Lower Emsian (Lower Devonian) conodonts from southwestern and central Guangxi, South China: Implications for palaeogeographic reconstructions

Abstract

Conodont biostratigraphy is investigated in the Poyuan, Shangkou, and Menggong sections in Guangxi, and the Lower Emsian (Lower Devonian) excavatus and nothoperbonus zones are partly recognized. Combining the Lower Devonian conodont framework and lithological successions to date, the process of the Early Devonian northeastward stepwise transgression in South China is more elaborated in detail herein. It is proved that the differentiation of the “Xiangzhou Facies” and the “Nandan Facies” in South China took place in the nothoperbonus Zone. A series of high‐resolution Early Devonian palaeogeographic maps of South China is illustrated in this study.