Llandovery (Silurian) conodont biofacies on the Yangtze Platform of South China and their palaeoenvironmental implications

Diverse Telychian (Llandovery Series, Silurian System) conodont faunas have been documented from the South China Palaeoplate. Based on data from six selected sections in the Yangtze Platform, the spatial distribution of the Telychian conodont associations is investigated in detail by use of multivariate statistical methods. Two conodont biofacies are recognised within the Pterospathodus eopennatus Biozone: Dapsilodus-Decoriconus Biofacies and Apsidognathus-Galerodus Biofacies. The former is interpreted as representing a relatively deeper-water environment. The Apsidognathus-Galerodus Biofacies is widely distributed on the Yangtze Platform and is indicative of a shallower depositional setting. Vertical changes of conodont biofacies in the Baizitian and Xuanhe sections permit the recognition of transgressive-regressive patterns which are closely similar to published sea-level curves for the Early Silurian.

Automated summary

By studying the Telychian conodont faunas from different sections of the Yangtze Platform, two distinct conodont biofacies have been identified, representing relatively deeper-water and shallower depositional environments respectively. Vertical changes in conodont biofacies in certain sections show transgressive-regressive patterns similar to published sea-level curves for the Early Silurian.