CONODONTS FROM THE ORDOVICIAN SHINNEL FORMATION, SOUTHERN UPLANDS, SCOTLAND

The Shinnel Formation is dominated by over 2 km of quartzose sandstone s. It crops out between the Fardingmullach and Orlock Bridge faults, N orthern Belt of the Southern Uplands, and is of mid Ashgill age. The i nterbedded and distinctive Tweeddale Member (previously the Wrae Limes tone and Tweeddale lavas) comprises debris flow deposits with clasts o f limestone which yield a diverse and abundant conodont fauna, includi ng Pygodus anserinus, Baltoniodus variabilis, Periodon aculeatus, Prot opanderodus varicostatus, Spinodus spinatus, Eoplacognathus lindstroem i, Strachanognathus palvus and coniform species; an assemblage conside red to be of P. anserinus Biozone (late Llanvirn (Llandeilian) to earl y Caradoc (Aurelucian)) age. These conodont faunas are similar to thos e from the upper Stinchar Limestone from Girvan to the north-west. The deep or cool water, predominantly prioniodontid and panderodontid, co nodont fauna is described systematically for the first time. Emended a pparatus plans are proposed for Pygodus anserinus, Protopanderodus var icostatus and Strachanognathus parvus.