Shaanxilithes在贵州的发现及其意义

SHAANXILITHES FROM TAOZICHONG FORMATION OF GUIZHOU PROVINCE AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE

贵州清镇桃子冲组发现了保存精美的 Shaanxilithes,其特征与陕南高家山生物群中的相同分子基本一致 ,结合瓶状化石资料 ,初步推断桃子冲组下段的下部可与高家山段对比 ,与南澳的“可疑构造”在形态上的相似性进一步证实 Shaanxilithes具有较为稳定的地史分布 ,可以作为新元古代末期地层对比的一个潜在的重要标志。对Shaanxilithes的深入研究排除了其为遗迹化石或蠕形动物的可能 。

Well-preserved long-ribboned structures similar to Shaanxilithes of southern Shaanxi are reported from the Neoproterozoic Taozichong Formation of Qizheng, Guizhou. In conjunction with the co-occurrenece of the vase-shaped fossils in the two localities, it can be tentatively deduced that the lower Taozichong Formation is well comparable with that of the Gaojiashan Member, Dengying Formation of southern Shaanxi, and Shaanxilithes has a relatively stable distribution in the Yangtze Platform. Superficially resembling the problematic fossils in the late Neoproterozoic Wonoka Formation, South Australia, indicates that Shaanxilithes might be another potential significant stratigraphic index like that of the Ediacara fossil assemblage and Cloudina in the terminal Neoproterozoic. Shaanxilithes is not a trace fossil or worm-like fossil, and seems most likely to represent calcified algal debris.