STRATIGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF THE AMMONOIDS SHUMARDITES AND VIDRIOCERAS AND IMPLICATIONS ON THE DEFINITION AND CORRELATION OF THE GLOBAL GZHELIAN STAGE, UPPER PENNSYLVANIAN SERIES
The basal Virgilian Haskell-Cass interval of the North American Midcontinent contains Streptognathodus zethus as well as the ammonods Eovidrioceras conlini (Miller & Downs) and Pseudaktubites stainbrooki (Plummer & Scott). The overlying Oread Limestone (Heebner Shale Member) contains the first appearance of Idiognathodus simulator together with the first appearance of most morphologically primitive species ofVidrioceras (V. uddeni Böse).
The Colony Creek Shale of north-central Texas contains the ammonoids Pseudaktubites stainbrooki and Eovidrioceras conlini. The overlying Finis Shale contains the first appearance of Idiognathodus simulator together with the morphologically most primitive species of Shumarditesand Vidrioceras, S. cuyleri Miller & Downs andV. uddeni Böse.
In conclusion, the use of the first appearance of Idiognathodus simulator to define the global Gzhelian Stage coincides with the appearance of Vidrioceras and Shumardites and provides continuity with historical usage of the Vidrioceras-Shumardites genozone as characterizing the Gzhelian Stage.