Ordovician integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China

In this chapter, starting with a brief review of the research history and current status in the studies of the Ordovician chronostratigraphy in China, the subdivision of the Ordovician System, definition and recognition of its series and stage boundaries, and possible stratigraphic gaps are discussed in details in order to establish a multidisciplinary stratigraphic correlation through an integrated approach including lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, radiometric dating, chemostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy. Being internationally accepted, the Ordovician System is now subdivided into three series and seven stages, in ascending order, Lower (Tremadocian, Floian), Middle (Dapingian, Darriwilian) and Upper series (Sandbian, Katian, Hirnantian). Three of the seven Golden Spikes defining the bases of the Ordovician stages, which were established in 1997-2007, are located in China. As a regionally applied chronostratigraphy, the Ordovician System was subdivided in China into Lower (Xinchangian, Yiyangian), Middle (Dapingian, Darriwilian) and Upper series (Neichiashanian, Chientangkiangian, Hirnantian). This scheme agrees largely with the standard international classification, which can actually be directly applied to China, except for some special circumstances where the Neichiashanian and Chientangkiangian stages of the Upper Ordovician are used. Based on the new studies in recent years and distinctions and differences recognized in the development of the Ordovician System in the constituent terranes of China, a new framework for correlation among the major Chinese palaeoplates or terranes, e.g. South China, North China (including Tarim and Qaidam) and Xizang (Tibet)-western Yunnan, has been established. However, it has been recognized herein that uncertainties still remain on defining the base of the Tremadocian, Dapingian and Katian, and on the correlation between different mega-facies. More specifically, for the Tremadocian, the precise correlation of its base will depend on the better-defined conodont taxonomy, while for the Dapingian and Katian, on the correlation between different mega-facies. It is worthwhile to note that the chemostratigraphic studies of the Ordovician System in China produced the carbonate C-13 curves for the Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician) and Katian (Upper Ordovician), which show significant differences from the composite global curve. Record of the Ordovician isotopic dating is relatively rare in China, with only three reliable ages from zircons that are all from the upper Katian to Hirnantian of the Upper Ordovician. Abundant bentonite beds in the Upper Ordovician of South China will also provide unique opportunities to advance the isotopic dating and related researches. Studies on the Ordovician magnetostratigraphy need to be significantly enhanced in China, as currently all the available results are restricted to the Lower Ordovician of North China, although they can be correlated with those known from other parts of the world. The analysis of the durational unevenness of the seven stages in the Ordovician supports the possibility to further subdivide the long-durational Tremadocian, Darriwilian and Katian stages, each into two substages.