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The Caledonian Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides (COSC) project aims to investigate the orogenic processes involving Caledonian allochthons together with the underlying sedimentary cover and Proterozoic igneous basement. The basement comprises Transscandinavian Igneous Belt (TIB) rocks with Hallandian and Central Scandinavian Dolerite Group intrusions and is overlain by a regolith (sub-Cambrian peneplain?). A Lower Cambrian(?) sedimentary succession of conglomerate, carbonate and shale covers this immature soil, followed by coarse-grained gravity flows fining upwards and showing a transition into the Alum Shale Formation. The undisturbed middle part of the formation separates the lower sedimentary cover from its overlying turbiditic part and the Lower Ordovician(?) turbidite sequence fining up to the top of the COSC-2 core.First results of detrital zircon geochronology from the Cambrian succession show that the basal section of the autochthonous cover is characterized by mainly late Paleoproterozoic (c. 45% of all grains) – early Mesoproterozoic (c. 52%) detrital grains with age signatures of c. 1.77 Ga, 1.66 Ga and 1.44 Ga and a subordinate 1.25 Ga age peak. The middle part of the succession is dominated by late Paleoproterozoic detritus (c. 62% of all grains) with minor Mesoproterozoic (c. 21%) and Archean (c. 11%) input. The main age signatures are c. 1.80 Ga and 1.90 Ga with subordinate age peaks at c. 2.72 Ga, 2.00 Ga, 1.16 Ga. The upper part of Lower Cambrian(?) succession is characterized by Archean to Cambrian detritus. Archean grains constitute 12% of grains with dominant age signature at c. 2.67 Ga. Paleoproterozoic grains (25%) are grouped in 2.15-1.65 Ga interval with peaks at c. 2.12 Ga, 1.80 Ga, 1.76 Ga and 1.67 Ga. The Mesoproterozoic population (41%) is characterized by major age peaks at c. 1.55 Ga and 1.20 Ga. Neoproterozoic – Cambrian group (17%) contains major populations at c. 0.60 Ga and 0.53 Ga and a significant peak at c. 0.72 Ga. The maximum depositional age calculated via the maximum likelihood age algorithm yielded 530.5±4 Ma for the upper part of the Lower Cambrian succession. Two samples from the Ordovician succession show Mesoproterozoic – Neoproterozoic sources (c. 75% of grains), with more than 38% of grains yielding late Mesoproterozoic – early Neoproterozoic (1.2-0.9 Ga) ages. The dominant population of c. 1.06-1.02 Ga is accompanied by c. 1.50-1.47 Ga, 1.15 Ga and 0.99-0.97 Ga age peaks.The autochthonous Lower to Lower Middle Cambrian passive margin succession in the lower part is dominated by local detritus provided solely from the Eastern Segment of Sveconorwegian Orogen (including the basement investigated by the COSC-2). The provenance shifts up the profile towards TIB-1 and Svecofennian Orogen sources, with the youngest part of the succession characterized by an input of Timanian Orogen detritus, including the uplifted Karelian protocraton. The Ordovician succession is characterized by Meso-Neoproterozoic age populations most likely sourced from the Sveconorwegian Orogen with a minor cratonic contribution. The youngest detritus is early Neoproterozoic, suggesting a passive margin setting with no early Caledonian input present.This work was funded by the National Science Centre (Poland) projects no. 2019/33/B/ST10/01728 and 2018/29/B/ST10/02315.

