Conodont biostratigraphy of the Codroy Group (Lower Carboniferous), southwestern Newfoundland, Canada

Abstract

Four stratigraphically successive conodont assemblage zones have been recognized in the Lower Carboniferous Codroy Group of southwestern Newfoundland. The Diplognathodus Zone is confined to the basal Ship Cove Limestone, and to a highly fossiliferous correlative at Aguathuna. The overlying Taphrognathus Zone occurs in carbonates in the stratigraphic interval above the sequence of massive sulphates and thick clastics. The Taphrognathus Zone, as well as the successive Cavusgnathus Zone, has been recognized on Fischells Brook, as well as in the complex section south of Codroy. The highest conodont zone, the Gnathodus Zone, has been recognized in the Crabbes–Jeffreys Limestone of the St. George's Bay area, and from south of Codroy.The discovery of conodonts of the Diplognathodus Zone in marine strata that are stratigraphie and lithologie correlatives of the Macumber and the Gays River Formations of Nova Scotia now makes it possible to microfaunally characterize the A Subzone, a macrofaunal subzone established in the Windsor Group of Nova Scotia.The Taphrognathus and Cavusgnathus Zones of the Codroy Group of Newfoundland correlate with the lower and upper B Subzone of the Lower Windsor Group of Nova Scotia, respectively. The Gnathodus Zone correlates with the C, D, and E Subzones of the Upper Windsor Group of Nova Scotia.