Annual Report* of IGCP Project No. 467

Transcription

1 INTERNATIONAL GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMME (IGCP) Annual Report* of IGCP Project No. 467 *The information in this report will also be used for publication in 'Geological Correlation' (please feel free to attach any additional information you may consider relevant to the assessment of your project). IGCP project short title: Triassic Time and Trans-Panthalassan correlations Duration and status: Year 4 of 5 Project leader: 1. Name: M. J. Orchard Address: Geological Survey of Canada, Robson St., Vancouver, BC, V6B 5J3 Tel.: Fax: morchard@nrcan.gc.ca Regional co-leaders/ representatives: 2. L. Krystyn, Vienna, Austria - Europe 3. J. Tong, Wuhan, China - China 4. S. Lucas, Albuqueque, USA B non-marine 5. H. Campbell, Dunedin, New Zealand B southern hemisphere 6. F. Hirsch, Naruto, Japan - Middle East 7. K. Ishida, Tokushima, Japan B SE Asia 8. Y. Zacharov, Vladivostok, Russia - Russia Project Secretary: M. J. Orchard, as above Date of submission of report: 15 December 2005 Signature of project leader:

2 Primary IGCP 467 site: 2. Summary of major past achievements of the project The inaugural workshop of IGCP 467 (2002) was on the theme of the emerging multielement taxonomy of Triassic conodonts and its application to biochronology. A landmark study on Triassic multielement conodonts is published (Orchard 2005). Considerable work was done on the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB), the extinction event, and the biotic recovery that followed. Increasingly precise dating and correlation tools were produced increasingly resolved taxonomy and biozonations; new chemostratigraphy in Iran, Russia, South China, and western Canada; improved magnetostratigraphy in Iran. These improve correlation potential within and between the marine and continental realms. A new diverse Griesbachian marine fauna from Oman showed PTB extinctions were not neither synchronous nor global. Correlation of Griesbachian strata in the Arctic is hampered by reworking (Utting et al., 2005). The multidisciplinary Nanpanjiang Basin Project in South China provided detailed conodont biostratigraphy, chemostratrigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, cyclostratigraphy, and radiometric dating of tuffs for long Triassic sections. Perturbations in C isotope data approximate substage boundaries in the Lower Triassic (Corsetti et al., 2005). A study of the macro- and micro-paleontology, magnetostratigraphy, and isotope geochemistry at Chaohu, China (a GSSP candidate for the base of the Lower Triassic Olenekian Stage) was initiated and results published. A Chinese PhD student spent 3 months in Vancouver (2004) studying the conodont collections. Intercalibration of conodont and ammonoid data was largely achieved, with the appearance of flemingitid ammonoids and of the conodont Neospathodus waageni, being favored for definition. This datum occurs slightly prior to the top of a second Triassic normal magnetozone, and at the peak of the first Triassic positive excursion of 13C. Field work in Muth, Spiti yielded a rich ammonoid and conodont succession for comparison with China. A workshop was held to study the Indian sections (2004). New data on the stratigraphy, conodont and foraminiferid biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and carbon isotope geochemistry of the Olenekian-Anisian boundary interval at Desli Caira in Dobrogea, Romania was presented at a meeting in Hungary (2002). A conodont workshop in Italy (2003) resulted in the choice of the conodont Chiosella timorensis as a defining datum. This corresponds to ammonoid faunal change, the peak of a negative C isotope anomaly. New fossil and C isotope data for the Olenekian came from South Primorye, Salt Range, and North Caucasus. Significant new Middle Triassic data came from Hungary and the Alps, particularly from candidates for a Anisian-Ladinian boundary GSSP. Final arguments for the placement of the boundary were made by the proponents in Italy (2003), and eventually definition was fixed at the lowest occurrence of the ammonoid Eoprotrachyceras curionii at Bagolino, Italy. Secondary markers are the lowest occurrence of conodont Neogondolella praehungarica and a brief normal-polarity magnetic zone; U-Pb zircon ages are Ma. The Seceda core project provided impetus for new supporting biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and radiometric age data. A proposal for the base of the Carnian Stage at the FAD of the ammonoid Daxatina at Stuores, Italy was tested through comparison with intercalibrated ammonoid, conodont and pelagic bivalve data from Spiti, India. In North America, task group field work was undertaken at New Pass, Nevada (2002). The distinction between key ammonoids Daxatina and Trachyceras poses difficulties; the FAD of the prospective conodont species polygnathiformis is associated with typical Ladinian ammonoids; the bivalve Halobia appears close to this boundary. An absolute age of ~237 Ma for this boundary was determined in Hungary. Carnian-Norian boundary sections in Canada, Sicily, Turkey, and Slovakia were st died A conodont orkshop (2003) addressed ta onomic iss es Ne conodont bi al e