We present a δ13Ccarb chemostratigraphy for the Late Ordovician Hirnantian Stage based on 208 whole-rock samples from six outcrops in the Oslo–Asker district, southern Norway. Our data include the Norwegian type section for the Hirnantian Stage and Ordovician–Silurian boundary at Hovedøya Island. The most complete record of the Hirnantian Isotope Carbon Excursion (HICE) is identified in a coastal exposure at Konglungø locality where the preserved part of the anomaly spans a c. 24 m thick, mixed carbonate–siliciclastic succession belonging to the upper Husbergøya, Langåra and Langøyene formations and where δ13Ccarb peak values reach c. +6 ‰. Almost the entire HICE occurs above beds containing the Hirnantia Fauna, suggesting a latest Hirnantian age for the peak of the excursion. The temporal development of the HICE in southern Norway is associated with substantial shallowing of depositional environments. Sedimentary facies and erosional unconformities suggest four inferably fourth-order glacio-eustatically controlled sea-level lowstands with successively increased exposure and erosion to the succession. The youngest erosional unconformity is related to the development of incised valleys and resulted in cut-out of at least the falling limb of the HICE throughout most of the Oslo–Asker district. The fill of the valleys contains the falling limb of the HICE, and the postglacial transgression therefore can be assigned to the latest part of the Hirnantian Age. We address the recent findings of the chitinozoan Belonechitina gamachiana in the study area and its relationship to the first occurrence of Hirnantia Fauna in the studied sections, challenging identification of the base of the Hirnantian Stage.

The Cambrian succession of the Tingskullen drill core from northern Ãland comprises Cambrian Series 2 and Miaolingian (Wuliuan Stage) siliciclastic strata. The major portion of the succession is represented by the Miaolingian Borgholm Formation, which, in ascending order, is subdivided into the Mossberga, BÃ¥rstad and Ãleklinta members. The Ãleklinta Member is barren of body fossils, whereas the Mossberga and BÃ¥rstad members are moderately to highly fossiliferous and biostratigraphically reasonably well constrained. Trilobites and agnostoids from the BÃ¥rstad Member are indicative of the Acadoparadoxides pinus Zone. The Mossberga Member has not yielded any zonal guide fossils but is tentatively assigned to the Eccaparadoxides insularis Zone. A δ13Corg curve throughout the Borgholm Formation shows a general positive trend up-section without any distinctive excursion, suggesting that the Wuliuan Acadoparadoxides (Baltoparadoxides) oelandicus Superzone (the âOelandicus bedsâ) of Ãland is younger than the negative RedlichiidâOlenellid Extinction Carbon isotope Excursion (ROECE), which is known from near the top of Stage 4 and close to the traditional âLowerâMiddle Cambrian boundaryâ in several parts of the world.

The Lower and Middle Ordovician of the Yangtze Platform, China, is characterized by a sedimentary succession dominated by carbonate rocks. Three sections spanning the Nantsinkuan/Lunshan, Fenhsiang, Hunghuayuan, and Dawan/Zitai formations, corresponding to the Tremadocian–Dapingian in age, have been sampled for high-resolution δ13C chemostratigraphy (542 samples in total). Our new δ13C data reveal five tie-points with the potential for global correlation: (1) a positive δ13C excursion in the lower Nantsinkuan Formation within the Tremadocian Rossodus manitouensis Zone; (2) an excursion with two peaks roughly within the late Tremadocian Paltodus ‘deltifer’ Zone; (3) a positive δ13C shift in the lower Hunghuayuan Formation, within the early Floian Serratognathus diversus Zone; (4) a gradual positive δ13C shift in the late Floian, ranging from the uppermost S. diversus Zone to the basal Oepikodus evae Zone; (5) a minor negative shift in the lower Dawan/Zitai Formation, within the early Dapingian Baltoniodus triangularis Zone. These excursions are herein used for correlation of the Yangtze Platform strata with successions from South China, North China, the Argentine Precordillera, North America and Baltica. From a palaeogeographical perspective the Gudongkou, Xiangshuidong and Daling sections represent depositional environments along an inner to outer ramp profile. δ13C data from these sections show successively heavier (higher) δ13C values with increasing depositional depth. This is interpreted as due to remineralization of organic carbon within the carbonate rocks. Supplementary material: Carbon and oxygen isotope data are available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4767080

