Devonian spore assemblages of China

Abstract

Data available show that there are many genera and species of Devonian spores in China (together with acritarchs, chitinozoans and scolecodonts) which are commonly well-preserved, especially in South China where they are also better studied. This permits their use for correlation in detailed stratigraphical studies. On the basis of the study on Devonian spores for the past twenty years it is suggested that eight Devonian spore assemblage zones may be recognised in China, with four zones for the Lower Devonian, two zones for the Middle Devonian and two zones for the Upper Devonian. Each zone is characterised by a distinctive suite of miospores. The spore assemblages of China may be correlated basically with those in Great Britain, Federal Germany, Spitsbergen, U.S.S.R., and North America.