Progress of studies on Carboniferous conodonts in China

This paper summarizes the history and current situation of the Carboniferous conodont research in China from the 1970s to the present. The taxa of Carboniferous conodonts established based on the Chinese materials are reviewed. Only two of the five genera/subgenera are valid. Among the 99 species, 48 species are valid, seven species are invalid, and 44 species still need further study. The conodont biostratigraphy of 10 stratigraphic subprovinces in four Carboniferous stratigraphic provinces in China is discussed and revised. In the South China Subprovince, the most complete zonation (43 zones) is recognized. In other stratigraphic subprovinces, 10 zones in Junggar, eight zones in Qiangtang, eight zones in Tarim, eight zones in Qilian–Helan Mountains, and six zones in Inner Mongolia–Jilin are also recognized. There are only three zones in North China, six zones in western Yunnan, five zones in southern Tibet, and two zones in Gangdise. The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of four Carboniferous stages, namely Serpukhovian, Moscovian, Kasimovian, and Gzhelian stages, has not yet been established. Conodonts have the most potential as boundary markers for these four stages. The Naqing section in Luodian, Guizhou, South China is a candidate stratotype section for these four stages. The section yields abundant conodont fossils, including potential boundary markers for those four stages. Great progress has been made in the study of the conodont evolutionary lineages in recent years.

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