Early Carboniferous (Late Tournaisian–Early Viséan) ostracods from the Ballagan Formation, central Scotland, UK

Williams, Mark; Stephenson, Michael; Wilkinson, Ian P.; Leng, Melanie J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1115-5166; Miller, C. Giles. 2005 Early Carboniferous (Late Tournaisian–Early Viséan) ostracods from the Ballagan Formation, central Scotland, UK. Journal of Micropalaeontology, 24 (1). 77-94. https://doi.org/10.1144/jm.24.1.77

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Abstract/Summary

The Ballagan Formation (Late Tournaisian–Early Viséan) of central Scotland yields an ostracod fauna of 14 species in ten genera, namely Beyrichiopsis, Cavellina, Glyptolichvinella, Glyptopleura, Knoxiella, Paraparchites, Sansabella, Shemonaella, Silenites and Sulcella. The ostracods, in combination with palynomorphs, are important biostratigraphical indices for correlating the rock sequences, where other means of correlation, especially goniatites, conodonts, foraminifera, brachiopods or corals are absent. Stratigraphical distribution of the ostracods, calibrated with well-established palynomorph biozones, identifies three informally defined intervals: a sub-CM palynomorph Biozone interval with poor ostracod assemblages including Shemonaella scotoburdigalensis; a succeeding interval within the CM palynomorph Biozone where Cavellina coela, Cavellina incurvescens, Sansabella amplectans and the new species Knoxiella monarchella and Paraparchites discus first appear; and, an upper interval, in the upper CM Biozone, marked by the appearance of Sulcella affiliata. At least locally in central Scotland, S. affiliata permits a level of resolution equivalent to a sub-zonal upper division of the CM Biozone. The fauna, flora, sedimentology and stable isotope composition (δ13C and δ18O) of carbonate minerals in the Ballagan Formation suggest the ostracods inhabited brackish, hypersaline and ephemeral aquatic ecologies in a coastal floodplain setting.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1144/jm.24.1.77
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Other Special Projects
ISSN:	0262-821X
Additional Keywords:	Ostracods, Biostratigraphy, Palaeoenvironments
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	17 Jan 2008 17:15 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/2052

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1144/jm.24.1.77

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Other Special Projects

ISSN:

0262-821X

Additional Keywords:

Ostracods, Biostratigraphy, Palaeoenvironments

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences