GSA Connects 2024 Meeting in Anaheim, California

Paper No. 245-1
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-5:30 PM

DEMARCATION OF ORYCTOCEPHALUS SALTERI BIOZONE IN THE WULIUAN (MIAOLINGIAN) OF THE SUMNA VALLEY, SPITI HIMALAYA (INDIA)


SINGLA, Garry1, SINGH, Birendra P.2, OM, N Bhargava3, KAUR, Ramanpreet4 and VERMA, Vishal2, (1)Civil Engineering, Punjab Engineering College (Deemed to be University), Chandigarh, Sector 12, Chandigarh, U.T, Chandigarh, Chandigarh 160012, India, (2)Center of Advanced Study in Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India, (3)Indian National Science Academy, Panchkula, India; Center of Advanced Study in Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India, (4)Department of Geology (Amity School of Earth and Environmental Sciences), Amity University, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India, Amity University, Mohali, Punjab 140306, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India

We report precisely demarcated Oryctocephalus salteri biozone in the Cambrian Parahio Member (Kunzam La Formation) well exposed on the southwest-facing slope above the right bank of the Sumna River, Spiti. The FAD and LAD of Oryctocephalus salteri are at 46.5 m and 60.8 m respectively, indicating having a 14.3 m local stratigraphic range of the taxon in the Sumna Valley. The Oryctocephalus salteri biozone is demarcated with a precise stratigraphic range of the eponymous species. This biozone encompasses trilobites Oryctocephalus salteri, Kunmingaspis stracheyi, Poriagraulos sp., Ziboaspis hostilis, Hundwarella memor, and Xingrenaspis hoboi. Based on the presence of the key taxon Hundwarella, the O. salteri biozone of the Kunzam La Formation (Spiti) is correlated with the Tonkinella-Hundwarella bearing level in the Nutunus Formation, Kashmir region.

Keywords: Oryctocephalus salteri biozone, Parahio Member, Kunzam La Formation, Sumna Valley, Spiti