The Collisional Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides (COSC) scientific drilling project aims to characterise the structure and orogenic processes involved in a major collisional mountain belt by multidisciplinary geoscientific research. Located in western central Sweden, the project has drilled two fully cored deep boreholes into the bedrock of the deeply eroded Early Paleozoic Caledonide Orogen. COSC-1 (2014) drilled a subduction-related allochthon and the associated thrust zone. COSC-2 (2020, this paper) extends this section deeper through the underlying nappes (Lower Allochthon), the main Caledonian décollement, and the upper kilometre of basement rocks. COSC-2 targets include the characterisation of orogen-scale detachments, the impact of orogenesis on the basement below the detachment, and the Early Paleozoic palaeoenvironment on the outer margin of palaeocontinent Baltica. This is complemented by research on heat flow, groundwater flow, and the characterisation of the microbial community in the present hard rock environment of the relict mountain belt. COSC-2 successfully, and within budget, recovered a continuous drill core to 2276 m depth. The retrieved geological section is partially different from the expected geological section with respect to the depth to the main décollement and the expected rock types. Although the intensity of synsedimentary deformation in the rocks in the upper part of the drill core might impede the analysis of the Early Paleozoic palaeoenvironment, the superb quality of the drill core and the borehole will facilitate research on the remaining targets and beyond. Protocols for sampling in the hard rock environment and subsequent sample preservation were established for geomicrobiological research and rock mechanical testing. For the former, a sparse sample series along the entire drill core was taken, while the target of the latter was the décollement. COSC-2 was surveyed by a comprehensive post-drilling downhole logging campaign and a combined borehole/land seismic survey in autumn 2021. This paper provides an overview of the COSC-2 (International Continental Scientific Drilling Project – ICDP 5054_2_A and 5054_2_B boreholes) operations and preliminary results. It will be complemented by a detailed operational report and data publication. Collisional Orogeny in the Scandinavian Caledonides (COSC)

Introduction Early Ordovician (Floian) lithistid sponge-Calathium-microbial reefs were discovered in the lower part of the Lower Setul Limestone in Perlis, northwestern Malaysia Peninsula. Results With a thickness of more than 30 m, massive microbial boundstone is surrounded by thick-bedded oncoid-intraclast rudstone/grainstone. The reefs were constructed of cylindrical stromatolites and maze-like thrombolites, accompanying a small proportion of lithistid sponges (anthaspidellids) and hypercalcified sponges (Calathium). The earliest Floian age is based on a conodont fauna including the zonal index species Serratognathus bilobatus. Conclusions The microbialites might have grown in shallow subtidal environments, indicated by the high aspect ratio of the stromatolites and the associated coarse-grained sediments. The initial growth of stromatolites was sufficient to inhibit hydrodynamic removal of sediment and to create microhabitats in which environmental conditions were favourable for later accretion of thrombolites and colonization by anthaspidellids and calathids. These sponge-bearing microbialites represent the initial rise of metazoans in reefs at the dawn of the Ordovician Radiation, providing crucial information for understanding the transition from microbial- to metazoan-dominant reefs during this unique interval.

The Swedish island of Gotland is located within the Baltic Basin. During the Late Ordovician the region around Gotland was part of a shallow epicratonic basin in the southern subtropics. In these w ...

La Formación San Juan es la unidad terminal de una secuencia que comprende rocas carbonáticas depositadas desde el Cámbrico al Ordovícico temprano, predominantemente en ambiente de plataforma somera. Se estudiaron los conodontes del perfil de Niquivil, que abarcan asociaciones desde la Zona de P. elegans hasta posiblemente la Subzona de Eoplacognathus? variabilis/Microzarkodina jlabellum, la Subzona inferior de la Zona de A. variabilis de las sucesiones baltoescandinavas, extendiéndose desde el Arenigiano Inferior hasta el Arenigiano Superior. El material estudiado fue correlacionado con las zonas baltoescandinavas, las zonas de asociación de la Cuenca Canning (Australia), de la provincia del Continente Medio (Norte América), del Sur de China y con las faunas de Ny Friesland/Spitzbergen.

