. In addition to the brachiopods (Eostropheodonta hirnantensis,Plectothyrella crassicosta,Hirnantiasp., andTrucizetina? sp.), one trilobite (Mucronaspissp.), four pelmatozoans (Xenocrinussp.,Cyclocharax[col.]paucicrenulatus,Conspectocrinus[col.]celticus, andPentagonocyclicus[col.] sp.), three graptolites (Cystograptus ancestralis,Normalograptus normalis, and ?Metabolograptussp.), together with indeterminate machaeridians and bryozoans were identified. The graptolite assemblage, from theAkidograptus ascensus-Parakidograptus acuminatusBiozone, indicates an early Rhuddanian (Silurian) age, and thus, an unexpectedly late occurrence of a typicalHirnantiaFauna. This Belgian association may represent an additional example of relictHirnantiaFauna in the Silurian, sharing characteristics with the only other known from Rhuddanian rocks at Yewdale Beck (Lake District, England), although reworking has not been completely ruled out. The survival of these Hirnantian taxa into the Silurian might be linked to delayed post-glacial effects of rising temperature and sea-level, which may have favored the establishment of refugia in these two particular regions that were paleogeographically close during the Late Ordovician–early Silurian.

Olenellid trilobites from the lower Cambrian of the Iberian Peninsula are very scarce and poorly studied, making them difficult to compare with defined species and to include in biostratigraphic and paleobiogeographic analyses. Based on newly collected specimens, we revise the species ‘Callavia? lotzei’ Richter and Richter, 1941 from the ‘Cumbres beds’ of Cumbres de San Bartolomé and the ‘Herrerías shale’ of Cañaveral de León, Sierra del Bujo, and Hinojales (Huelva, Spain), and ‘Paradoxides choffati’ Delgado, 1904 from the Vila Boim Formation of Elvas (Portugal). The new material indicates that Callavia? lotzei is a junior synonym of ‘P. choffati.’ The Iberian species are here assigned to Callavia Matthew, 1897, for which morphological characters are reassessed, offering a valuable opportunity to discuss characters previously misinterpreted for this genus. Traditionally assigned to the Olenelloidea Walcott, 1890, Callavia lacks some of the diagnostic characters of this superfamily and is here assigned to Judomioidea Repina, 1979. A new diagnosis for this genus is provided, and Sdzuyomia Lieberman, 2001 is considered to represent a junior synonym of Callavia. The genus Callavia is distributed across the western margin of Gondwana, from the westernMediterranean region (Iberia and Morocco) throughout all the Avalonia sectors (UK, eastern Newfoundland, and Massachusetts). Its presence in Iberia supports the faunal links between the West Gondwana domain and Avalonia during Cambrian Series 2. The Iberian records of Callavia choffati are assigned to the middle part of the regionalMarianian Stage (uppermost Cambrian Stage 3 to the lowermost Cambrian Stage 4) and correlates with the Callavia Biozone of Avalonia (lower Branchian Series)., We are grateful to M. Webster (Chicago), F.A. Sundberg (Arizona), and J.O.R. Ebbestad (Uppsala, Sweden) for their detailed reviews and constructive suggestions; and N.Hughes (California) for his efforts in editing the article. We thank the Council of Environment and Territorial Planning from the Junta de Andalucía and the Directorate of Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park for providing permission to work into the park; M. Gordo for her contribution with the facilities during the fieldwork campaigns in northern Huelva province; I. Garzón for his fieldwork assistance in Cañaveral de León; M. Ramalho (Museu Geológico de Lisboa), in loving memory, for granting access to fossil collections under his care; J. Colmenar (Centro de Geociências de Coimbra) and the remaining ‘Delgaditos Team’ for assisting in fieldwork in Vila Boim. The present work has been carried out with Junta de Andalucía to the RNM 276 Research Group and the Centro Científico-Tecnológico de Huelva to the Department of Applied Geosciences, together with the GIUV2017-395 research group of the University of Valencia. This study was supported by Portuguese funds by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Portugal) in the frame of UID/Multi00073/2019, UIDB/00073/2020 and UIDP/00073/ 2020 projects of the I & D unit Geosciences Center (CGEO). This work is a contribution to the project IGCP 652.

