Lower Visean Research Articles

Origin and evolution of the genera Lonsdaleia and Actinocyathus: Insights for the Mississippian palaeogeography from the western Palaeotethys

Representatives of the subfamily Lonsdaleiinae Chapman, 1893 are common in the Mississippian of the western Palaeotethys. A general analysis of the origin, distribution and evolution of that subfamily has been undertaken. The most probable hypothesis for the origin of the genus Lonsdaleia McCoy, 1849 is to acquire colonialism via the genus Axophyllum Milne Edwards and Haime, 1851. Actinocyathus d’Orbigny, 1849 would be a descendant of Lonsdaleia by increasing integration in the colonies. The first occurrences of Lonsdaleia have been recorded in the lower Visean from northern Britain and northern Tianshan Mountains of northwestern China, but the diversification and migration to the whole Palaeotethys only happened in the late Visean. Three hypotheses are proposed on that matter. The Serpukhovian was also a period of migrations and diversification for these genera. Both Lonsdaleia and Actinocyathus have been recorded in Bashkirian refuges, the Sverdrup Basin in northern Laurasia and the Tindouf Basin in northern Africa, respectively. The division of the western Palaeotethys into six subprovinces based on the distribution of corals is proposed.

Calcareous algae and foraminifera of the microfaunistic horizon XIII (Visean stage) of the middle part of the central paraxial zone Dnipro-Donets Depression (Ukraine)


 
 
 Visean deposits of exploration-production well 363 Yablunivs’ka contain predominantly carbonate and argillaceous rocks from the Prylutsʹkyy boundary (lower Visean). This study presents limestone microfacies and foraminiferal and calcareous algal associations of the paraxial zone in the Dnipro-Donets Depression. The foraminiferal association is represented by 26 genera, whereas the algal association is composed of 24 identified species and specimens in open nomenclature representative of 31 genera, including a new species, Atractyliopsis berezovia sp. nov., and a species of calcareous algae, which is first described for Dnieper-Donets Depression, Asphaltina cordillerensis. Fossil associations of calcareous algae characterize Palaeoberesella lahuseni – Exvotarisella index – Nanopora woodi zone, which correlated with the foraminiferal Uralodiscus rotundus and Paraarchaediscus koktjubensis. Green algae are predominant within the calcareous algae from carbonate deposits of the core No 3. This predominance indicates a warm and shallow-water sedimentation platform. Many archedicids indicates that the bottom substrate is represented by soft silt. Well-developed radiant layer of archaediscida indicates to the favorable habitat conditions. From the middle part of the layer, the role of red algae, whose thally has a crusty and leaf-like shape, as well as green Koninckopora sp. and Coeloporella sp., begins to grow quantitatively. This indicates an insignificant shallowing of the sedimentation basin. Visean limestones belong to the facies of the open marine platform, zone 7 (shallow undathem). According to the results of micropaleontological analysis the boundary of XIIIl and XIIIu microfaunistic subhorizon of Dnipro-Donets Basin identified at the depth of 4435.96 m. The foraminifera and algae representation is given at the 8 paleontological plates.
 
 

A new species of palaeosiphonocladal algae Kamaena gigantea from the Lower–lowermost Middle Mississippian sediments of the Donbas (Upper Tournaisian–Lower Visean)


 
 
