Abstract
Small Shelly Fossils (SSFs) from the Cambrian are widely distributed and well known across different paleocontinents of the world. However, middle Cambrian SSFs from North China Platform have only rarely been documented until now. In this paper, we presented the first report on SSFs from bioclastic and oolitic limestones of the Zhangxia and Hsuzhuang formations of Henan province, North China. The carbonate-hosted fauna includes brachiopods (Micromitra sp., M. modesta, Eoobolus sp., and Schizopholis sp.), helcionellids (Oelandiellaaccordionata and O. aliciae), hyolithids, Hyolithellus sp., Chancelloriaeros, sponge spicules, echinoderm ossicles, and chancelloriid sclerites. In terms of preservation, the brachiopod shell valves of M. modesta appeared to be homogeneous, consisting of tightly packed phosphate grains. Eoobolus sp. is composed of primary layer and secondary baculate, both of which consist of tightly compacted phosphate grains. Schizopholis sp. has multiple-lamellar phosphatized microstructures that distinctly differ from the other brachiopods recovered from the Longwanggou section. A similar multiple-lamellar microstructure was also revealed in conchs of Hyolithellus, with tightly compacted phosphate grains. The argillaceous shell of Oelandiellaaccordionata and O. aliciae, and the calcitic inner molds of hyolith did not preserve any shell structure. The helcionellids O. accordionata and O. aliciae and the brachiopod M. modesta were reported for the first time from North China. The fauna is most similar to the middle Cambrian faunas of Australia, in the brachiopod and mollusk components; it is also similar in composition of brachiopods and mollusks to coeval faunas from South China. The new fauna of SSFs in the Yiyang Longwanggou Section indicated that the Hsuzhuang and Zhangxia formations are late Drumian to middle Guzhuangian in age, most likely correlating with the Murrawong Creek Formation of Australia.
Highlights
Diverse kinds of data are needed for characterizing and global correlation of stratigraphic intervals in the Cambrian across the paleocontinents
Owing to large amounts of field excavations, the Burgess Shale Type fossil components and related faunal assemblages from North China were recently recovered from the Zhangxia Formation and Hsuzhuang Formation of Shandong province [19,20,21,22,23]
Three trilobite biozones were identified in the Zhangxia Formation, encompassing the Crepicephalina, Plebiellus, and Tailznia-Poshani trilobite zones based on the fossil assemblages investigated in Weihui
Summary
Diverse kinds of data are needed for characterizing and global correlation of stratigraphic intervals in the Cambrian across the paleocontinents. We presented the first study of a diverse and abundant assemblage of SSFs from the Zhangxia and Hsuzhuang formations, Miaolingian, from the Longwanggou Section, Yiyang County, Henan Province of Central China, ca. Simplified geological map of China, sketchy geographical map of Henan Province, and the Cambrian outcrops in Yiyang County, the location of the Longwanggou section studied . The Cambrian outcrops in ical and geological map showing the distribution of North China and South China platforms in China; note the fossil investigatedof earlier stars) and in this paper (red star).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
