Conodonts from the Permian - Triassic transition in Australia and position of the Permian - Triassic boundary

Abstract

Late Permian (late Changhsingian), possible Early Triassic Induan (Dienerian), and early Olenekian (Smithian) conodonts have been recovered from the Hovea Member of the Kockatea Shale in the exploration well Corybas 1, northern Perth Basin, Western Australia. Placement of the biostratigraphic Permian - Triassic boundary is in the lower part of the Sapropelic Interval of the Hovea Member. The Australian endemic Protohaploxypinus microcorpus palynofloral Zone is confirmed to be of late (but not latest) Changhsingian age. The Permian - Triassic boundary, based on international calibration using conodonts, carbon-isotope stratigraphy and new radio-isotopic dating, is placed in the lower part of the Kraeuselisporites saeptatus and Lunatisporites pellucidus Zones of western and eastern Australia, respectively, which corresponds approximately to the basal part of the Rewan Group and equivalents in eastern Australia.