The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the boundary between the Capitanian and Wuchiapingian Stage (Permian)

Abstract

The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the boundary between the Capitanian and Wuchiapingian stages, also the boundary between the Guadalupian and Lopingian Series is defined at the First Appearance Datum (FAD) of the conodont Clarkina postbitteri postbitteri at the base of Bed 6k in the Penglaitan Section along the Hongshui River in Guangxi Province, South China. This point is within a chronomorphocline from Clarkina postbitteri hongshuiensis to C. dukouensis and nearly coincides with the Middle-Upper Absaroka Megasequence boundary and as such is documented within a continuously deposited carbonate lowstand succession with deep-water facies of the Maokou Formation below and deep-water facies of the Heshan Formation above. Furthermore, this point also coincides with a major extinction of various Permian fossils including corals, fusulinaceans, ammonoids and brachiopods. The proximity to an apparently global major sequence boundary and extinction event will serve as a means of correlation of this GSSP into other regions in which the defining taxon is not present because of profound provincialism during the Middle and Upper Permian. Carbon isotopic trends and magnetostratigraphic signatures are also provided to help correlate this GSSP into other regions, including those with continental facies successions. The Tieqiao Section near the county town of Laibin is also described as a supplementary reference section.