Succession of Cambrian conodonts from South China

More than 4 200 kg, the total weight, of 980 productive conodont samples mainly from four key sections in western Hunan and northwestern Hunan, South China have been processed. It is found that the paraconodonts occurring below Fengshanian (upper Upper Cambrian) may be used for stratigraphic subdivision and correlation. Accordingly, eight conodont zones ranging from upper Middle Cambrian to upper Upper Cambrian in South China are erected for the first time. The correlation between these zones and those of North China, North America and Iran is discussed. These eight zones are in ascending order as follows: Gapparodus bisulcatus-Westergaardodina brevidens zone, Shandongodus priscus-Hunanognathus tricuspidatus zone, Westergaardodina quadrata zone, Westergaardodina matsushitai-W. grandidens zone, Westergaardodina proligula zone, Westergaardodina cf. behrae-Prooneotodus rotundatus zone, Proconodontus zone, Cordylodus proavus zone.Geosciences, MultidisciplinarySCI(E)5ARTICLE3317-3274