Arenig (Lower Ordovician) conodonts and biozonation in the eastern Siljan district, central Sweden

Abstract

Based on biostratigraphic investigations in the eastern Siljan district, central Sweden, and combined with earlier studies at Hunneberg, south-central Sweden, it is shown that the early post-Tremadoc-age Paroistodus proteus conodont Zone can be divided into four successive subzones. These are, in ascending order: the Drepanoistodus aff. D. amoenus Subzone; the Tripodus Subzone; the Paracordylodus gracilis Subzone; and the Oelandodus elongatus-Acodus deltatus deltatus Subzone. The lowermost of the subzones is a concurrent range zone, with its reference section at Storeklev, Hunneberg, and the other three interval zones with the reference section at Sjurberg in the eastern Siljan district. Correlations between these two areas, as well as with the Flåsjö area, Jämtland, the Finngrundet core, and some other areas, are discussed, and it is concluded that the Drepanoistodus aff. D. amoenus Subzone and the Tripodus Subzone together correspond to the Megistaspis (Ekeraspis) armata trilobite Zone, and occur below the Hunnegraptus copiosus graptolite Zone. The Paracordylodus gracilis Subzone is equivalent with the lower part of the Megistaspis (Varvaspis) planilimbata trilobite Zone, and may correspond to the Hunnegraptus copiosus Zone. The uppermost subzone, the Oelandodus elongatus-Acodus deltatus deltatus Subzone, equals the upper part of the M. (V.) planilimbata Zone, and the local base of the Tetragraptus phyllograptoides graptolite Zone is close to the base of this conodont subzone. The last occurrences of T. phyllograptoides are close to the top of this conodont subzone. Also included in the investigation are the uppermost part of the uppermost Tremadoc Paltodus deltifer Zone and the conodont zones overlying the P. proteus Zone in the eastern Siljan district, the Prioniodus elegans Zone and the Oepikodus evae Zone; the latter zone corresponds to the trilobite zones of Megalaspides (M.) dalecarlicus and Megistaspis (Varvaspis) estonica. A few samples from the superimposed Baltoniodus triangularis, B. navis, and Paroistodus originalis Zones have been investigated and are described as well. The correlation of these conodont zones and subzones with those of areas outside Baltoscandia, particularly North America, is also discussed.