The Mesonychia is a group of archaic carnivorous mammals of uncertain phylogenetic affinities with a Holarctic distribution during the Paleogene. Intensive fossil collecting efforts in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, have resulted in recovery of the largest sample and most complete specimens yet known of the mesonychid Dissacus praenuntius from the second biozone of the Wasatchian North American Land Mammal Age (Wa-0). The Wa-0 biozone corresponds to the body of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a brief but intense global warming event that occurred ~56 myr ago that significantly impacted terrestrial mammal faunas, including dwarfing in many mammal lineages. To evaluate the potential response of this lineage to climate change, we compared the PETM sample of D. praenuntius with those recovered from just before the PETM in the last biozone of the Clarkforkian North American Land Mammal Age (Cf-3) and just after the PETM in the Wa-1 biozone. While the sample size is still too small to say with certainty, tooth size (as a proxy for body weight) of D. praenuntius appears to be smaller during the late PETM than during either the pre-PETM Cf-3, or post-PETM Wa-1 biozones, suggesting the possibility of a muted dwarfing response to the PETM. However, the pattern observed for D. praenuntius differs from that of many other PETM mammals, as the shift to smaller body size is less pronounced and may have only occurred in late Wa-0.

New complex data have been obtained for two sections of the Santonian–Campanian boundary of Southwestern Crimea. Article 1 presents detailed geological descriptions of sections, lithological, mineralogical, and paleoichnological materials, and the results of determining macro- (crinoids, ammonoids, belemnites) and micropaleontological (dinocysts, nannoplankton, benthic and planktonic foraminifers) remains. On the basis of the results of research, sea level fluctuations, variations in the activity of allogenic input (including pyroclastic material), and other features of sedimentation have been reconstructed. All macro- and micropaleontological data confirm the late Santonian–early Campanian age of the rocks; for each of the micropaleontological groups, biostratigraphic units have been established and a detailed division of the sections has been carried out.

Ammonites from two separate limestone blocks in the Bodrak River basin (Southwest Crimea) are described. The assemblage from the first boulder (on Tatyana’s Hill) is represented by the Echioceratidae ammonites (genera Orthechioceras and Echioceras). The ammonite complex from the second boulder (in the Ammonite Ravine) is represented by one species of Calliphylloceras (family Phylloceratidae), one species of Uptonia (family Polymorphitidae), and three species of the genus Tropidoceras (family Tropidoceratidae). A new species Tropidoceras komarovi is described. For the first time for the Lower Jurassic of Crimea, a sequence of biostratigraphic units is proposed within each of the studied boulders. These units are correlated with biostratigraphic units (zones, subzones, and biohorizons) of the Sub-Mediterranean scale. Within the first boulder, the following units (bottom to top) are established: (1) Biohorizon Orthechioceras edmundi; (2) Biohorizon Echioceras rhodanicum; (3) Biohorizon Echioceras raricostatoides and (4) Biohorizon Echioceras crassicostatum, which correspond to the Raricostatum Zone and Densinodulum and Raricostatum subzones of the upper Sinemurian of Europe. Within the second block, the following units are established (from bottom to top): (1) Biohorizon Uptonia cf. jamesoni and (2) Biohorizon Tropidoceras erythraeum, corresponding to Jamesoni Zone (Jamesoni Subzone) and the bottom of the Ibex Zone (Masseanum Subzone) of the lower Pliensbachian of Europe. It is shown that the studied blocks in Bodrak River basin are composed of limestones of different ages, which, in turn, are different from the age of enclosing rocks.