3 taxonomy and zonation from Western Canada was presented at IGC (2004). Radiolarian studies across this boundary also took place in Canada. In Tethyan C-N sections in Sicily, Slovakia, and Turkey show a concurrent datum plane marked by the appearance of a conodont species, a palaeomagnetic reversal, the onset of a positive 13C shift, and possibly to the FO of Halobia styriaca. New data came from the Lagonegro Basin in Siberia. The Upper Triassic Numeric Time Scale based on magnetostratigraphic based correlations of Late Triassic marine successions and the cyclostratigraphically calibrated Newark non-marine successions remained controversial with advocates for a base Norian at ~214 Ma or ~227 Ma making their case at IGC (2204). New zircon ages came from ash within the non-marine Chinle Group in southwestern USA. Norian- Rhaetian sections in Austria were sampled for magnetostratigraphy and palynology, and in western Canada for ammonoids, conodonts, radiolarians, geochemistry, and zircon dating. The pattern of extinction in the Late Triassic and at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary was the topic of a meeting in Vancouver (2003). New data from Austria and UK was presented at IGC (2004). A conodont appearance and a distinct dinoflagellate were recognized as valuable datums in Tethys. In North America, radiolarians provide a distinctive datum in the oceanic realm and correlate with conodonts and ammonoids. In the non-marine realm, cyclostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, and conchostracan biostratigraphy of the Germanic Trias and correlation with Britain was a focus. Progress in nonmarine Triassic correlations were achieved in Europe, North and South America, Russia, and China. Trans-Panthalassan correlations were the focus of a month in Japan by the 467 leader during November 2003 and continued as collaborative Canada-Japan-USA research. Student theses were completed on Cordilleran terranes, some of which have Triassic conodonts. Synthesis volumes were prepared. A Japan-Thailand Shan Thai terrane working group was active in northwestern Thailand. The New Zealand Japan Monbusho project on southern high latitude radiolarians focused on the Permian-Triassic boundary succession exposed on Arrow Rocks, New Zealand. 3. Achievements of the project this year 3.1 List of countries involved in the project (please *indicate the countries active this year Albania, *Argentina, *Australia, *Austria, Bulgaria, *Canada, *China, *Croatia, *Czech Republic, *Denmark, *France, *Germany, *Hungary, *India, *Iran, *Israel, *Italy, *Japan, *Lithuania, *Netherlands, *New Zealand, *Norway, *Poland, *Romania, *Russia, Slovakia, *Slovenia, *South Africa, *Spain, *Sweden, *Switzerland, *Thailand, *Turkey, *UK, *USA, Yugoslavia General scientific achievements (including societal benefits) Early Triassic time Much new work was undertaken on the Permian-Triassic boundary, including studies on biomarkers (Li et al., 2005; Wang et al., 2005) at the Meishan GSSP section in China. The local government (Changxing County) has invested a large amount of money (~$5 million US!) to protect and develop the Meishan GeoPark. Further work has been undertaken at a deep-water P/T section in South Guangxi where the faunas differ. Newly published conodont distribution (Kozur, 2004, 2005) in PTB sections in Transcaucasia constrain the ages of carbon-isotopic and other anomalies (Horacek et al., 2005; Korte et al., 2004a, b, c; Zacharov, 2005c), and provide a carbon-isotope standard for long distance chemical correlations (Corsetti et al., 2005; Korte & Kozur, 2005a; Zacharov et al., 2005), e.g. in southern Alps (Baud, 2005) and Hungary (Haas et al., ms.). Original data on carbon-isotope composition of bivalve and brachiopod shells from Permian sediments of North-

4 East Russia may be used for correlation. Isotopic paleotemperatures have been calculated for the first time. Slovenian-Croatian collaborators report intensive biostratigraphic study of the PTB and Lower Triassic in the Dinarides. The definitive conodont Hindeodus parvus was recorded in both countries, and in Slovenia at least three early Triassic faunas can be used for worldwide correlation (Kolar-Jurkovsek, 2005). Improved PTB and Lower Triassic magnetostratigraphy was enabled through new paleopole estimates in China (Huang et al., 2005), and new data from Iran (Szurlies & Kozur, 2004) and terrestrial successions in South Africa (De Kock & Kirschvink, 2005). A proposed Induan-Olenekian boundary GSSP at Chaohu in Anhui Province, China, within the low-latitude Tethyan Realm, was the focus of further study, and a meeting/ fieldtrip (June 2005; Tong, 2005; Tong et al., 2005a,b; Zhao et al., 2005). The FAD of conodont Neospathodus waageni is the proposed index to define the boundary: this datum lies 26 cm below the FAD of the flemingitid ammonoids. Further correlative sections were studied in Yichang, Guizhou, and Guangxi. Field work was carried out in Muth, Spiti, an alternate I-O GSSP candidate, to enlarge the megafauna (ammonoids) and microfauna (conodonts), establish a stable isotope stratigraphy, and reconstruct the palaeoenvironment (Krystyn, 2005; Krystyn et al., 2005). The completed ammonoid fauna shows a continuously rich record throughout the boundary beds. Conodonts from both this section and Chaohu are under study and show that the appearance of N. waageni may be supplemented with indices from the Ns. pakistansensi Ns. spitiensis lineage. The Proceedings of the Chaohu meeting (see below) were accepted by the publishers (Elsevier) of Paleo3 as a special volume on the Permo-Triassic Boundary and Early Triassic Biotic Recovery ; about 40 manuscripts were volunteered. Middle Triassic time A Olenekian-Anisian boundary defined by the FAD of the conodont Chiosella timorensis at Desli Caira, in Dobrogea, Romania was determined to fall within a short reversed polarity interval situated between two short normal intervals that follow the longer reversed interval Kç1r in the upper Spathian. An O-A boundary section at Guangdo, Guizhou Province, China was the subject of ongoing research by a China-US-Canada group. Bed by bed re-sampling of the section for conodonts was done in the spring of 2005, and new ammonoid fauna was found. Several new zircon dates came from the numerous ash beds in the section. New ammonoid, brachiopod and conodont data from five sections in the Upper Olenekian- Lower Anisian of South Primorye was given (Zacharov et al., 2005b). The most promising section of the Far East for the O-Anisian boundary is that at Atlasov Cape, where the base of the Anisian is represented by the ammonoid assemblage of the Ussuriphyllites amurensis Zone (Zacharov et al., 2005a) New condont data was provided for Hungarian Anisian successions (Kovacs et al., 2005a, b). The choice of the Anisian-Ladinian boundary GSSP at the base of the Curionii Zone at Bagolino, Italy, was ratified by IUGS (21st March 2005). The GSSP is defined at the top of "Chiesense groove", located about 5 m above the base of the Buchenstein Beds; the lower surface of the overlying thick limestone bed has the lowest occurrence of the ammonoid Eoprotrachyceras curionii. A description of the GSSP was prepared for publication in Episodes. Further improvement to intercontinental ammonoid correlation about this boundary was presented by Manfrin et al. (2005). Magnetostratigraphy confirms that coeval Latemar platform carbonate cycles are not due to Milankovich precessional forcing (Kent et al., 2005). A new study of the Ladinian biostratigraphic sequence in Guizhou emphasizes the rich bivalve fauna with the goal of achieving correlation with the Alps; understanding of the l l f h l i bi l i d (S h 2005) M i il f il h