COSC investigations and drilling activities are focused in the Åre-Mörsil area (Sweden) of central Scandinavia. COSC-2 was drilled with nearly 100% core recovery in 2020 to 2.276 km depth with drilling ongoing from mid-April to early August. Drilling targets for COSC-2 included (1) the highly conductive Alum shale, (2) the Caledonian décollement, the major detachment that separates the Caledonian allochthons from the autochthonous basement of the Fennoscandian Shield, and (3) the strong seismic reflectors in the Precambrian basement.Combined seismic, magnetotelluric (MT) and magnetic data were used to site the COSC-2 borehole about 20 km east-southeast of COSC-1. Based on these data it was predicted that the uppermost, tectonic occurrence of Cambrian Alum shale would be penetrated at about 800 m, the main décollement in Alum shale at its stratigraphic level at about 1200 m and the uppermost high amplitude basement reflector at about 1600 m. Paleozoic turbidites and greywackes were expected to be drilled down to 800 m depth. Below this depth, Ordovician limestone and shale with imbricates of Alum shale were interpreted to be present. Directly below the main décollement, magnetite rich Precambrian basement was expected to be encountered with a composition similar to that of magnetic granitic rocks found east of the Caledonian Front. The actual depths of the main contacts turned out to agree very well with the predictions based on the geophysical data. However, the geology below the uppermost occurrence of Alum shale is quite different from the expected model. Alum shale was only clearly encountered as a highly deformed, about 30 m thick unit, starting at about 790 m. Between about 820 and 1200 m, preliminary interpretations are that the rocks mainly consist of Neo-Proterozoic to Early Cambrian tuffs. Further below, Precambrian porphyries are present. The high amplitude reflections within the Precambrian sequence appear to be generated by dolerite sheets with the uppermost top penetrated at about 1600 m. Several deformed sheets of dolerite may be present down to about 1930 m. Below this depth the rocks are again porphyries.A preliminary conclusion concerning the tectonic model is that the main décollement is at about 800 m and not at 1200 m. Also the thickness of the lowermost Cambrian/uppermost Neoproterozoic sediments on top of the basement is much greater than expected (hundreds of meters instead of tens of meters) and likely to have been thickened tectonically. Detailed studies are required to assess the actual importance of the “main décollement” and the degree, type and age of deformation in its footwall. We can also conclude that the Precambrian basement is very similar to the Dala porphyries succession that are typically present farther south.An extensive set of downhole logging data was acquired directly after drilling. Borehole seismic measurements in 2021 will help to define and correlate seismic boundaries with lithology and structures in the core. Unfortunately, work for describing the geology of the drill core in detail is still on hold due to Covid-19.

The Komstad Limestone forms a distal part of the widespread ‘orthoceratite limestone’ of the Baltoscandian continent. In this paper, we present an integrated conodont biostratigraphy and carbon isotope stratigraphy for a major part of this formation and address its significance for evaluating Middle Ordovician correlation and overall stratigraphy. Four conodont zones are distinguished, including the Lenodus antivariabilis Zone, Lenodus variabilis Zone, the Yangtzeplacognathus crassus Zone, and the Eoplacognathus pseudoplanus Zone. Carbon isotopes have previously not been published from the Komstad Limestone. The data herein show that carbonate strata may retain a comprehensive pristine δ13C signal despite relatively strong thermal influence during diagenesis (Conodont Color Alteration Index 4–5). (Less)