A taxonomic study of the Paleocene larger foraminifera from the Pyrenean basin has led to the description of sixty taxa including two new species: Alveolina korresensis and Valvulineria bacetai. In this work, we present a chronostratigraphic recalibration of the Paleocene Shallow Benthic Zones SBZ 1 to SBZ 4 based on correlation with calcareous nannofossil and planktic foraminifera biozones, all integrated within the stratigraphic framework of Paleocene platform to basin depositional sequences established for the whole Pyrenean domain. The samples were collected in autochtonous and parautochtonous deposits from ten key stratigraphic sections, representative of coastal to platform margin depositional settings. The results from two sections representing base of slope facies with intercalations of calcareous turbidites, which include penecontemporaneous platform-derived biota have been integrated in the study. The regional chronostratigraphic framework is derived from magneto-biochronological studies carried out in the Zumaia section, the global reference section for the Danian-Selandian and Selandian-Thanetian GSSPs. A new calibration of the Paleocene SBZs is proposed. The SBZ 1 is constrained to the first 1.09m.y. of the Paleocene; this first Paleogene biozone lacks distinct larger foraminiferal markers and thus is defined by an association of non-exclusive taxa composed of Valvulineria patalaensis, Stomatorbina? binkhorsti, Planorbulina? antiqua and Bangiana hanseni. The SBZ 2 now appears as the biozone encompassing most of the Danian stage (from ca. 64.9m.a. to 61.6m.a.), and is characterized by the association of Haymanella elongata, Haymanella paleocenica, Kayseriella decastroi, Rotospirella conica, Pyrenerotalia depressa, Elazigin dienii, Ornatononion moorkensii and Paralockhartia eos. The SBZ 2-SBZ 3 boundary coincides with the base of the Selandian stage (ca. 61.6m.a.). The SBZ 3 biozone is defined by the occurrence of Glomalveolina primaeva, Periloculina slovenica, Vania anatolica, Coskinon rajkae, Fallotella alavensis, Cribrobulimina carniolica, Miscellanea yvettae, Miscellanea juliettae, Miscellanites primitivus, Miscellanites minutus, Ranikothalia soldadensis, “Operculina” heberti and Discocyclina seunesi. The SBZ 3-SBZ 4 boundary is now ascribed to ca. 57.2m.a. The SBZ 4 biozone appears characterized by Glomalveolina levis, Alveolina korresensis, Hottingerina lukasi, Daviesina garumnensis, Assilina yvettae, Assilina azilensis and Nummulites catari. The SBZ 4-SBZ 5 boundary is placed at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary event (ca. 56.0m.a.).

This study reconsiders the previous biostratigraphic settings for the Asmari Formation in the eastern Zagros Basin (Fars Basin). The results imply that the Rupelian is identified by the total range...

Most Cambrian Series 2 faunas of Laurentia are dominated by olenelline trilobites; however, non-olenelline trilobites occur with the olenellines and sometimes dominate the assemblages. Reported here are such non-olenelline trilobites from the Harkless Formation and Mule Spring Limestone at Clayton Ridge, Nevada. At the bottom of the Saline Valley Tongue, Harkless Formation, are two assemblages that are characterized by corynexochines and/or ptychoparioids, with olenellines occurring as only rare components. The corynexochines present in these assemblages include Bonnia cf. B. brennus (Walcott, 1916), Ovatoryctocara cf. O. yaxiensis Yuan et al., 2009, Protoryctocephalus? aff. P.? arcticus Geyer and Peel, 2011, Ogygopsis sp. indet., and Oryctocephalops frischenfeldi Lermontova, 1940. These assemblages are from the mid-Dyeran Stage, below the lowermost zone in the upper Dyeran (Arcuolenellus arcuatus Biozone), and can be correlated to Series 2 Stage 4 (Cambrian) assemblages in Greenland, Siberia, and South China based on the corynexochines.Also in the Saline Valley Tongue and the overlying Mule Spring Limestone and lowermost Emigrant Formation are olenelloid-dominated assemblages that contain the corynexochines Bonnia columbensis Resser, 1936, Zacanthopsis aff. Z. levis (Walcott, 1886), and Z. sp. indet.

A detailed systematic study of calcareous nannofossils was carried out for the Jaddala Formation in (Aj-10) well, Central Iraq. Seventy one species belong to twenty four genera of calcareous nannofossils were identified including sixty two of them were previously named and nine species were identified for the first time and they would not be given names until more information is obtained in the future to support this identification. It is a recorded of five biostratigraphic zone, which suggested the age of the Jaddala Formation to be of early to late Eocene. The recorded biozone includes the following: Reticulofenestra dictyoda (Deflandre in Deflandre & Fert, 1954) Stradner & Edwards, 1968 Partial Range Biozone (CNE 5); Discoaster sublodoensis Bramlette and Sullivan, 1961 Interval biozone (CNE 6-7); Nannotetrina cristata (Martini, 1958) Perch-Nielsen, 1971 Interval biozone (CNE 8); Nannotetrina alata (Martini in Martini & Stradner, 1960) Haq and Lohmann, 1976 Interval biozone (CNE 9); Chiasmolithus gigas Bramlette & Sullivan, 1961Range Biozone (CNE 10-11).