5 Detailed conodont biostratigraphic study reveals five Ladinian conodont zones in the Svilaja section of the External Dinarides, Croatia: constricta, trammeri, hungaricus, mungoensis and murchianus zones. Recent field work was focused on the Ladinian part of the section and study of ammonoid fauna. A foraminiferal bioevent marker was identiefied in Spain (Perez-Lopez et al., 2005). Knowledge of Ladinian radiolarians improved (Tekin & Mostler, 2005a, b; Wang et al., 2005). Upper Triassic time Work continued on Ladinian-Carnian boundary sections in the Dolomites of northern Italy, Spiti in India, and South Canyon in Nevada, USA. A very heavy resampling of the Prati di Stuores section in Italy a proposed GSSP - resulted in a single incomplete specimen of the key conodont M. polygnathiformis near the bed with the FAD of the proposed index Daxatina. The Padova research group are looking for other sections in Eastern Dolomites to better document the interval between the top of Daxatina beds and traditional Carnian base of Trachyceras aon. Further work on the fauna from Spiti, India showed that Daxatina appears towards the top of the range interval of the genus Frankites, and Trachyceras overlaps with highest Daxatina. The FAD of Metapolygnathus polygnathiformis predates the incoming of Daxatina by several meters. Doubtful Halobia still appear within the Frankites beds but well established occurrences are higher, within the beds with Trachyceras. Similarly, the successions in New Pass, Nevada, Frankites sutherlandi was found to overlap the lower part of the range of Trachyceras gr. T. desatoyense, several meters above the FAD of desatoyense. Halobia appears in the same beds from where sutherlandi was recovered and possibly is even older. The conodonts are currently being studied. The richest beds in ammonoids of the South Canyon section overlie a sudden facies change, with the drowning of a carbonate platform. Bivalves from this locality were described (Waller & Stanley, 2005). In China, the Guanling Biota - well known for its abundant marine reptiles and wellpreserved crinoids - has been the subject of intense study recently. Current attention has been paid to its age, which was regarded as Ladinian based mainly based on its bivalves, but recent study on conodonts indicates it is Carnian (Sun et al., 2005; Tang et al., 2005). In Slovenia and Croatia, paleontological study of two sections of Raibl Beds in the Karavake Mts. yielded an assemblage of the conodont Nicoraella? budaensis and a benthic foraminifera assemblage of the Pilamminella kuthani Interval-Zone (Kolar-Jurkov ek et al., 2005). This contributes to the intercalibration of the Upper Triassic conodont, foraminifer and dasyclad zonations. Synthesis of the Carnian-Norian boundary data for the Black Bear Ridge section in British Columbia and description of new conodont taxa and zonation is nearing completion. Application of the new taxonomy and zonation to Tethyan sections, particularly in Sicily, is planned. A manuscript on the integrated bio-, magneto- and chemostratigraphic crosscorrelation of key sections in the Tethys (Sicily, Slovakia, Turkey) will follow. A joint US-Austrian study of the C-N boundary related pelagic bivalve Halobia and its intercontinental distribution was initiated. Results may provide additional arguments for a decision between the different conodont boundary options. A new section in Turkey is being studied to provide a potential link to the deepwater radiolarian zonal scheme. A boundary study of promising siliceous deepwater facies in Oman unfortunately failed to provide reliable radiolarian faunas important for a correlation with the Panthalassa realm. Major discrepancies in the number and duration of magnetic intervals hamper presently an exact cross-correlation of the Norian marine Tethyan and non-marine Newark magnetostratigraphy scales. To resolve that problem, Norian sediments have been drilled in the Hallstatt limestone of Timor, Indonesia, and data are currently under measurement. A conodont- and ammonoid-rich Norian-Rhaetian boundary section at Steinbergkogel, A (K & K h 2005) h f h Ch hl d

6 hernsteini). Both events correlate closely to a distinct polarity change, and chemostratigraphy and sedimentology of the section are currently under study. The Steinberkogel fits perfectly to the basal part of a Rhaetian magnetostratigraphy from Turkey and the synthesis will be used for a cross-correlation with the Newark astrochronologic time scale. A field workshop in the ammonite-rich Gabbs Valley Range, Nevada (March 2005) sampled both N/R and T/J boundary strata (Lucas et al., 2005a). Palynology results were disappointing, but the presence of the Tethyan Rhaetian conodont Misikella was confirmed - a first for the North American autochthon. Rhaetian ammonite assemblages were described from Tibet (Yin et al., 2005). Global correlation of the radiolarian faunal turnover across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary based on sections in SW Japan (Katsuyama, Mino-Tanmba Terrane) and Canada (Kunga Is., Queen Charlotte Island) was published (Carter & Hori, 2005). An integrated study of the T-J boundary in Hungary was completed (Palfy et al., in press). Carbon isotope fluctuations at the boundary in Italy were linked to extinction and floral turnover (Galli et al., 2005). Non-marine Triassic A field workshop was held around Halle, Germany that resulted in the recognition of greater similarities between the marginal and basinal successions of the European Triassic than one could assume from the published literature. A new project group was formed (see below) to apply various methodologies to improve the correlation of the Germanic Triassic. Meanwhile, new results for the correlation of the Germanic and Tethyan Triassic as well as for the numeric ages of the Triassic stages via Milankovitch cycles were published (Bachmann & Kozur, 2005; Kozur & Bachmann, 2005). Integrated biostratigraphic, palaeomagnetic, and stable isotope investigations allowed very detailed correlations between marine and continental beds with a claimed resolution of to years (Korte & Kozur, 2005b). Research of the active Spanish Working Group have been engaged on several topics related to the Triassic basins in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly the Permian/ Triassic boundary (Diez et al., 2005), the Triassic biotic recovery (Dinares et al., 2005), and the Triassic/Jurassic boundary (Gomez et al., 2005). An issue of Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (vol. 229, pp ) was devoted to these studies. The non marine working group was very active in western North America, participating in the many meetings (see below), making presentations on research results pertaining to nonmarine Triassic chronology and correlations, and to the Triassic-Jurassic boundary events (Lucas et al., 2005b). Ongoing research establishes that the Triassic-Jurassic boundary in the nonmarine section of the Colorado Plateau, USA, is not at a regional unconformity. Improved biostratigraphic resolution also alters concepts about the relative ages of the upper part of the Chinle Group, which are slightly older than previously concluded. A complete Chinle magnetostratigraphy is being developed in the Chama Basin of New Mexico (Ziegler et al., 2005). In this connection, corrected Late Triassic latitudes were provided (Kent & Tauxe, 2005). Upper Triassic conchostracans have been found throughout the Newark Supergroup in eastern USA and should yield a zonation for the northern hemisphere. Most species are also known from New Mexico, Texas, the Germanic Basin and China, and they can also be partly correlated to Argentina. In China, study has been continuing at the terrestrial P/T boundary in the western Guizhou and eastern Yunnan, where the P/T boundary is traced from the marine to terrestrial sequences via some paralic facies (Peng et al., 2005). Some tuffaceous clay beds are related to those in the marine facies. Lower Triassic palynological assemblages were defined (Ding et al., 2005). A good deal of vertebrate data was produced with potential chronological value, e.g. in Russia (Shishkin, 2005), the USA (Heckert, 2005; Heckert et al., 2005; Hunt et al., 2005; Lucas l 2005) d A i (L 2005) fi h f f S h Af i id b h

