Trilobite biostratigraphy of the Cambrian 5 and Drumian stages, Series 3 (Laurentian Delamaran, Topazan, and Marjuman stages, Lincolnian Series) of the lower Emigrant Formation at Clayton Ridge, Esmeralda County, Nevada

The Emigrant Formation at Clayton Ridge, Nevada, consists of 420 m of variably interbedded shale, siltstone, and limestone representing an outer shelf environment. It ranges in age from the youngest portion of the Dyeran Stage (Laurentian Waucoban Series; Cambrian Stage 4, Series 2) to Skullrockian Stage (Ibexian Series; Tremadocian Stage, Lower Ordovician). Consequently, it is condensed compared to other localities. For example, the age-equivalent succession in the House Range and the Wendover Range of Utah and Nevada, respectively, is seven times thicker. The 100 m thick lower limestone and siltstone member of the Emigrant Formation at Clayton Ridge ranges in age from the Bolbolenellus euryparialNephrolenellus multinodus Zone (Laurentian Dyeran Stage) to the Cedaria s brevifrons Zone (Laurentian Marjuman Stage; Drumian Stage; this study). The 40 trilobites described herein from two closely spaced sections of the lower member belong to the Glossopleura walcottilPtychagnostus praecurrens Zone (Laurentian Delamaran Stage; Stage 5), Ehmaniella Zone (Laurentian Topazan Stage; Stage 5), and Cedaria selwyni to C. brevifrons zones (Laurentian Marjuman Stage; Drumian Stage) zones. The lower Emigrant Formation is <10% as thick as age-equivalent age strata elsewhere in Nevada, California, and Utah. This condensed nature of the lower Emigrant Formation began with the flooding event at the beginning of the Oryctocephalus indicus biochron and the subsequent build-ups of the thick carbonate platforms to the south and northeast. New species are Pagetia aspinosa,. P. claytonensis, and Syspacephalus mccollumorum.