Moderately to well-preserved radiolarians have been extracted from nine greyish green and purplish-red bedded cherts in the mud-matrix melange of the eastern Yarlung-Zangbo Suture Zone (YZSZ) at Jinlang Section, Zedong, southern Xizang (Tibet). Forty-two species belonging to 27 genera, including Middle Jurassic characteristic species such as Laxtorum (?) jurassicum Isozaki and Matsuda, Laxtorum (?) hichisoense Isozaki and Matsuda, Stichocapsa japonica Yao, Stichocapsa robusta Matsuoka, Parahsuum (?) magnum Takemura, Sella chrafatensis (El Kadiri), and Unuma typicus Ichikawa and Yao are recognized and three assemblages, Laxtorum (?) jurassicum Assemblage (Aalenian), Quarticella ovalis Assemblage (late Bajocian), and Stichocapsa robusta Assemblage (middle Bathonian) are established in ascending order. These assemblages can be well correlated to the Middle Jurassic Unitary Association (UA) Zones (Baumgartner et al., 1995) in west Tethys and coeval biozones in Japan and provide reliable age information for the Middle Jurassic stratigraphic correlation of the pelagic sediments along the YZSZ.

The Kometan Formation is widely distributed in the northern (Kurdistan region) and central Iraq. The studied area is located near the Dokan Dam, about 58 km., to the Northwest of the Sulaymaniyah city, Northeastern Iraq. The Kometan Formation is exposed on the southwest flank of the Sarah anticline. The formation consists of limestone and dolomitic limestone, which have cherts nodules throughout the formation. The Gulneri Formation is recorded below the Kometan Formation with unconformable contact, while at the top is bounded by the Shiranish Formation unconformably too. Three microfacies are identified, these are lime mudstone, planktic foraminiferal lime wackestone-packstone, keeld planktonic foraminiferal lime wackestone-packstone microfacies. All the sedimentary and fossil evidence refer that the sedimentary environment of the formation is the outer shelf to upper bathyal at the lower and upper parts of formation and its extension to the middle bathyal in the middle part of the formation. Based on the stratigraphic ranges of the recorded Calcareous nannofossils biozones, the age of the Kometan Formation at Dokan area is Late Turonian-Early Campanian.

The conodont fauna from the Willara Formation, a carbonate-dominated stratigraphic unit widely distributed in the subsurface Canning Basin of Western Australia, is represented by 41 species, including a new species, Erraticodon neopatu Zhen n. sp. The Jumudontus gananda and Histiodella altifrons biozones are recognized in the lower and upper parts, respectively, of the Willara Formation. Deposited primarily in shallow nearshore settings, the Willara Formation is characterized by the occurrence of predominantly long-range coniform species of Triangulodus, Scalpellodus, Drepanoistodus, Drepanodus, and Kirkupodus. Several widely distributed age-diagnostic species, including Histiodella altifrons, Histiodella holodentata, Histiodella serrata, and Jumudontus gananda, serve as keys for biostratigraphic analysis and correlation. Our study also shows that the basal and top boundaries of the Willara Formation are diachronous across the basin, extending from the middle Floian (Oepikodus communis Biozone) to middle Darriwilian (Histiodella holodentata-Eoplacognathus pseudoplanus Biozone). This contribution provides crucial new biostratigraphic data for precise correlation of the Willara Formation with its time equivalents regionally and internationally.

Seventy three species of calcareous nannofossils are recorded from the studied section of Tanjero Formation at Azmer anticline, Sulimaniya, Northern Iraq. The studied section reveals four biozones arranged in an ascending order from oldest to youngest as follows; Tranolithus phacelosus Interval Biozone (CC23) Part, Rienhardtites lives Interval Biozone (CC24), Arkhangelskilla cymbiformis Interval Biozone (CC25), and Nephrolithus frequens Rang Biozone (CC26) Part. These biozones are correlated with other calcareous nannofossil biozones of both local and regional sections, leading to conclude a possible age of Late Campanian- Maastrichtian.

The Yamama Formation was studied in three wells (Fh-1, Fh-2, and Fh-3) within Faihaa oil field, south Iraq. Thin sections were studied by using the polarizing microscope examination in order to determine microfossils and biozone. Thirty-five species of benthic foraminifera were recognized, including four index species. In addition, twelve species of calcareous green algae were recognized, including two index species. Other fossils that were recognized in Yamama Formation include Gastropoda, Bryozoa, Coral, Rudist, and Pelecypoda. Six biozones were observed, which are Charentia cuvillieri sp. (Range Zone of Berriasian age), Psudochryalidina infracretacea sp. (Range Zone of Berriasian age), Pseudocyclammina Lituus sp. (Range Zone of Valanginian age), Nezzazata Perforate sp.andChoffatella sp.(Assemblage Zoneof Berriasian-Valanginian age), Desycladales Green Algae- Cylindroporella sp. (Range Zone of Early Cretaceous- Berriasian age), and Desycladales Green Algae- Salpingoporella cf. circassa sp. (Range Zone of Valanginian age). According to these biozones, the age of Yamama Formation was distinguished to be the Berriasian-Valanginian.

The genusAmaltheus, one of the representative late Pliensbachian ammonoids, has biostratigraphic and paleobiogeographic significance in Japan. Four species,Amaltheus stokesi(Sowerby, 1818),A. margaritatusde Montfort, 1808,A. repressusDagis, 1976, andA. orientalisnew species, have been found in the Kuruma Group in central Japan;A. stokesiandA. margaritatusare also from the Toyora Group in southwest Japan. On the basis of taxonomic analysis of the genusAmaltheus, we distinguish two successive ammonoid biozones in the lower part of the Teradani Formation of the Kuruma Group: theAmaltheus stokesi–Amaltheus repressusand theAmaltheus margaritatusassemblage zones, in stratigraphic ascending order. This study also establishes the presence of theAmaltheus stokesiAssemblage Zone in the Higashinagano Formation of the Toyora Group. Thestokesi–repressusand thestokesiassemblage zones correspond biostratigraphically to theAmaltheus stokesiStandard Subzone of themargaritatusZone. ThemargaritatusAssemblage Zone is correlated with theAmaltheus subnodosusandAmaltheus gibbosusstandard subzones. The Japanese early–middle late Pliensbachian ammonoid faunas are composed almost entirely of pan-Boreal and Arctic species of the genusAmaltheus. This faunal composition has an affinity with that of the Northeast Russian region, and thus suggests a strong paleobiogeographic relationship between East Asian and Northeast Russian faunas throughout this time interval.UUID:http://zoobank.org/5F08121F-1DAF-4B24-BCBE-B08F7101CF29

Ordovician conodonts representing 28 genera and 28 named and three unnamed species were identified from 740 chert and siliceous siltstone spot samples (>3 000 thin sections) from deep-water turbiditic sequences of the Lachlan Orogen in central and southern New South Wales, Australia. Based on these faunas, a new conodont biozonal scheme has been established to divide the Ordovician turbiditic successions of the Lachlan Orogen into 12 superbiozones and biozones. They are (in ascending order) the Paracordylodus gracilis Superbiozone (including the Prioniodus oepiki Biozone), Periodon flabellum Superbiozone (including the Oepikodus evae Biozone in the lower part), Periodon hankensis Biozone, Periodon aculeatus Superbiozone (including the Histiodella labiosa, Histiodella holodentata, Histiodella kristinae, Pygodus serra and Pygodus anserinus biozones) and the Periodon grandis Biozone. The Pygodus anserinus Biozone is divided further into the lower and upper subbiozones. This new conodont biozonation scheme spanning the upper Tremadocian to middle Katian interval permits precise age-dating and correlation of deep-water siliciclastic rocks that characterize the Ordovician Deep-Sea Realm regionally and internationally.

This study focuses on late Paleocene–middle Eocene planktonic and small benthic foraminiferal assemblages from the Khangiran Formation in the Kopet-Dagh Basin (NE Iran). The patterns of regional distribution of foraminiferal fauna were observed in this study, although many of the global foraminiferal index species are absent in the studied southernmost Peri-Tethys neritic section. Accordingly, this work proposes to update a regional biostratigraphic scheme and correlation with adjacent basins based on the first and last appearance of diagnostic species. Biozones correlative with Acarinina acarinata Zone, Morozovella subbotinae Zone, Morozovella aragonensis Zone, Acarinina bullbrooki Zone, and Acarinina rotundimarginata Zone of interregional zonal scheme based on planktonic foraminifera and biozones correlative with Annectina paleocenica Zone, Pseudogaudryina externa Zone, and Pseudogaudryina pseudonavarrana Zone based on small benthic foraminifera were recognized in the type section of the Khangiran Formation indicating Thanetian-middle Lutetian age. Toward the upper part of the studied section in the last phase of marine sedimentation regional oyster beds (Sokolowia spp.) point out late Lutetian-early Priabonian age. Possibly Arctic-Tethys communication systems through the early Paleogene epicontinental seas were responsible for the faunal assemblage similarities and suggest that the Kopet-Dagh Basin of Iran was connected to northern basins of Former Soviet Union and other Central Asian basins during the Paleogene.

