Trilobite fauna of the Telt Bugt Formation (Cambrian Series 2–Miaolingian Series), western North Greenland (Laurentia)

Abstract

Trilobites dominantly of middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series, Wuliuan Stage) age are described from the Telt Bugt Formation of Daugaard-Jensen Land, western North Greenland (Laurentia), which is a correlative of the Cape Wood Formation of Inglefield Land and Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. Four biozones are recognised in Daugaard-Jensen Land, representing the Delamaran and Topazan regional stages of the western USA. The basal Plagiura–Poliella Biozone, with Mexicella cf. robusta, Kochiella, Fieldaspis? and Plagiura?, straddles the Cambrian Series 2–Miaolingian Series boundary. It is overlain by the Mexicella mexicana Biozone, recognised for the first time in Greenland, with rare specimens of Caborcella arrojosensis. The Glossopleura walcotti Biozone, with Glossopleura, Clavaspidella and Polypleuraspis, dominates the succession in eastern Daugaard-Jensen Land but is seemingly not represented in the type section in western outcrops, likely reflecting the drastic thinning of the formation towards the north-west. The Ehmaniella Biozone, with Ehmaniella, Clappaspsis, Blainia and Blainiopsis, is the youngest recognised biozone. The presence of Drumian Stage strata reported elsewhere in North Greenland and adjacent Ellesmere Island has not been confirmed in Daugaard-Jensen Land. Lower beds of the Cass Fjord Formation, which directly overlie the Telt Bugt Formation, are assigned to the Guzhangian Stage. New species: Fieldaspis? iubilaei, Ehmaniella tupeqarfik.