The Bashkirian Stage of Southwestern Darvaz, the Pamir Mountains: Stratigraphy and paleotectonics

Abstract

Sections of the Bashkirian Stage of Southwestern Darvaz (the Pamir Mountains) are described. Based on fusulinids, the presence of all four Bashkirian substages was established. The Bashkirian beds transgressively overlie clastic-volcanic series of the Lower Carboniferous, and are conformably overlain by the Moscovian (Vereian). Upper Kashirian unconformably overlies both the Vereian beds and all earlier beds, up to of the Lower Carboniferous. An unconformity can be assumed within the Bashkirian, because the lower Bashkirian strata are missing from certain sections. The Bashkirian beds have no evidence of synsedimentary volcanism, which had completely ceased by the end of the Early Carboniferous. Fusulinids most characteristic of the Bashkirian substages are figured.