 
 A new species of green paleosiphonocladаl algae Kamaena gigantea from the Lower–lowermost Middle Mississippian sediments of the Donbas has been described. This species was distinguished from other representatives of the genus Kamaena Antropov by its extremely large size, tortuous shape of the thallus and convex partitions. The species belongs to an artificial taxonomic unit of the Kamaenae Shuysky tribe, 1985 , of the family Palaeoberesellaceae Mamet et Roux , a systematic grouping which is still controversial. The attribution of this family to green siphonocladal algae is controversial and quite conditional, the opinions of different authors being based on personal vision, and varying in range from the plant to the animal kingdom. A characteristic feature of the family is the tubular shape , the segments of which are connected by partitions with a large central pore, sometimes with additional small pores. The thallus wall (fossilized remains of the body) is porous or non-porous and has simple or branched pores. It has been emphasized that study of Paleoberezellides in thin sections, the sometimes fuzzy images of the typical material in publications and ignorance of other researchers’ publications have caused confusion and led to the selection of an unreasonably large number of genera and species within the family. It has been noted that in previous works, representatives of this species were mistakenly identified as Anthracoporellopsis Maslov, a genus characteristic of the Lower–Middle Pennsylvanian sediments. This erroneous definition was based mainly on general external similarity, a poorly illustrated description of the type species, and did not take into account the morphological features that were characteristic for the genus. It has been found that representatives of the new species had a rather limited stratigraphic distribution: the Upper Tournaisian (Dokuchaevskian horizon) and the Lower Visean (Hlybokian–Sukhinskian horizons), and the most similar specimens found in the Ural region in underlying Tournaisian sediments were, unfortunately, poorly illustrated and smaller in size and had a narrower thallus. It has been noted that a characteristic feature of the tribe Kamaenae Shuysky, 1985 was the tubular shape, its inter-segmental partitions were perpendicular to the walls and were at the approximately same interval from each other. It has been pointed out that representatives of the new species were found mainly in grainstones, packstones, and wackstones − organogenic-detrital limestones along with such groups of microfauna as echinoderms and ostracods, isolated spicules of sponges and remains of worms. The material for illustrations was mainly taken from the borehole74 (near the village of Rodnikove, Starobeshiv district, Donetsk region) , which most fully revealed the Lower–Middle Pennsylvanian deposits of the southern part of the Donbas. The knowledge of the systematic composition of the Early Carboniferous algoflora has been expanded. This has helped us to conclude that the tribe Kamaeneae Shuysky, 1985 ,includes 6 genera and at least 22 species that were found in the layers from the Early Devonian to the Early Visean of the Lower Carboniferous.
 
 
 

Tectono-magmatogenering structures in zones of increased geodynamic instability as priority objects for exploration of hydrogen fields

Based on comparison of the migration activity of hydrocarbons, helium and hydrogen, the paper substantiates the types of cap rocks for hydrogen accumulations (pools), which most of all contributes to its partial shieldingat steady feed. Such cap rocks are represented by predominantly smectite clay, pure (without inclusions) salt at depths over 1—2 km, non-fractured quartz sandstone at depths over 4 km, effusive and hypabissal intrusive rocks, as well as basement rocks undisturbed by metamorphic decomposition processes. Endogenous hydrogen isconsidered as the main factor of dissipative structures formation. Occurrence of hydrogen, hydrocarbon and ore macro accumulations is a kind of energy, information-geochemical fluctuations, which are intermediate states of dissipative structures subordinated to the planetary heat and mass transfer processes caused by the deep Earth degassing. In this context, the nature of geodynamic instability (activation of vertical movements, shifts, tensile and compressive stresses) can be considered as a growing sequence of dissipative processes associated with the energy percolation role of endogenous hydrogen. In the hierarchy of ring structures (RS) (from minor depressions to large structures of dozens kilometres in diameter) special attention should be paid to Sribne RS within the Dnieper-Donets Basin and Kaluga RS within the SW part of the Voronezh anteclisepericline. These ring structuresare genetically related to explosion or volcanic calderas, and characterized by ancient origin (Proterozoic) and long-term development, including neo- and actuotectonic stages. Intensity of hydrogen degassing in the Sribne RSis confirmed by micro- and nano-inclusions in the black-shale domanicoid rocks of the productive horizons in the form of particles of native metals(including oxyphile elements Al, Zn, W and others), natural alloys and intermetallids, which are tracers of ascending flows of deep reduced fluids. It is reasonable to assume the occurrence of a large hydrogen or helium-hydrogen field (group of fields) within the Sribne RS in the Lower Visean, Lower Bashkirian and Lower Permian aged rocks, which are shielded by the Lower Permian salt deposits.

Depositional sequences and microfacies of Lower Carboniferous strata in the Marsel block of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, Southern Kazakhstan

