Notes on a large Spiriferoid from the Southern Shan States

Abstract

At a locality about three miles south of Mawchi, in the Kantarawaddy State, a unique specimen of a large Spiriferoid was found a few years ago by Mr. Vernon Hobson, then working for the Mawchi Mines Co., in an area where previously no fossiliferous rocks were known to exist. This specimen was sent me by him in 1936 for determination; and in the hope that some other fossils would soon be obtained from this locality which would throw more light on the age of the rocks, the publication of any description of the fossil was post-poned. For unfortunately, the specimen was not found in situ, though Mr. Vernon Hobson, in a letter to me dated 19th June, 1936, stated that he was satisfied that it was not a residual fossil, and that the rock-matrix in which it is imbedded was thoroughly typical of the beds developed for miles round in this area. Moreover, he stated that there are no overlying formations within twelve miles, and that these lie at lower elevations, while pendants of younger rocks do not occur in the area, so that “there is no evidence that overlying rocks existed close above [the present surface rocks] prior to the present phase of erosion”.