Definition of the Tremadoc Series and the series of the Ordovician System in Britain

Abstract

AbstractThe Tremadoc Series and series of the Ordovician System are widely used in international correlations, and this review explains and summarizes how the base of each of these series is recognized in Britain. No type section in which the base of any one of them is displayed has ever been selected and formally designated, hence the basal horizon of each series is a matter of general understanding rather than precise definition. This general understanding is of particular biozones, or of assemblages of fossils and their relative ages. The geographical separation between type sections of series, and differences in facies, complicate the understanding of relative ages of biozones. Brachiopod and trilobite faunas of the Llandeilo, Caradoc and Ashgill Series have been studied in detail in recent years, and biozones proposed. These biozones have proved difficult or impossible to recognize outside their type areas in Britain, and brachiopod–trilobite faunas of the Tremadoc, Arenig and Llanvirn Series are likewise highly provincial. Thus for correlation within and outside Britain attention has been focused on the ‘standard’ graptolite biozones, particularly since such conodont faunas as have been found have not proved useful. Yet there are problems associated with these ‘standard’ biozones; for example, theTetragraptus approximatusBiozone is unknown in Wales or England, the relationship between the base of theGlyptograptus teretiusculusBiozone and the earliest Llandeilo shelly faunas requires clarification, and at what level the base of the Caradoc Series may lie in theNemagraptus gracilisBiozone is unknown.Thus to bring precision to definitions of Ordovician Series in Britain the identification of continuous, fossiliferous sequences that will serve as stratotypes, is required. Such a section for the basal portion of the Tremadoc Series has recently been proposed. Systematic studies related to particular biozones are needed, for example early Caradoc and early Ashgill brachiopods, and graptolites of theDidymograptus bifidusandGlyptograptus teretiusculusBiozones. The stratigraphical ranges and abundances of species in particular sections require documentation, so that the type of biozone (assemblage, acme, concurrent-range, etc.) may be recognized. Such work could lead towards chronostratigraphy, the provision of a standard stratigraphical scale in Britain for the Tremadoc Series and Ordovician series.