The Henson Gletscher Formation, North Greenland, and its bearing on the global Cambrian Series 2–Series 3 boundary

Abstract

The Henson Gletscher Formation of North Greenland yields moderately diverse trilobite faunas which bracket the Cambrian Series 2-Series 3 boundary interval. A number of the trilobite taxa permit correlation into other parts of Laurentia and to other Cambrian continents, thus enhancing correlation within this stratigraphical interval of the traditional Lower-Middle Cambrian boundary. In particular, the occurrence of Ovatoryctocara granulata and O. yaxiensis substantially improves the intercontinental recognition of the O. granulata level, a prime GSSP candidate. In contrast, the level with Oryctocephalus indicus cannot be located in a number of Cambrian continents with sufficient precision, making this level unsuitable for the definition of a GSSP for the base of the Cambrian Series 3 and Stage 5. Further support for the correlation potential of the base of the range of Ovatoryctocara granulata comes from recent carbon isotope studies that indicate a striking negative excursion in sections of South China (ROECE event) that probably coincides with similar excursions in Laurentia. Four new trilobite species are described: Zacanthopsis blakeri sp. nov., Protoryctocephalus arcticus sp. nov., Eoptychoparia pearylandica sp. nov. and Onchocephalus? freucheni sp. nov.