The sequence development and evolution of Lower Carboniferous strata in the Marsel block of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, Kazakhstan have been established through detailed sedimentological analysis of cores, petrophysical data, and new seismic interpretations. Four depositional sequences and eighteen parasequences were classified in the Lower Carboniferous strata. Each depositional sequence is composed of a transgressive systems tract (TST) and highstand systems tract (HST), roughly coinciding, respectively, with the following four stratigraphic intervals (1) lower Tournaisian (C1t) through lower Visean (C1v-1) strata; (2) middle Visean (C1v-2) strata; (3) upper Visean (C1v-3) strata; and (4) Serpukhovian (C1sr) strata. Parasequences are bounded by an instantaneous drowned punctuated surface (C1t and C1v) or instantaneous exposed punctuated surface (C1sr). In addition, petrographic studies have led to the recognition of 20 microfacies, distributed on the major depositional facies zones of the outer ramp (Mf1, Mf6, Mf20), middle ramp (Mf3–5, Mf8–13), and inner ramp (Mf2, Mf4, Mf7, Mf9, Mf12, Mf14–19). They are grouped into seven facies associations corresponding to widespread deposits of tidal flats (MA3, MA5), shallow shoals (MA6), and shallow lagoons (MA4) in the inner ramp; deposits of restricted lagoons (MA1) and local patch shoals (MA7) in the middle ramp and a relatively small outer ramp deposits (MA2). SQSQ All the microfacies and their associations are grouped into the following 6 major facies belts: outer ramp; restricted lagoon, and patch shoals in the middle ramp; and shallow shoals, restricted lagoon, subtidal to intertidal and supratidal in the inner ramp. The interpretation of these facies belts suggests a shallow warm-water tropical-subtropical depositional environment on a passive continental margin ramp. Facies correlation between wells in sequence framework suggests that the strata may be divided into four sequences (SQ1, SQ2, SQ3, SQ4). SQ1 and SQ2 are dominated by lagoon facies and outer ramp facies in the northwest area in the TST, and tidal flat facies in the HST; SQ3 is characterized by restricted to semi-restricted lagoon facies in the TST and local patch shoal facies and mixed tidal flat facies in the HST; SQ4 is marked by restricted lagoon facies in the TST and evaporitic lagoon, tidal flat, and shallow shoal facies in the HST. The research results can be used for investigating the development and distribution of potential reservoirs in the Lower Carboniferous strata of the Chu-Sarysu Basin; the reservoirs in the HST of late Visean and Serpukhovian in the northern and southeastern part of the platform interiors may be of premium quality.

Two Early Carboniferous Brachiopods, Levitusia humerosa (Sowerby, 1822) and Grandispirifer mylkensis Yang, 1959, from the Arisu Formation of Okuhinotsuchi, South Kitakami Belt, Japan

Two early Carboniferous brachiopod species, Levitusia humerosa (Sowerby) and Grandispirifer mylkensis Yang, are described from Japan for the first time. These species, from the middle part of the Arisu Formation in the Okuhinotsuchi area, South Kitakami Belt, indicate an early Visean age. Therefore, the middle part of the Arisu Formation is correlated with the lower Visean. In terms of palaeobiogeography, occurrence of the two species suggests that South Kitakami was probably the eastern extension of the North China Province, and located near and to the east of North China (Sino-Korea) during the early Visean.

The Carboniferous geology of northern Donegal Bay

New geological mapping, along with sedimentological and microfaunal analysis, has enabled correlation among three disparate outcrops of early Carboniferous rocks on the north side of Donegal Bay. This area represents the northernmost exposures of the Carboniferous in north-west Ireland and is inferred to have lain close to the Visean shoreline. A regionally traceable marine flooding event at the base of the Bundoran Shale approximately coincides with the base of the Arundian Stage. Below this, marginal-marine successions can all be assigned to the Lower Visean based on microfaunas. These successions display a lower, non-marine clastic sequence that passes gradationally upward into a shallow-marine carbonate-dominant sequence. This sequence is succeeded by a regressive event that is regionally correlateable despite lateral variation in facies.

Disperse megaspores in the Lower Visean deposits of the Kaluga oblast (1P/A Aleksandrovskaya borehole)

Disperse megaspores were first found in the Lower Visean deposits of the Kaluga region (1P/A borehole). A layered distribution of the megaspores in the studied section is shown. A large number of megaspores were established in the lower part of the section of the Bobrikovskian deposits. Higher along the section, there is a trend to a decrease in the number of megaspores until they disappear completely in the Tula deposits. Two megaspore assemblages were identified. A great variety of species was observed in the lower assemblage; the dominant megaspores are Zonalesporites brasserti and Aphanozonatisporites triglobatus. The only dominant species was recorded in the upper assemblage, Zonalesporites brasserti, with a low species diversity of the entire assemblage. The miospore and megaspore assemblages that are typical of the Lower Visean in the section of the analyzed borehole are compared.

