Middle/Upper Carboniferous boundary: Problems of definition and correlation Article

Davydov, VI. (1997). Middle/Upper Carboniferous boundary: Problems of definition and correlation . 157 109-119.

cited authors

  • Davydov, VI

abstract

  • The paper presented during the activities of Working Group 5 (WG-5) of the SCCS, headed by Dr. Villa, is devoted to the problem of the global definition of the Middle/Upper Carboniferous (Moscovian/Kasimovian) boundary. In the stratotype area the Moscovian/Kasimovian boundary was placed at the base of "garnasha" bed of the Suvorovskaya Fm. Moscovian/Kasimovian transitions were lately thoroughly studied in Western Eurasia and divided into the following fusulinids zones: a) Fusulinella bocki; b) Protriticites ovatus-Praeobsoletes burkemensis; c) Protriticites pseudomontiparus-Obsoletes obsoletus; d) Montiparus montiparus; e) Rauserites quasiarcticus. Several variations of the Moscovian/Kasimovian boundary position were considered by WG-5: 1. At the base of Praeobsoletes burkemensis-Protriticites ovatus Zone corresponding to the base of the Protriticites Genozone, 2. At the base of Protriticites pseudomontiparus-Obsoletes obsoletus Zone fixing Moscovian/Kasimovian boundary, 3. At the base of the Montiparus montiparus Zone. Based on the latest fusulinid and conodont studies in the region of the Moscow Basin the best correlation potential is shown by the following boundaries: - at the base of the Suvorovskaya Fm. (or probably "liska" bed of the Peskovskaya Fm.) - the base of the Protriticites pseudomontiparus, Obsoletes obsoletus fusulinid Zone and the Streptognathodus subexcelsus conodont Zone; - at the base of Ratmirovskaya Fm. - the base of the Montiparus montiparus fusulinid Zone and the Streptognathodus oppletus conodont Zone. However, both these variants can be used only in Eurasia as yet. On the American continent the position of the Moscovian/Kasimovian boundary is still uncertain. Based on fusulinids the lower/middle Kasimovian is correlated with the Upper Desmonesian. It is confirmed by conodont and ammonoid data. Precise correlation of the Moscovian/Kasimovian and Desmonesian/Missourian transitions would be the key to resolving the problem of this boundary.

publication date

  • December 1, 1997

start page

  • 109

end page

  • 119

volume

  • 157