General agreement exists that the position of the base of the Cambrian (Precambrian–Cambrian boundary) should coincide with a biostratigraphic marker that can be widely traced and is linked to the evolution of the small shelly fauna. On the Siberian platform the presence of distinct facies during the Vendian–Cambrian interval has made biostratigraphic correlation based on palaeontological data highly contentious. A solution to this problem appears to exist with the recognition of an almost uninterrupted profile in the Aldan–Uchur watershed where key sections expose the eastern and transitional facial region. On this basis we present a general biostratigraphic scheme for the Vendian–Cambrian across the southern Siberian platform that connects separate facies. Further correlation with key sections in northern Siberia leads to the recognition of three biostratigraphic zones for the Vendian–Cambrian interval. These are: Anabarites trisulcatus Zone; Purella antiqua Zone; Aldanocyathus sunnaginicus Zone. The abundance of Chinese-type small shelly fossils in the region of the eastern facies suggest correlation of the A. sunnaginicus Zone with the Siphogonuchites–Paragloborilus Zone of China, and the P. antiqua Zone with the Circotheca–Anabarites–Protohertzina Zone. In places, at the base of the Circotheca–Anabarites–Protohertzina Zone in China, analogies to the A. trisulcatus Zone can be identified. It is proposed that in Siberia the base of the A. sunnaginicus Zone (= base of Tommotian Stage) be taken as the base of the Cambrian. This would correspond with Marker B of the Meishucunian in China
The first biozone (Anabarites trisulcatus Assemblage Zone) in the Siberian hypostratotype of the Vendian (northwestern slope of the Olenek Uplift) is represented by the Turkut Formation of the Khorbusuonka Group and most of the Syhargalakh Formation of the Kessyusa Group. The lower part of the Kessyusa Group in some of the sections includes stratiform breccia coeval with the middle part of the Syhargalakh Formation. The breccia is shown to be the alteration product of tuff breccia, which is widely distributed in the region and occurs as diatremes. A U–Pb zircon date of 543.9 ± 0.24 Ma for tuff breccia provides the best constraint on the age of the boundary between the Anabarites trisulcatus and Purella antiqua Assemblage Zones. The first appearance of small skeletal fossils Cambrotubulus decurvatus (which define the base of the Anabarites trisulcatus Assemblage Zone) is 1.4 m above the lower boundary of the Turkut Formation. Ichnofabric in the underlying Khatyspyt Formation is globally distributed in the strata 553–551 million years old, always predating the first appearance of small skeletal fossils of the Anabarites trisulcatus Assemblage Zone. The base of the Anabarites trisulcatus Assemblage Zone is therefore younger than 553–551 Ma, whereas the duration of the assemblage zone does not exceed six million years.
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