Refinements in biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, and paleogeography of the Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) Mobarak Formation, Alborz Mountains, Iran

ABSTRACT Detailed sampling of limestones from the Mobarak Formation at the Abrendan and Abnak measured sections in the eastern and central Alborz Mountains, northern Iran, yielded a diverse assemblage of Tournaisian – Lower Visean (Mississippian/Lower Carboniferous) calcareous microfossils (foraminifers, algae, incertae sedis). The Abrendan locality contains Tournaisian foraminifers in the upper part of the formation that correlate to the Ivorian and upper Courceyan – lower Chadian substages of western Europe and the Kosvinsky Horizon of the Russian Platform. Brachiopods confirm a Tournaisian age for the lower part of the Mobarak, which lacks age-diagnostic calcareous microfossils. Lower Visean foraminifers at Abnak provide good correlation to the western European Moliniacian and Arundian substages and the Russian Bobrikovsky Horizon. Synthesis of foraminiferal data from this and other published reports indicates that the top of the Mobarak Formation becomes increasingly older across the Alborz to the southeast, caused most likely by Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous) exposure and erosion in the south followed by a latest Pennsylvanian – Early Permian transgression from the north. The microbiota at both sections and the macrofossils at Abrendan show close affinity to the warm-water Paleo-Tethyan Ocean, seemingly contradicting Early Mississippian paleomagnetic reconstructions placing the Alborz region at 45–50° South latitude. The discrepancy is not resolvable at this time, but the answer may lie in the circulation of Paleo-Tethyan currents to the south along the Gondwanan shelf, rather than to repositioning the Alborz region to the northern side of the Paleo-Tethyan Ocean.

A review of the Carboniferous colonisation of non-marine environments by ostracods

This review examines the nature and chronology of the transition of ostracods from marine to non-marine aquatic environments in the Devonian and Carboniferous. There is putative evidence of ostracods in brackish waters from the middle Silurian, but more robust evidence from the Devonian. The first putative freshwater ostracods are species of the generaCarbonita andGeisina which are found in the early to middle Carboniferous Coal Measures. Freshwater ostracods are common in the middle Pennsylvanian Coal Measures of late Carboniferous age, with species of genera such asDarwinula, Carbonita, Candona andCypridopsis. The Lower Carboniferous Visean succession from the Midland Valley of Scotland provides a unique range of sedimentary environments from marine to non-marine, and a diverse range of ostracods and macrofauna. It is an ideal sequence to study the radiation of the Ostracoda from marine to non-marine realms. Non-marine species ofCarbonita are found in the lower Visean, associated with spirorbids,Naiadites, Estheria, plant and fish fragments. Marginal marine species include the generaGeisina, Parapar-chites, Sbemonaella andCapellina, all of which are eurytopic. The first non-marine environments occupied by ostracods were near the shoreline, and influenced by marine transgressions. The adaptations needed to survive in freshwater or low salinities would have included changes in osmoregulation, feeding, and reproductive strategies such as parthenogenesis, to enable opportunistic colonisation of temporary freshwater habitats such as seasonal pools.

The Marginatia-Syringothyris-Rotaia brachiopod assemblage from the Lower Carboniferous of the South Kitakami Belt, northeast Japan, and its palaeobiogeographical implications

Three brachiopod species, Marginatia burlingtonensis (Hall), Syringothyris transversa Minato and Rotaia hikoroichiensis sp. nov., are described from the Lower Carboniferous (Lower Visean) of the Shimoarisu, Yokota and Hikoroichi areas in the South Kitakami Belt (southern Kitakami Mountains), northeast Japan. The Marginatia-Syringothyris-Rotaia assemblage from the South Kitakami Belt indicates a palaeobiogeographical similarity between the South Kitakami Belt and the north Xinjiang-Inner Mongolia-Jilin region, i.e., the North China Province of S. Yang (1980) in Early Carboniferous time. Furthermore, the rugose corals Sugiyamaella, Yuanophyllum and Kueichouphyllum from the Lower Carboniferous (Upper Visean) of the South Kitakami Belt are strong evidence of a close connection between this region and the southern part of the North China Province, i.e., the Tianshan-Jilin Province of F. Yang (1994). These palaeobiogeographical data suggest that the South Kitakami region was the eastern extension of the Tianshan-Jilin Province, and located at the continental shelf bordering the eastern margin of North China (Sino-Korea) in the Early Carboniferous.

