Lowermost Ordovician (basal Tremadoc) radiolarians from the Little Port Complex, western Newfoundland

Abstract

Lowermost Ordovician (basal Tremadoc) cherts from the Little Port Complex, western Newfoundland, contain a distinctive, moderately well-preserved, radiolarian assemblage. The fauna differs from those reported from the Arenig, suggesting that some of the earliest radiolarian forms may have biostratigraphic potential. The abundance of radiolarians in chert and the ease with which they can be extracted suggest that they are a potentially valuable tool for use in investigations of the timing and development of early Palaeozoic orogenic systems. A previously undescribed radiolarian Beothuka terranova sp. nov., belonging to a new genus Beothuka gen. nov. and of uncertain higher-level affinity is formalized herein.