Famennian conodont assemblage in the Compte section (Upper Devonian, Central Pyrenees) and its comparison with Eurasian sequences

Abstract

A detailed study of the fossil assemblages of Famennian conodonts has been carried out in the Compte section in the Central Pyrenees. The studied section comprises the upper part of the Comabella Formation, the La Mena Fm and the lower part of the Barousse Fm. Fifty samples have been collected from a 11.73 m thick Famennian stratigraphic succession. Forty–seven lower–middle Famennian conodont taxa have been identified, belonging to four genera: Palmatolepis, Polygnathus, Icriodus and Mehlina. The identified conodont assemblages change through the studied section: in the lower part, Palmatolepis and Icriodus taxa are more frequent and in the overlaying strata, Palmatolepis and Polygnathus taxa are dominant. Several conodont taxa have been recorded for the first time in Central Pyrenees zone. The conodont sequence analysis suggests a lower to middle Famennian age (from the termini to mg. marginifera Zones) in the Compte section (Beds 98–120). On the other hand, a comparison of the Pyrenean conodont assemblages with those from other relevant regions has been carried out. The conodont associations from Compte shows certain similarities with those from western and eastern Europe; however, sequences from eastern and central Asian exhibit some differences.