The present study reviews the main geochemical, sedimentological, and paleontological events associated with one of the largest perturbations in the Phanerozoic carbon cycle, the Mid-Ludfordian Carbon Isotope Excursion (MLCIE), which is globally documented in late Silurian marine successions. Climate changes associated with the MLCIE are not yet well documented in contrast to most other Silurian CIEs. We report seawater surface temperature changes across the entire MLCIE using δ18Oapatite records of conodonts originating from different regions located in temperate as well as tropical paleolatitudes. Significant positive δ18Oapatite excursions (up to 3.8‰) measured in temperate-water areas of the Prague Basin and Carnic Alps (peri-Gondwana) as well as in the tropical areas of Baltica (Laurussia) and Australia (Gondwana) provide evidence for significant global cooling during the MLCIE. The marked cooling of sea surface temperatures, coupled with a significant eustatic sea-level fall recorded on all corresponding paleocontinents, point to a major glaciation in polar and subpolar Gondwana which is denominated here as the “Mid-Ludfordian Glaciation”. The onset of rapid cooling in the Prague Basin (peri-Gondwana) is preceded by the deposition of shales enriched in redox-sensitive trace metals suggesting that anoxic/euxinic waters expanded on the deeper carbonate shelf just before the MLCIE. The coincidence of culmination of the anoxic event (named here as the Siluricus Ocean Anoxic Event) with the Lau/Kozlowskii extinction events is documented for the first time outside of the Laurussian epeiric basins. Widespread oxygen-deficient conditions are interpreted to have been stressful to shelfal ecosystems and may have been a major cause of the extinctions. The mid-Ludfordian glacio-eustatic sea-level fall caused a reduction of shelf habitats culminating in a lower faunal diversity and a change in the structure of faunal communities. The observed positive δ18Oapatite excursion is tightly coupled to δ13C and δ34S anomalies documented from temperate (peri-Gondwana) as well as tropical (Laurussia) paleolatitudes. The δ18Oapatite data complete the Silurian seawater temperature curve and show evidence that one of the largest positive carbon isotope anomalies (MLCIE) of the Phanerozoic was preceded by a widespread anoxic event and tightly linked with a climate cooling event as documented as well for most other Silurian CIEs.

The Tremadocian (Early Ordovician) is currently considered a time span of greenhouse conditions with tropical water surface temperature estimates, interpolated from oxygen isotopes, approaching 40 °C. In the mid-latitude Baltoscandian Basin, conodonts displaying low δ O values, which suggest high temperatures (>40 °C) in the water column, are in contrast with the discovery of contemporaneous glendonite clusters, a pseudomorph of ikaite (CaCO ·6H O) traditionally considered as indicator of near-freezing bottom-water conditions. The massive precipitation of this temperature sensitive mineral is associated with transgressive conditions and high organic productivity. As a result, the lower Tremadocian sediments of Baltoscandia apparently contain both “greenhouse” pelagic signals and near-freezing substrate indicators. This paradox points to other primary controlling mechanisms for ikaite precipitation in kerogenous substrates, such as carbonate alkalinity, pH and Mg/Ca ratios, as recently constrained by laboratory experiments. Preservation of “hot” conodonts embedded in kerogenous shales rich in δ O-depleted glendonites suggests both the onset of sharp thermal stratification patterns in a semi-closed basin and the assumed influence of isotopically depleted freshwater yielded by fluvial systems.

Results of conodont-based δ18Ophos studies from two core sections in Estonia (Mehikoorma-421 and Valga-10) indicate that the pre-Hirnantian Late Ordovician was characterized by a general cooling trend: a rapid climate cooling in the early Sandbian and a less intense cooling in the late Sandbian through Katian. During this time interval, sea-surface temperatures probably decreased by up to 9o C. This fits with earlier ideas of a colder Late Ordovician climate before the Hirnantian. On the background of general cooling trend in the pre-Hirnantian Late Ordovician, tendencies in the temperature changes were quite variable. Several episodes of SST decrease and increase of different magnitudes and durations are evident from the δ18Ophos curves in the studied sections. In the interval sampled in detail, 7 cooling events are recognized and tentatively called (in stratigraphical order): Early Kukruse, Haljala, Keila, Early Nabala, Vormsi, Early Pirgu and Middle Pirgu CE-s. Duration of these events and amplitudes of changes in seawater temperatures increased from Sandbian to late Katian. All cooling events may have triggered the waxing of polar and subpolar Gondwana icecaps and are reflected in the sedimentary succession by major sea-level lowstands recognized also outside the study region. Results of our research do not support a simple, straightforward correlation between temperature trends inferred from δ18Ophos measurements and changes in the δ13C record. Comparison of δ18Ophos and δ13C curves reveal that these two variables behave quite independently: in some intervals their trends fit quite well, in others they might show completely the opposite. For this comparison we provide also a new, detailed δ13C curve from the Valga-10 core section.

