MIDDLE PERMIAN FUSULINE FAUNAS FROM THE ZHABUYE AREA, CENTRAL LHASA BLOCK, TIBET AND THEIR PALAEOBIOGEOGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS
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Abstract:
This study describes the Guadalupian (Middle Permian) fusulines from the northern Zhabuye area in the Lhasa Block and discusses their palaeobiogeography. In total, the fusuline fauna comprises 6 genera and 16 species, including Yangchienia tobleri Thompson, Yangchienia haydeni Thompson, Chusenella brevipola (Chen), C. schwagerinaeformis Sheng, C. cf. brevis (Chen), C. sp., Nankinella rarivoluta Wang, Sheng and Zhang, N. complanata Wang, Sheng and Zhang, Kahlerina tenuitheca Wang, Sheng and Zhang, K. pachytheca Kochansky-Devidé and Ramov?, Verbeekina americana Thompson, Wheeler and Danner, V. tenuispira Sheng, Neoschwagerina cheni Sheng, N. colaniae Ozawa, N. craticulifera (Schwager) and N. brevis Thompson, Wheeler and Danner. This fauna suggests a Wordian age, as evidenced by the presence of Kahlerina and the thick spirotheca and less-developed secondary transverse septula in Neoschwagerina species. The fauna from the Zhabuye area is correlatable with the contemporaneous faunas from other regions in the Lhasa Block including the Shiquanhe area, the Xiadong area in Tsochen County, Xainza County and Lhunzhub County. The synchronous appearances of Guadalupian warm-water fusuline faunas in the whole Lhasa Block exhibit a pronounced difference in palaeobiogeography from the Tethys Himalaya region with persistent cold-water brachiopod faunas during the middle and late Permian. It is unlikely that the Lhasa Block and the Tethya Himalaya region adjoined together before the late Triassic. Therefore, it is considered that the Lhasa Block has been separated from the Gondwanaland by Wordian time.