PAEDOPRONORITES, A NEW UPPER PERMIAN (WUCHIAPINGIAN) AMMONOID FROM INDONESIA (TIMOR)

Representatives of the ammonoid family Pronoritidae are ancestral medlicottioideans (Order Prolecanitida) characterized by moderately evolute conch and relatively simple sutures. They comprise the ancestral Pronoritinae, characterized by an undivided dorsal lobe, and the descendant Neopronoritinae with bidentate dorsal lobe. The new genus Paedopronorites is interpreted as the terminal neopronoritin paedomorph. It conforms to the pattern displayed by many late Paleozoic taxa (Glenister and Furnish, 1988a, 1988b), being the geologically youngest representative in the lineage, and characterized by small size, sutural simplification, and low abundance. Pronoritidae form one of the longer lineages of Paleozoic ammonoids, with few changes occurring from Mississippian (lower Visean) to …

LOWER CARBONIFEROUS (LATE VISÉAN) PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT AND CYCLICITY IN SOUTHERN IRELAND: FORAMINIFERAL BIOFACIES AND LITHOFACIES EVIDENCE

The stratigraphy of several well exposed late Visean carbonate successions in southern Ireland have been correlated using high resolution foraminiferal/algal biostratigraphy and detailed biofacies analysis. This study has revealed that during the lower late Visean (early Asbian) time platform mudbank and intrabank facies were deposited on a rimmed ramp that dipped southward. By upper late Visean (late As- bian to Brigantian) time, well bedded carbonates were deposited on a shallow, unrimmed platform expanse that prograded southward through a series of shallowing-upward minor cycles. Within the late Asbian successions numerous minor cycles (2- 15 m thick) occur that contain distinctive lithofacies and three distinct foraminiferal biofacies. The top of these cycles can usually be identified by palaeokarst surfaces with relief of to 0.5 m associated with pedoge- nic features and fissures indicating initial palaeocave-forming processes. Deposits on these emergent boundary surfaces include thick palaeosols (up to 1 m thick) and eroded boulders of the underlying karst surfaces. The lower transgressive facies of each minor cycle often began with the deposition of shallow-water, subtidal, algal-rich limestone containing di- verse foraminiferal biofacies (Biofacies type 2). New foraminiferal taxa may appear in this part of the cycle. Towards the middle part of each cycle deeper water, subtidal, foraminiferal biofacies occur, but with no significant first appearance data. The biofacies at this level in the cy- cle are often algal-poor limestone rich in bryozoans or crinoids (Bio- facies type 1). Biostratigraphically important foraminiferal taxa often first appear or reappear in low diversity assemblages toward the top of most cycles in shallower water grainstone microfacies (Biofacies type 3) rich in dasycladacean algae.

New data on the Paleozoic flysch of the Sofijska Stara-Planina Mountain

The section of the rhythmic sediments (flysch s.1) in the Sofijska Stara Planina Mountain is divided into a preflysch and a flysch (flysch s.s.) part. Conodonts are extracted for the first time in that area from carbonate interbeds. They are established in the flysch part of the sequence. On the whole 14 taxa are established, 13 of them being determined in the terms of species. They belong to two different associations, which indicate the conodont zone Palmatolepis linguiformis and Palmatolepis triangularis. The first zone lies within the range of the Upper Frasnian, and the section one – of Lower Famennian of Upper Devonian. Both zones are indicated in Bulgaria for the first time. The comparison carried out on the basis of biostratigraphic and sedimentologic data on the rocks and sections described with the flysch and preflysch deposits in the Černa Gora area (SW Bulgaria) and Eastern Serbia (Suva and Kučaj Planina Mountain) show certain similarities in their development and are mutually supplemental within the stratigraphic range. The turbidite sedimentation (incl. fluxoturbidites in the preflysch) started during Eifelian and ended during Lower Visean. Within the frames of the whole zone of turbidite sedimentation the typical flysch accumulation of sediments (flysch s.s.) started in Upper Guvetian and ended in Lower Visean. Discrimination between authochthonous relics and those related to olistostromes (olistostromes of the feeding rises) plays a substantial role in the stratigraphic interpretation.

Trace fossils and their environmental significance in Dinantian carbonates of Belgium

Dinantian carbonates of the Tournai and Dinant regions, southern Belgium, contain several trace fossil assemblages. These assemblages consist of the following ichnogenera:Cruziana, Rhizocorallium,Scalarituba, Scolicia, Skolithos, Phycosiphon, Planolites andZoophycos. Scalarituba andPhycosiphon are reported for the first time from the Carboniferous of Western Europe. The ichnofossils occur in discrete ichnofacies.Skolithos andZoophycos ichnofacies occur within the Ivorian (Upper Tournaisian). TheCruziana andSkolithos ichnofacies are found in the Moliniacian (Lower Visean). In the Dinant region, ichnofossils record a change from infauna to epifauna at the Ivorian-Moliniacian transition. Woodgrained chert is recognized and corresponds stratigraphically and palaeogeographically with those from the Western Interior United States.