7 marker for the L-M Triassic boundary and possible links with the marine succession (Bender & Hancox, 2005). Trans-Panthalassa correlations Participants from Japan were very active this year, both in Japan and in collaborative projects in the Russian Far East and in New Zealand. New results will be presented at the forthcoming Wellington Meeting (see below): more than 30 Japanese researchers will attend the meeting. In Japan, Triassic sealing of the post-accretionary Kurosegawa Terrane was studied from the view points of the sequence stratigraphy and faunal provenance in East Shikoku. Triassic molluscs are correlative with the Carnian (-Norian) Kochigatani bivalve-fauna that is regarded as different from that of the carbonate Tethyan facies in the South Chichibu accretionary terrane. Similarly, the biogeographic implications Late Triassic bivalves from the Sambosan accretionary complex (SW Japan) were reported (Onoue & Tanaka, 2005). Studies of the Triassic conodont and radiolarian biostratigraphy in the meta-sediments of the Mino-Tamba accretionary terrane in SW Japan are underway with new faunal data establishing Spathian and late Carnian-early Norian ages. In North America, a summary of Triassic conodont biostratigraphy in northwestern Canada and their biogeographic implications was completed: anomalous occurrences of Tethyan species resulted in reinterpretation of regional structure (Orchard, in press). In southern BC, collaborative Canada-Japan-USA researchers began a detailed study of the sedimentology, biostratigraphy, and chemostratigraphy of a Lower Triassic succession with Asiatic affinities The joint working group of Thailand-Japan geologists on the Shan-Thai Terrane, Thailand showed that the Triassic deposition found in the respective sub-terranes and along suture zones in SE Asia widely determines the relative palinspastic position of these units. The Sukhothai Zone on the east contains the Lampang basin which has Triassic ammonites and shallow marine bivalves of an endemic character. To the west, the Mae-Sariang Zone is marked by the Triassic pelagic bivalve Daonella sumatraensis and includes a Jurassic basal conglomerate that has limestone and chert clasts that yield Early-Late Triassic conodonts and Middle-Late Triassic radiolarians (Ishida et al., 2005). The silici-pelagic origin of the clasts suggests the presence of an ocean before the end Triassic orogeny along the Mae Sariang Zone that amalgamated the parts of the Shan-Thai block. This first finding of Late Triassic (Norian- Rhaetian) radiolarians from bedded cherts adds another element to the paleogeographic reconfiguration of this region (Feng et al., 2005; Galli et al., 2005). Conodont biogeography in northeast Asia was summarized (Klets, 2005), who delineated Boreal and Tethyan affinities through the Triassic. Crinoid distribution was used to establish Middle Triassic links between Tethys and offshore Gondwanaland (Eagle, 2004) List of meetings with approximate attendance and number of countries 1. European Geosciences Union 2005, Vienna, April Presentation of data from Austria and Spiti collected within project Triassic Chronostratigraphy and Biotic Recovery, Chaohu City, Anhui Province, China, May, Co-sponsored by the Subcommission on Triassic Stratigraphy, IGCP-467, Task Group on Induan-Olenekian Boundary, Subcommission on Permian Stratigraphy, the CHRONOS Project, as well as the National Natural Science Foundation of China and China National Commission of Stratigraphy. Organized by the China University of Geosciences and hosted by the Government of Chaohu City and Office of Land and Resources, Anhui Province. Dr. Mike Orchard acted as the chairman and Drs. Yuri Zakharov (Russia) and Yin Hongfu (China) as the vice-chairmen, while Dr. Tong Jinnan (China) served as the secretary. ~70 participants from 14 countries attended. 47 l d 13 i d i d h lf d d 15

