New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts

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Middle Permian (Murgabian) fusuline faunas, Torlesse Terrane, New Zealand

E. JA. LEVEN

Geological Institute
Russian Academy of Sciences
Pyshevskyi 7
109017 Moscow, Russia

H. J. CAMPBELL

Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences
P.O. Box 31 312
Lower Hutt, New Zealand

Abstract  Two disparate fusuline limestone localities are known from Torlesse Supergroup rocks of Canterbury in the South Island of New Zealand. Fossils at one of these localities (J35/f19, Glenfalloch Stream) are well preserved. New thin-section study establishes the presence of a low-diversity foraminiferan fauna dominated by the fusuline Parafusulina (Skinnerella) japonica. At least three fusuline taxa are recognised including Parafusulina (Skinnerella) cuniculata (Igo 1967), and two new subspecies described herein: Parafusulina (Skinnerella) japonica deprati nov. subsp. and Parafusulina (Skinnerella) japonica curta nov. subsp. Four species of small foraminifers are also recognised. Overall, the fauna correlates best with late Middle Permian sequences of Tethyan affinity in Eurasia, and specifically with those of the Murgabian Stage (probably early Murgabian). Fossils at the second locality (I39/f8666, Te Akatarawa Stream) are poorly preserved but nevertheless appear to indicate a comparable faunal composition and age range of late Kubergandian to early Murgabian.

Keywords  Torlesse Terrane; Canterbury; Waipapa Terrane, Northland; fusuline foraminifers; Middle Permian; Kubergandian; Murgabian; Tethys; paleobiogeography; Parafusulina (Skinnerella) japonica; new taxonomic names

New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 1998, Vol. 41: 149-156

0028-8306/98/4102-0149 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 1998

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (5266K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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