Graptolites have been collected from sections through Lower Ordovician strata in northern Iran. At the Saluk Mountains, in the Kopet–Dagh region, mudrocks yielded fragmentary tubaria ofRhabdinoporasp. cf.R. flabelliformis, indicating the presence of lower Tremadocian strata there; stratigraphically, they lie between two limestone beds with the euconodontCordylodus lindstromi. At Simeh–Kuh in the eastern Alborz Mountains (Semnan Province), upper Tremadocian – lower Floian strata include laminated dark mudstones that contain restricted graptolite faunas, mainly of small declined didymograptids; these are thought to represent incursions of plankton during periods of marine highstands. The lower major flooding surface in Simeh–Kuh coincides with an invasion of the graptolite biofacies and an incursion ofHunnegraptus? sp.; the second major flooding surface is associated with an incursion ofBaltograptus geometricus. They were most probably synchronous with those in the lower part of theHunnegraptus copiosusBiozone and at the base of theCymatograptus protobalticusBiozone in the of the Tøyen Shale Formation succession of Västergötland, Scandinavia, suggesting that observed characters of sedimentation were eustatically controlled.

Foraminiferal analysis was carried out on forty (40) ditch cutting samples from BC-1 well in the Onshore, Western Niger Delta at depth intervals of 5590 ft. - 8300 ft. Lithologic description of the samples together with the gamma ray log analytical data indicated the presence of four lithostratigraphic units composed of shale, sandstone, sandy shale and shaly sand corresponding to the continental Benin and paralic Agbada Formations. A total of twelve (12) species defined into eleven (11) genera, six (6) subfamilies and eleven (11) families were recovered. Benthonic and planktonic foraminiferal species constitute approximately 82 % and 18 % respectively. The calcareous benthics make up 44.4 % while the arenaceous benthics representing 37.7% of the total foraminiferal assemblages. Foraminiferal index marker species - Globorotalia opima nana, Nonion oyae, Cassigerinella chipollensis and Spiroplectammina wrightiirevealed that the age of the studied well is from Late Eocene - Early Oligocene epoch. This indicated that both the planktonic and benthonic foraminiferal recovered from the well contained the transition between the Priabonian and the Rupelian age. Three (3) informal foraminiferal zone were established - Nonion oyae zone, Cassigerinella chipollensis zone and undiagnostic zone. The zones compares with foraminiferal markers species whose stratigraphic ranges are well established in the Niger Delta and globally. Keyword: Lithostratigraphic units, Agbada Formation, Eocene, Oligocene and Biozone.

Quartz crystallinity index (QCI) was used to reflect the crystallisation of silica in the Late Ordovician Wufeng (WF) and Early Silurian Longmaxi (LM) Formation shale, as well as the airborne volcanic ash-derived silica in the Lucaogou Formation tuffaceous shale, to distinguish the two types of silica. The silica in different graptolite biozones exhibited different crystallisation. The WF2–3, LM1–4 graptolite biozones showed obviously lower QCI values than the LM5–9 graptolite biozones and the Lucaogou Formation samples. The graptolite organisms played the role of adsorption, fixation, and precipitation in silicon accumulation and enrichment in stratum. The biogenic origin caused the poorest quartz crystallisation in WF2–3 and LM1–4 graptolite biozones samples. The airborne volcanic ash-derived silica in the Lucaogou Formation tuffaceous shale exhibited relatively poor quartz crystallisation because of weaker diagenesis intensity. Generally, although the WF2–3 and LM1–4 graptolite biozones underwent strong diagenesis and contained a small amount of detrital quartz, the silica still exhibited lower QCI values than the airborne volcanic ash-derived silica in the Lucaogou Formation tuffaceous shale. The biogenic silica crystallisation was much poorer than that of the airborne volcanic ash-derived silica. QCI is an effective quantitative index to demonstrate the biogenic silica in the organic-rich and silica-rich shale.