8 symposium program, field excursion guides, and 68 abstracts were published in two volumes of Albertiana (Lehrmann et al., 2005a,b). 3. International Field Workshop on the Triassic of Germany and surrounding countries, July, Institut fuer Geologische Wissenschaften, Martin-Luther Universitaet Halle Wittenberg. Organized by G. H. Bachmann, G. Beutler, M. Szurlies, J. Barnasch, & M. Franz. Workshop Programme: Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk, Zechstein, Keuper, Liassic, Stratigraphy, facies, conchostracans, cyclicity, magnetostratigraphy, C-isotopes, microspaerules, Continental PTB. 22 participants from 7 countries attended. 4. IV Symposium on Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography of the Permian and Triassic Systems in Spain, IGCP 458 and 467 Workshop, Elche (Alicante) Spain, September, Chaired by Ana Márquez-Aliaga, and commissioned by the Geological Society of Spain (Spanish Group of the Mesozoic Era and the Spanish Group of Sedimentology), the SWG for 458 and 467, in collaboration with the Department of Geology of the University of Valencia (UVEG), the Department of Earth Sciences and the Environment of the University of Alicante (UA) and Palaeontological Museum of Elche (MUPE). The proceedings have been published in Geotemas and the two field excursions guide in Cidaris. Future papers in relation with this Workshop PICG 458 and 467 will be published in the Journal of Iberian Geology. 5. Non-marine Group meetings New Mexico Geological Society Meeting, Socorro, New Mexico (April); Symposium on Terrestrial Triassic-Jurassic Transition, St. George, Utah (April); Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Geological Society of America (May); New Mexico Geological Society Field Conference (September); Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Mesa, Arizona (October); Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah (October). 6. Circum-Panthalassa Triassic Faunas and Sequences. Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand March, Co-sponsored by InterRad, IGCP Project 467, the Subcommission on Triassic Stratigraphy (STS), and the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS). Theme: Southern high latitudes Triassic correlations and circum- Pacific correlations. Examination of the type sections for New Zealand Triassic stages. The conference program and abstracts volume, and field excursion guide will be published within the GNS information series. Articles based on conference papers will be published as a special issue of one international and one Australasian journal Educational, training or capacity building activities The Chaohu Meeting and field excursions attracted a lot of attention from the local news media with news from the symposium and excursions featured on the front pages of the local newspapers, and reported continuously by the local newscast and television stations. Scientific highlights of the meeting were published in the International Geoscience journal Episodes (20: 1-2). As a result of international co-operations within project 467, new scientific collaborative projects have been initiated: A project group on the Pan-European correlation of the classic Germanic Triassic chaired by M. Szurlies was formed with the goal of improving the correlation of the Germanic Triassic and establish a biomagnetostratigraphic scale. Carbon Isotope Stratigraphy and isotopic variations as recorder and interpretation tool of environmental change during Upper Triassic (time and) extinction intervals. Training and R h P f SNSF (S i N i l S i F d ) f i i ( d )

9 Environmental changes in Lower Triassic sediments in Russia: Sedimentological, palaeontological and geochemical investigations of marine Lower Triassic sediments in the Caucasus and Far-East Russia. - European Community EU-INTAS Project A Triassic Tethyan seawater temperature curve based on conodont apatite. FWF (Austrian Science Funds) project. Stratigraphy and Tethyan-Panthallassan cross-correlation of Upper Triassic pelagic bivalves + end-triassic bivalve mass extinction in Austria (Northern Calcareous Alps) and Lombardy (Southern Alps). Late Triassic Extinction(s) singular or multiple biotic crises and ecologic changes? Joint project of Ütrecht University. The Carnian Turnover in the western Tethys Realm FWF Project P of Innsbruck University. A Canada-Japan-USA project on a Lower Triassic accreted terrane in British Columbia. A USA-Japan-Turkey project on P-T boundary and recovery. A USA-Canada collaborative project using oxygen isotopes from conodonts to paleoclimatic and paleooceanographic studies. The following student research projects have been supported/ advised by IGCP participants: Andrew Heckert (New Mexico) published his PhD research on microvertebrate fossils from the Upper Triassic of the western United States (Lucas). Dorit Korngreen (Beersheva University) completed his PhD on the Triassic in northern Israel with emphasis on Anisian Rhaetian foraminifera (Benjamini, Hirsch). Nicolas Goundemand (Zurich) continued his PhD studies on the zonal intercalibration of Lower Triassic conodonts and ammonoids from the USA and South China. He plans a visit to Vancouver in December to complete a joint ms. (Bucher, Orchard). Manuel Rigo continued his PhD studies on the biostratigraphy of Upper Triassic conodonts in the Lagonegro Basin (southern Apennines, southern Italy), in the southern Alps, and in the Portovenere Basin (La Spezia, NW Italy) (Mietto, Nicora). Luke Beranek (UBritish Columbia) started a PhD study of the age and provenance of Triassic strata in Yukon Territory, northern Canada (Orchard, Mortenson). 2 masters students of Delhi University have been involved and supervised in a sedimentologic study of Upper Triassic rocks during 2005 in Spiti (Krystyn). Emily Hopkin is undertaking a MSc thesis on Upper Triassic conodonts and ammonoids from British Columbia (Orchard). 2 Austrian diploma students are involved and partly funded by the project for fieldwork related to the Norian-Rhaetian boundary (Krystyn). Triassic Projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) or China National Stratigraphical Commission in 2005: Conodont morphologic evolution at the Permian-Triassic boundary and its coevolution with environments. High-resolution magnetostratigraphy at the Permian-Triassic boundary and in the Lower Triassic of Yichang, Hubei Brachiopod dwarfism around the Permian-Triassic boundary in South China Triassic-Jurassic boundary ammonoid zonation in the eastern Tethyan Gondwana facies and its correlation Sulfur isotope stratigraphy at the Permian-Triassic boundary in South China Calimicrobialites at the Permian-Triassic boundary and the environments in South China Study on the GSSP of the base of the continental Triassic in China Study on the stratotype of the Chaohuan Stage (=Olenekian) S d h A i i L di i b d d h i G i h

