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The Oryctocephalus indicus biozone (Wuliuan, Miaolingian) is recognised in the Sumna Valley, in the southeastern part of the Spiti region in the Himalaya, based on the first appearance datum and last appearance datum of Oryctocephalus indicus. The biozone is approximately 5.6 m thick (17.8–23.4 m), and it contains the trilobites Oryctocephalus indicus, Pagetia significans and Kunmingaspis pervulgata. Comparative studies of the lithological variations across the Cambrian Series 2–Wuliuan (Miaolingian) transition in the Parahio and Sumna valleys (southeastern part of the Spiti region) show that the Wuliuan (Miaolingian) deposits transgressed over the undulatory surface of Cambrian Series 2. The uppermost part of the Cambrian Series 2 deposits in the southeastern part of the Spiti region is characterised by a reddish-brown ferruginous, very coarse grained sandstone unit, which indicates a diastem prior to the Wuliuan (Miaolingian) transgression.

Refinement of the Cambrian biozonation in the Parahio valley, Spiti region (Himalaya) leads to the demarcation of the stratigraphic distance between the Haydenaspis parvatya level (Series 2, Stage 4) and the Oryctocephalus indicus Biozone (base of the Miaolingian Series, Wuliuan Stage), which has been a subject of debate. The present work suggests that these two trilobite beds in the Kaltarbo section are separated by 183.4 m of strata. Whether either taxon ranges beyond the beds they are found in this section or others in the Parahio Valley is yet unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additional Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5, trilobite fauna comprising Peronopsis sp., Eosoptychoparia cf. Spinosa Gaotanaspis cf. pingzhaiensis and Gaotanaspis cf. transversa have been recorded just immediately above the known Oryctocephalus indicus biozone (Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5) in the Parahio valley section (Spiti region). The FAD of Peronopsis and LAD of Gaotanaspis are used to establish a Peronopsis – Gaotanaspis concurrent biozone immediately above the Oryctocephalus indicus biozone. The first records of Gaotanaspis cf. pingzhaiensis and G. transversa from the Cambrian of Spiti region and the other faunal elements are correlated with the Peronopsis taijiangensis biozone of the Kaili Formation (South China). The stratigraphic thickness from the base of the O. indicus biozone to the top of the Peronopsis – Gaotanaspis concurrent biozone in the Kunzam La (=Parahio) Formation and its comparison to the Kaili Formation (South China) indicate a possible stratigraphic condensation in the basal part of the Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5 of the Parahio valley (Spiti). Sedimentological and sequence stratigraphic analysis supports this contention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]