Discontinuites et sequences dans la formation de Tarat (Viseen superieur) et l'unite d'Arlit (Namuro-Westphalien) a Arlit (Niger); evolution sedimentaire, climatique et tectonique de la region au Carbonifere

The Tarat Formation is composed at Arlit of three sequences consisting of sandstones and black mudstones rich in organic matter of continental origin. The three of them are interpreted as estuarine sediments deposited in different tectonic frame- works. Tlic Arlit Unit consisls of motley argillaceous sandstones deposited in a very flat lacustrine or alluvial environment and under an arid climate. These formations are separated by a fundamental discontinuity linked to the structuration of tlie Tim Ifersoi Trough. At regional scale, the sediments lying below this discontinuity are grouped in tectono-xdimentary supersequences, which are interpreted as biorhexistasic rhythms ; their deposition was horizontally directed by complex evolving synsedimentary tectonics controlled by the N-S In Azawa Lineament, and was influenced by the permanent proximity of a norllicrn sea. The sediments lying above the fundamental discontinuity belong to tlie i( Continental Intercalaire )) Supergroup ; their deposi!ion was influenced by the Tim Mersoi Trough. The whole Carboniferous sedimentation took place in a climatic context which evolved from cold (Lower Visean) to warm and arid (Upper Carboniferous) through temperate climates.

Lower Carboniferous Foraminiferal Faunas of the Boring Ørslev No. 1, Island of Falster, Denmark

Lower Carboniferous foraminifera from a 1700' thick series of limestone, marlstone, and claystone in the boring Ørslev No. 1 are studied.48 forms are described. 17 of these are identified to species, two of which are established as new species and two as new subspecies, namely Lituotubella glomospiroides minima n. subsp., Septabrunsiina spissusvoluta n. sp., Endothyra danica n. sp., and E. michoti spinata n. subsp. The remaining 31 forms are given with open nomenclature; nine of these are morphospecies, provisionally referred to already known species. The study and description of the foraminifera are based on the external morphology of the tests and on defined sections of the tests.On the basis of the biostratigraphy, the deposits are referred to the Lower and Middle (?) Visean. The interval 6740'-6945', which has a fauna dominated by the family Ozawainellidae, may probably be correlated with certain parts of the Russian and the Belgian Middle Visean (Visean 2), while the interval 6945'-8440' correlates with the Lower Visean in Belgium (Visean 1) on the basis of its faunas, characterized by the genus Endothyra.

A study of variation and relative growth in the blastoid Orbitremites

A study of variation and relative growth in the blastoid <i>Orbitremites</i>

Appendix II THE UPPER VISÉAN AND LOWER NAMURIAN OF NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE

The succession of upper Visean strata in north Staffordshire is very like that encountered in the boring at Alport, both being made up of a limestone series below (the Mixon or Alport Limesstones) and a limestone-shale series above (the Mixon or Alport Limestone-Shales). The similarity also extends into higher beds for the Edale Shales of Alport, with the crowstones at their base, contain very much the same fauna as do the Morredge Grits and Churnet Shales of the Goyt and Rudyard synclines (fig. 3). In recent years our knowledge of the faunal succession of the Carboniferous of north Staffordshire, initially due to Wheelton Hind (as Hind, 1902 and 1910) and J. Challinor (1928, 1929), has been much increased by the finding of many more fossiliferous localities; moreover, a boring at Gun Hill1 to a depth of 4629 ft., starting in the zone of E. bisulcatum s.s.2 (E2a) and finishing in strata probably belonging to the Lower Caninia (C1) zone, has made it possible to determine the thicknesses of the various divisions of that part of the succession with some accuracy. In the following brief account of part of the Carboniferous geology of north Staffordshire, written to facilitate the comparison of the succession there with that of the Alport boring, the Tournaisian and the Lower Visean are only briefly mentioned because they were not reached in that boring. As the succession in the Gun Hill boring is the basis of this account, the upper beds are described first. Fig. 6. Diagrammatic ...