10 3.5. Participation of scientists from developing countries The Chaohu meeting in particular attracted good attendance from developing countries List of most important publications (including maps) Peer reviewed: - Bachmann, G.H., Kozur, H.W The Germanic Triassic: correlations with the international scale, numerical ages and Milankovitch cyclicity. Hallesches Jahrb. Geowiss., B 26, pp Bender, P.A., Hancox, P.J Newly discovered fish faunas from the Early Triassic, Karoo Basin, South Africa, and their correlative implications. Gondwana Research, 7(1), pp Carter, S.E., Hori, S.R Global correlation of the radiolarian faunal change across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 42(5), pp Corsetti, F.A., Baud, A., Marenco, P.J., Richoz, S Summary of Early Triassic carbon isotope records. Compte Rendus Palevol, 4, pp De Kock, M.O., J.L. Kirschvink, J.L Paleomagnetic constraints on the Permian- Triassic boundary in terrestrial strata of the Karoo Supergroup, South Africa: implications for causes of the end-permian extinction event. Gondwana Research, 7(1), pp Diez, J.B., Broutin, J., Ferre, J Difficulties encountered in defining the Permian- Triassic boundary in Buntsandstein facies of the western Peritethyan domain based on palynological data. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 229, pp Dinarès-Turell, J., Diez, J.B., Rey, D., Arnal, I "Buntsandstein" magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphic reappraisal from eastern Iberia: Early and Middle Triassic stage boundary definitions through correlation to Tethyan sections. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 229, pp Ding, Q., Zhang, L The Lower Triassic Series and its palynological assemblages in southwestern Songliao Basin, NE China. Acta Micropalaeontologica Sinica, 22(1), pp Eagle, M.K Tethyan crinoids in the Panthalassa Ocean. Gondwana Research, 7(1), pp Feng, Q., Chonglakmani, C., Helmcke, D., Ingavat-Helmcke, R., Liu, B Correlation of Triassic stratigraphy between the Simao and Lampang-Phrae Basins: implications for the tectonopaleogeography of Southeast Asia. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 24(6), pp Feng, Q., Malila, K., Wonganan, N., Chonglakmani, C., Helmcke, D., Ingavat-Helmcke, R., Caridroit, M Permian and Triassic radiolaria from northwest Thailand: paleogeographical implications. Revue de Micropaléontologie, 48(4), pp Galli, M.T., Jadoul, F., Bernsaconi, S.M., Weissert, H Anomalies in global carbon cycling and extinction at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary: evidence from a marine C-isotope record. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 216 (3-4), pp Gómez, J.J., Goy, A., Barrón, E Events at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary in northern and eastern Spain. Palaeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 229, pp Haas, J., Demény, A., Hips, K., Vennemann, T.W. (ms.). Carbon isotope excursions and microfacies changes in marine Permian/Triassic boundary sections in Hungary. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. - Huang, B.C., Shi, R.P., Wang, Y.C., Zhu, R.X Palaeomagnetic investigation on Early- Middle Triassic sediments of the North China block: a new Early Triassic palaeopole and its tectonic implications. Geophysical Journal International, 160, pp Kent, D.V., Muttoni, G., Brack, P Magnetostratigraphic confirmation of a much faster tempo for sea-level change for the Middle Triassic Latemar platform carbonates. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 228(3-4), pp Kent D V Ta e L 2005 Corrected Late Triassic latit des for continents adjacent to the

11 - Kolar-Jurkov ek, T., Jurkov ek, B. (ms.). First record of Hindeodus-Isarcicella population in Lower Triassic of Slovenia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. - Korte, C., Kozur, H.W. 2005b. Carbon isotope trends in continental lake deposits of uppermost Permian to Lower Olenekian: Germanic Lower Buntsandstein (Calvörde and Bernburg Formations). Hallesches Jahrb. Geowiss., B, Beiheft, 19, pp Korte, C., Kozur, H.W., Joachimski, M.M., Strauss, H., Veizer, J., Schwark, L. 2004a. Carbon, sulfur, oxygen and strontium isotope records, organic geochemistry and biostratigraphy across the Permian/Triassic boundary in Abadeh, Iran. Int. Journal Earth Science (Geol. Rdsch.), 93, pp Korte, C., Kozur, H.W., Mohtat-Aghai, P. 2004b. Dzhulfian to lowermost Triassic delta 13 C record at the Permian/Triassic boundary section at Shahreza, Central Iran. Hallesches Jahrb. Geowiss., Reihe B, Beiheft, 18, pp Korte, C., Kozur, H.W., Partoazar, H. 2004c. Negative carbon isotope excursion at the Permian/Triassic boundary section at Zal, NW-Iran. Hallesches Jahrb. Geowiss., Reihe B, Beiheft, 18, pp Kovács, S., Rálisch-Felgenhauer, E Middle Anisian (Pelsonian) conodonts from the Triassic of the Mecsek Mts. (South Hungary) Their taxonomy and stratigraphic significance. Acta. Geol. Hung., 48, pp Kovács, S., Bóna, J., Rálisch-Felgenhauer, E Middle Anisian (Pelsonian) platform conodonts from the Triassic of the Villány Hills, South Hungary. Acta Geol. Hung., 48, pp Kozur, H.W. 2004c. Pelagic uppermost Permian and the Permian-Triassic boundary conodonts of Iran. Part 1: Taxonomy. Hallesches Jahrb. Geowiss., B, Beiheft, 18, pp Kozur, H.W. 2005c. Pelagic uppermost Permian and the Permian-Triassic boundary conodonts of Iran. Part 2: Investigated sections and evaluation of the conodont faunas. Hallesches Jahrb. Geowiss., B, Beiheft, 19, pp Langer, M.C Studies on continental Late Triassic tetrapod biochronology. II. The Ischigualastian and a Carnian global correlation. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 19(2), pp Manfrin, S., Mietto, P., Preto, N Ammonoid biostratigraphy of the Middle Triassic Latemar platform (Dolomites, Italy) and its correlation with Nevada and Canada. Geobios, 38(4), pp Orchard, M.J Multielement conodont apparatuses of Triassic Gondolelloidea. Special Papers in Palaeontology, 73, pp Orchard, M.J. (in press). Late Paleozoic, Triassic conodont faunas of Yukon Territory and northern British Columbia and implications for the evolution of the Yukon-Tanana terrane. In Colpron, Nelson et al. (eds.) Paleozoic Evolution and Metallogeny of Pericratonic Terranes at the Ancient Pacific Margin of North Amercia, Canadian and Alaskan Cordillera. GAC Special Paper. - Pálfy, J., Demény, A., Haas, J., Carter, E.S., Görög, Á., Halász, D., Oravecz-Schäffer, A., Hetényi, M., Márton, E., Orchard, M.J., Ozsvárt, P., Vet, I., Zajzon, N. (in press). Triassic/Jurassic boundary events inferred from integrated stratigraphy of the Cs vár section, Hungary. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. - Peng, Y., Zhang, S., Yu, T., Yang, F., Gao, Y., Shi, G.R High-resolution terrestrial Permian-Triassic eventostratigraphic boundary in western Guizhou and eastern Yunnan, southwestern China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 215(3-4), pp Pérez López, A., Márquez, L., Pérez-Valera, F., A foraminiferal assemblage as a bioevent marker of the main Ladinian transgressive stage in the Betic Cordillera, southern Spain. Palaeogeography, Paleoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 224, pp Schatz, W Palaeoecology of the Triassic black shale bivalve Daonella new insights into an old contro ers P l h P l li t l P l l 216(3 4) pp

