Lopingian (Upper Permian) radiolarian biostratigraphy of South China

Lopingian (Upper Permian) radiolarian cherts are well-developed in shelf basinal facies, slope facies and deep oceanic basins in South China. Investigations during the last 20 years have resulted in the discovery of numerous radiolarian-bearing siliceous sections of the upper Palaeozoic, assignable to 23 radiolarian zones. Lopingian radiolarian sequences in South China are most complete and among the most comprehensively studied regions in the world for the upper Palaeozoic. The Lopingian radiolarian zonation in South China includes six biozones, namely, the Follicuculus bipartitus-F. charveti-F. orthogonus Zone, the Foremanhelena triangula Abundance Zone (Wuchiapingian), the Albaillella protolevis Zone, the Albaillella levis-A. excelsa Zone, the Neoalbaillella ornithoformis Zone and the Neoalbaillella optima Zone (Changhsingian). The first and second zones are assignable to the Wuchiapingian Stage and the third through sixth zones to the Changhsingian. Detailed features and distribution of these radiolarian zones are presented. Furthermore, an international correlation of the South China Lopingian radiolarian zones with those of Japan, Southeast Asia, USA and the Russian Far East region is made. This study suggests that palaeobiogeographically, the Lopingian radiolarian faunas are cosmopolitan in nature, with Asian Lopingian radiolarian faunas and those from North America, Europe and Australia quite similar in taxonomic composition and biozonation.