SILURIAN AND LOWER DEVONIAN CHITINOZOAN BIOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE PARANA BASIN IN BRAZIL AND PARAGUAY

Abstract

Abstract The taxonomy and distribution of Chitinozoa from Silurian (Llandovery) and Lower Devonian strata are reported from the Parana Basin in southern Brazil and eastern Paraguay. The pre‐Carboniferous sequences of the Parana Basin in this area are present in three sub‐basins viz., the Alto Garcas (north) and Apucarana (south) sub‐basins in Brazil, and the “East Paraguay Sub‐basin”; in east Paraguay. There is more similarity in the lithology between the Alto Garcas and “East Paraguay”; sub‐basins, than between the former and the Apucarana sub‐basin. Llandoverian and Lochkovian to Pragian beds are present in all sub‐basins. So far, no Emsian beds have been found in outcrops from the north‐northwest margin of the Alto Garcas Sub‐basin, and no early Emsian beds in the outcrops on the northeast margin. Furthermore, Emsian beds could not be identified from the “East Paraguay Sub‐basin”; in the present study. The Early Devonian sequence is more complete in the Apucarana Sub‐basin. It seems that the Apucarana ...