Lower Triassic conodont biostratigraphy of the Guryul Ravine section, Kashmir

The Guryul Ravine section in Kashmir, northern India is an important reference section for global Lower Triassic stratigraphy. Once a candidate Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Permian-Triassic Boundary (PTB), the section has attracted intense attention for the PTB beds, but few studies have concerned the entire Lower Triassic stratigraphy. As one of the most continuous marine Lower Triassic successions on the northern margins of Gondwana, the Guryul Ravine section provides an important conodont biostratigraphic yardstick for worldwide correlations. This study presents recent results of the Lower Triassic conodont zonation from the Guryul Ravine section. A total of 6500 elements including 1600 P1 elements were recovered. Ten conodont zones were recognized from the Griesbachian to Spathian: Hindeodus parvus, Isarcicella staeschei, Clarkina planata, Neoclarkina krystyni, Neospathodus dieneri, Ns. pakistanensis, Novispathodus waageni, Scythogondolella mosheri, Nv. pingdingshanensis, and Nv. abruptus – Nv. brevissimus zones. The PTB is placed within Bed 52 in Unit E2, 80 cm above the base of Unit E2, based on the first occurrence (FO) of H. parvus. The Induan–Olenekian boundary (IOB) is tentatively placed at the base of Member G according to the positive maximum δ13Ccarb values, but it could be slightly higher based on conodonts. The Smithian-Spathian boundary (SSB) is drawn at the top of Member H based on the FO of Nv. pingdingshanensis and the carbon mdpt(N3-P3). Several conodont taxa are newly recognized near the top of the study section where the conodont fauna is dominated by segminiplanate elements of the Neogondolellinae. Many of these age-diagnostic species have been identified in other sections around the world, and their occurrence in Guryul Ravine supports their potential for worldwide correlation. The conodont sequence erected from the study section corresponds well to those of South China (e.g. Meishan) and elsewhere worldwide. The newly established conodont zonation from Kashmir provides a high precision time-frame to consider biotic evolution and environmental change during the Early Triassic, a crucial period of Earth history.