The Ludfordian (late Silurian) records one of the largest perturbations in the Phanerozoic marine carbon cycling, the mid-Ludfordian positive δ13Ccarb excursion (MLCIEcarb), which occurred in the aftermath of the Lau/Kozlowskii Bioevent (LKB). There are still controversies regarding origin of the MLCIE and its possible causal link(s) with respect to the preceding LKB. Surprisingly, the isotope fractionation of carbon between inorganic and organic carbon pools during the MLCIE was not investigated in detail. To constrain better this parameter of marine C cycle, its linkage to the LKB, and local sulfur cycle, we analysed high-resolution δ13Ccarb, δ13Corg, and δ34Spy records in the Prague Basin (peri-Gondwana) representing one of the most complete records of the MLCIEcarb in the world. Evaluation of these high-resolution δ13Corg and δ13Ccarb records reveals their tight coupling, which in turn indicates the photosynthetic origin of the MLCIEorg via links to primary production and changing rates of organic carbon burial. On the other hand, our data also reveal a short-term decoupling of the δ13Corg and δ13Ccarb records preceding the MLCIE which may have been related to a purported increase in atmospheric pCO2 levels or anoxic event. The peak of the Δ13C anomaly exactly coincides with the LKB and, therefore, for the first time suggests a tight link between the change in marine carbon cycling and the bioevent. Subsequent rapid drop of the Δ13C values (and by inference also atmospheric pCO2) fits well with a rapid cooling and globally documented regression reported for this time interval. Finally, the documented strong coupling of δ13Ccarb and δ34Spy records during the MLCIE points to an intensive microbial sulfate reduction which should increase carbonate alkalinity input, thus contributing to formation of authigenic carbonates and an increase in δ13C values of DIC (and anticipated seawater carbonate saturation). The coupling of δ13Corg and δ34Spy values suggests a global enhancement of organic carbon and pyrite burial likely driven by an expansion of euxinic (anoxic and sulfidic water column) conditions in the oceans. Present study of C and S isotope variations during the MLCIE reveals for the first time a tight link among carbon and sulfur cycling, global cooling, and reorganization of faunal communities and fits well with purported seawater carbonate hypersaturation at the onset and during MLCIE.

The positive δ13C excursion associated with the Late Silurian Lau Event is recognized globally and is the most prominent carbon isotope excursion of the Phanerozoic. We present new δ13C data (195 samples) and the first continuous carbon isotope stratigraphy across the stratigraphic range of this bioevent based on two drill cores from Gotland, the informal type area for the Lau Event. The positive δ13C anomaly reaches a peak value of 9.01‰ in an interval correlated to the Icriodontid conodont Zone in the upper Eke Formation, an interval with generally impoverished fauna and strongly dominated by one single conodont species, Panderodus equicostatus, and a mass-occurrence of oncoids. The distinct morphology of this Late Ludfordian Carbon Isotope Excursion, including a well-defined rising limb, a plateau and a falling limb can be used for intercontinental correlation of the strata.

The widespread growth of reefs formed by a framework of biogenic constructors and frame-lacking carbonate mounds began on Baltica during Ordovician time. Previously, Ordovician reef and mound development on Baltica was considered to be sporadic and local. A review of all known bioherm localities across the Baltic Basin reveals a more consistent pattern. Ordovician bioherms grew in a wide E–W-aligned belt across the Baltic Basin and occur in several places in Norway. Substantial reef development began simultaneously across the region during the late Sandbian – early Katian interval and climaxed during the late Katian Pirgu age. The current spatiotemporal distribution of bioherms is a result of interdependent factors that involve original drivers of reef development such as relative sea level, climate during the time of deposition and effects of post-depositional erosion. Oceanographic conditions were likely more favourable during times of cooler global climates, low sea level and glacial episodes. At the same time, the likelihood that bioherms are preserved from long-term erosion is higher when deposited during low sea level in deeper parts of the basin. A main factor controlling the timing of the reef and mound evolution was Baltica's shift toward palaeotropical latitudes during Late Ordovician time. The time equivalence between initial reef growth and the Guttenberg isotope carbon excursion (GICE) suggests that global climatic conditions were important.