12 - Tekin, U.K., Mostler, H Longobardian (Middle Triassic) entactinarian and nassellarian radiolaria from the Dinarides of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Journal of Paleontology, 79, pp Tekin, U.K., Mostler, H Late Ladinian (Middle Triassic) Spumellaria (Radiolaria) from the Dinarides of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Rivista Italiana Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, Utting, J., MacNaughton, R.B., Zonneveld, J.P., Fallas, K.M Palynostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy and thermal maturity of the Lower Triassic Toad and Grayling, and Montney formations of western Canada, and comparisons with coeval rocks of the Sverdrup Basin, Nunavut. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, 53(1), pp Waller, T.R., Stanley, G.D Middle Triassic pteriomorphian bivalvia (Mollusca) from the New Pass Range, west-central Nevada: systematics, biostratigraphy, paleoecology, and paleobiogeography. Journal of Paleontology, 79, pp Wang, Y., Yang, Q., Guo, T The late Middle Triassic radiolarians--spongoserrula rarauana Fauna from the Hoh Xil Region, Qinghai. Acta Micropalaeontologica Sinica, 22(1), pp Yin, J Rhaetian and Hettangian ammonoid assemblages from the Tibetan Himalayas and their pan-tethyan correlation. Acta Geologica Sinica, 79(5), pp Zakharov, Y.D., Biakov, A.S., Baud, A., Kozur, H Significance of Caucasian sections for working out carbon-isotope standard for Upper Permian and Lower Triassic (Induan) and their correlation with the Permian of north-eastern Russia. Journal of China University of Geosciences, 16, pp Non-peer reviewed: - Baud, A Geochemical changes at the Permian-Triassic transition in Southern Alps and adjacent area: a review. Annali dell'universit degli Studi di Ferrara, Museologia Scientifica e Naturalistica, pp Heckert, A.B Late Triassic microvertebrates from the lower Chinle Group (Otischalkian-Adamanian: Carnian), southwestern U.S.A. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin, 27, 170 p. - Heckert, A.B., Lucas, S.G., Sullivan, R.M., Hunt, A.P., Spielmann, J.A The vertebrate fauna of the Upper Triassic (Revueltian: lower-mid Norian) Painted Desert Member (Petrified Forest Formation: Chinle Group) in the Chama Basin, northern New Mexico. In Lucas, S.G., Zeigler, K.E., Lueth, V.W., Owen, D.E. (eds.) Geology of the Chama Basin: New Mexico Geological Society Fall Field Conference Guidebook 56, pp Horacek, M., Richoz, S., Brandner, R., Krystyn, L., Spötl,C C curve of Lower Triassic sediments in Iran. Albertiana, 33, p Hunt, A.P., Lucas, S.G., Heckert, A.B Definition and correlation of the Lamyan: a new biochronological unit for the nonmarine late Carnian (Late Triassic). In Lucas, S.G., Zeigler, K.E., Lueth, V.W., Owen, D.E. (eds.) Geology of the Chama Basin: New Mexico Geological Society Fall Field Conference Guidebook 56, pp Ishida, K., Nanba, A., Hirsch, F., Kozai T., Meesook, A Discovery of Early-Late Triassic microfaunas from the bedded-chert and Jurassic base-conglomerate at Mae-Sot, NW Thailand: preliminary report for the Shan-Thai Terrane and end-triassic orogeny. Natural Science Research, Univ. Tokushima, Kletz, T.V Palaeobiogeographic zoning of Triassic seas of northeastern Asia based on Conodontophoridae. Albertiana, 32, pp Kolar-Jurkov ek T., Ga dzicki A. and Jurkov ek B. (2005) - Conodonts and foraminifera from the Raibl Beds (Carnian) of Karavanke Mountains: stratigraphical and palaeobiological implications. Geol. Quart., Warszawa. - Krystyn, L., 2005: A revised Lower Triassic intercalibrated ammonoid-conodont time scale of the eastern Tethys Realm based on Himalayan data. Albertiana, 33, p

