ABSTRACT. Boreholes between Kuqa and Korla, in the northern Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, penetrated Ordovician marine limestones at depths of 5±6´2 km. From three boreholes 54 out of a total of 170 limestone samples contain calci®ed algae, cyanobacteria and associated Microproblematica. Calci®ed cyanobacteria (Girvanella, Botomaella, ?Subti¯oria) account for 37 per cent of occurrences; green algae (Dasyporelleae and Vermiporella) 28 per cent; Microproblematica (Nuia, Bevocastria, Rothpletzella, Halysis) 20 per cent; and`solenoporaceans' 15 per cent Girvanella and Nuia are common in the Early Ordovician deposits, and`solenoporaceans' are abundant in the Mid-Ordovician. Dasyporelleae and Vermiporella are most abundant in Mid±Late Ordovician samples. Calci®ed cyanobacteria are common throughout the limestone succession, but particularly in the Mid-Ordovician part. Moniliporella, Contexta, Plexa, Texturata, and Villosoporella, hitherto placed in the supposed red algal family Moniliporellaceae Gnilovskaya, are here regarded as dasycladalean green algae. Despite some omissions, this Tarim ora broadly resembles others from Kazakhstan, Baltica and North America, indicating the generally cosmopolitan nature of Ordovician calci®ed algae and cyanobacteria.