Late Ordovician mud-mounds in the Boda Limestone, Siljan area, central Sweden, consist mainly of massive spiculitic stromatactis limestone similar to other well-known Paleozoic mud-mounds. The mound cores are predominantly formed by spiculite and ostracod-rich mudstone and/or wackestone, and networks of spar-filled syndepositional cavities. The mounds of the Boda Limestone are specific in two ways: (1) large parts of the lower mound cores are formed by a Palaeoporella framestone and/or bafflestone with signs of early recrystallization and cementation; and (2) the stromatactis facies is accompanied by masses of limestone with non-stromatactis cryptocrystalline patches. Cryptocrystalline patches are filled with massive, fibrous low-Mg calcite, have cloudy, transitional margins, contain randomly spaced skeletal grains and dolomitic micro-inclusions, and are interpreted as recrystallized patches of the original host lime mud. Models of formation of Paleozoic mud-mounds generally hypothesize accretionary processes that are based on sponge biomass degradation and associated diagenetic processes. In the Boda Limestone Palaeoporella skeleton disintegration, early recrystallization, and additionally, cementation were essential for the mound formation. The Boda mounds exemplify that formation of Paleozoic mud-mounds reflects a spectrum of different essentially diagenetic accretionary mechanisms. This diversity should be taken into account in future discussions about Paleozoic mud-mound formation. The new name Osmundsberget Formation is given for a Hirnantian succession of brachiopod-rich limestone above the Boda Limestone. The Osmundsberget Formation occurs only in direct geographical vicinity to the mud-mounds.

One of the few and most complete records of the MDICE (Middle Darriwilian Isotope Carbon Excursion) is herein documented from Baltoscandia. Based on a core section penetrating the condensed Lower–Middle Ordovician succession (~46 m) on the island of Öland, southeastern Sweden, we provide an integrated scheme for carbon isotope chemostratigraphy (313 samples) and conodont biostratigraphy (29 samples) for this period. The carbonate succession in the Tingskullen core records 12 conodont zones and 6 subzones, including theOepikodus evae, Trapezognathus diprion, Baltoniodus triangularis, B. navis, B. norrlandicus, Lenodus antivariabilis, L. variabilis, Yangtzeplacognathus crassus, Eoplacognathus pseudoplanus(Microzarkodina hagetianaandMicrozarkodina ozarkodellasubzones),E. suecicus, Pygodus serra(E. foliaceus, E. reclinatus, E. robustusandE. lindstroemisubzones) andPygodus anserinuszones in ascending order. The δ13Ccarbrecord reveals an apparently complete record of the MDICE, including a rising limb, a well-defined peak and a falling limb. The anomaly covers a thickness ofc. 27 m in the core and spans theEoplacognathus pseudoplanus, E. suecicus, Pygodus serraandP. anserinusconodont zones. Combined with the new, detailed conodont biostratigraphy, the MDICE in the Tingskullen core can be used for detailed correlation with successions from Baltica, North America, the Argentine Precordillera, South China and North China.

Carbonate mud mounds developed within the Baltoscandian Basin, an epicratonic basin on the Baltica palaeocontinent, during the Ordovician. In the Upper Ordovician succession of the Baltoscandian Basin, a large number of mud mounds are present at three stratigraphic levels namely, the Kullsbergs mounds (late Sandbian-early Katian), Nabala and Rakvere mounds (middle Katian), and the Boda mounds (late Katian). These formed in a subtropical-tropical carbonate platform environment, covered by a shallow epicontinental sea. The mud mounds at these stratigraphic levels beneath and around Gotland have been characterized using a comprehensive seismic and well dataset acquired during a period of hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation which began more than 30 years ago. Interpretation of the largely unpublished seismic data in this study provides details on the distribution of mound complexes in the basin and constraints on the geometry of the mounds. Detailed structure contour maps of the top and the base of the Ordovician succession beneath Gotland based on the seismic interpretation are presented. The results give a comprehensive characterization of carbonate mud mound generation on Gotland which may help in understanding the distribution patterns of similar mound complexes in other parts of the Ordovician world formed in similar environments.