13 - Krystyn, L., Bhargava, O.N. and Bhatt, K.D., 2005: Muth (Spiti, Indian Himalaya) a Candidate Global Stratigraphic Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Olenekian stage. Albertiana, 33, Krystyn, L., Kuerschner, W Biotic events around the Norian Rhaetian boundary. Albertiana, 32, pp Korte, C., Kozur, H.W. 2005a. Carbon isotope stratigraphy across the Permian/Triassic boundary at Jolfa (NW-Iran), Peitlerkofel (Sass de Pütia, Sass de Putia), Pufels (Bula, Bulla), Tesero (all three southern Alps, Italy) and Gerennavár (Bükk Mts., hungary). Journal Alpine Geology, 47, pp Kozur, H.W., Bachmann, G.H Correlation of the Germanic Triassic with the international scale. Albertiana, 32, pp Lehrmann, D.J., Enos, P., Payne, J.L., Montgomery, P., Wei, J., Yu, Y., Xiao, J., Orchard, M.J. 2005a. Permian and Triassic depositional history of the Yangtze Platform and Great Bank of Guizhou in the Nanpanjuiang Basin of Guizhou and Guangxi, south China. In Excursion Guide, International Symposium on Triassic Chronostratigraphy and Biotic Recovery, Chaohu, China, May Albertiana, 33(II), pp Lehrmann, D.J., Payne, J.L., Enos, P., Montgomery, P., Wei, J., Yu, Y., Xiao, J., Orchard, M.J. 2005b. Permian-Triassic boundary and a Lower-Middle Triassic boundary sequence on the Great Bank of Guizhou, Nanpanjiang basin, southern Guizhou Province. In Excursion Guide, International Symposium on Triassic Chronostratigraphy and Biotic Recovery, Chaohu, China, May Albertiana, 33(II), pp Lucas, S.G., Guex, J., Tanner, L.H., Taylor, D., Kuerschner, W.M., Atudorei, V., Bartolini, A. 2005a. Definition of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. Albertiana, 32, pp Lucas, S.G., Tanner, L.H., Heckert, A.B. 2005b. Tetrapod biostratigraphy and biochronology across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary in northeastern Arizona. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 29, pp Onoue, T., Tanaka, H Late Triassic bivalves from Sambosan accretionary complex, southwest Japan, and their biogeographic implications. Paleontological Research, 9, pp Shishkin, M.A The pattern of recovery of tetrapod communites in the Early Triassic of Europe and Southern Gondwana: a composition and implications. Albertiana, no. 33, p Szurlies, M., Kozur, H.W Preliminary palaeomagnetic results from the Permian- Triassic boundary interval, Central and NW Iran. Albertiana, 31, pp Sun, Z., Hao, W., Jiang, D Conodont biostratigraphy near the Ladinian-Carnian boundary interval in Guanling of Guizhou. Journal of Stratigraphy, 29(3), pp Tang, B., Hao, W., Sun, Z Geochemistry characteristics and implications on provenance and sedimentary environments of Guanling Fauna bearing strata, Guizhou Province. Journal of Palaeogerography, 7(2), pp Tong, J Studies on the Triassic in Chaohu, Anhui Province, China. Albertiana, 32, pp Tong, J., Hansen, H.J., Zhao, L., Zuo, J. 2005a. A GSSP candidate of the Induan-Olenekian boundary - stratigraphic sequence of the West Pingdingshan Section in Chaohu, Anhui Province. Journal of Stratigraphy, 29(2), pp Tong, J., Hansen, H.J., Zhao, L., Zuo, J. 2005b. High-resolution Induan-Olenekian boundary sequence in Chaohu, Anhui Province. Science in China (Series D), 48, pp Wang, C., Liu, Y., Liu, H., Zhu, L., Shi, Q Geochemical significance of the relative enrichment of pristine and the negative excursion of 13CPr across the Permian-Triassic boundary at Meishan, China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 50, pp Zakharov, Y.D., Popov, A.M., Buryi, G.I. 2005a. Triassic ammonoid succession in South Primorye: 4. Late Olenekian Early Anisian zones of the Atlasov Cape Section. Albertiana, 32, pp

14 - Zakharov, Y.D., Popov, A.M., Buryi, G.I., Smyshlyaeva, O.P. 2005b. The problem of the Lower-Middle Triassic boundary within the Shimeuza sequence of the Petrovka River basin (South Primorye). Tikhookeanskaya Geologiya, 24(3), pp Zakharov, Y.D., Biakov, A.S., Baud, A., Kozur, H. 2005c. Carbon-isotope standard for the Upper Permian and Lower Triassic (Induan) in Caucasus and its correlation with the Permian of north-eastern Russia. Albertiana, 32, pp Zeigler, K.E., Geissman, J.W., Lucas, S.G Paleomagnetism and magnetostratigraphy of the Upper Triassic Petrified Forest and Poleo formations, north-central New Mexico, and the Bluewater Creek and lower Petrified Forest formations, central New Mexico. In Lucas, S.G., Zeigler, K.E., Lueth, V.W., Owen, D.E. (eds.) Geology of the Chama Basin: New Mexico Geological Society Fall Field Conference Guidebook 56, pp Zhao, L., Tong, J., Orchard, M.J., Zuo, J Lower Triassic conodont zonations of Chaohu area, Anhi Province and their global correlation. Earth Science, 30(5), pp Activities involving other IGCP projects or the IUGS Co-sponsorship of meeting on Triassic Chronostratigraphy and Biotic Recovery IUGS Triassic and Permian subcommissions, CHRONOS. Combined IGCP workshop at the IV Symposium on Stratigraphy and Palaeogeography of the Permian and Triassic Systems in Spain. Co-sponsorship of meeting on Circum-Panthalassa Triassic Faunas and Sequences IUGS Triassic Subcommision, and InterRad. 4. Activities planned 4.1. General goals To refine Triassic biozonations and intercalibrate them with physical and chemical data to produce a standard time-scale. To ensure fossil criteria adopted for definition are suitable global indices or are recognized by multiple proxies. This is enhanced by considering trans- Panthalassan correlation and biogeographic provinciality. As a means to these goals, taxonomic work is planned, principally on conodont, ammonoid, and bivalve fossils, and chemostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy. Focus on key sections: Chaohu and Guandao in China; Muth, Spiti, India; Desli Caira in Romania; New Pass in Nevada; Dolomites and Pizzo Mondello in Italy; Black Bear Ridge, BC, Canada; Steinberkogel in Austria Specific meetings and field trips (please indicate participation from developing countries) June 17-21, China Session T10 "Life and environment of Triassic Time", at SECOND INTERNATIONAL PALAEONTOLOGICAL CONGRESS (IPC2006) Beijing, Peoples Republic Of China. Contact: IPC2006@nigpas.ac.cn July 12-30, England A symposium on TRIASSIC CONODONTS: TAXONOMY AND TIMESCALES, to be held at the First International Conodont Symposium University of Leicester, Leicester, U.K. Contact: ICOS2006@leicester.ac.uk August, 2006, Norway The BOREAL TRIASSIC Conference Longyearbyen (78º N), Svalbard, Arctic Norway, arranged at UNIS, the World's northernmost Uni ersit