Relationships and age of the Lower Paleozoic Kursai, Karagaily, and Kirtabulga formations in the Kastek ridge (Zailiiskii Alatau)

The integral stratigraphic scheme for the Lower Paleozoic (Lower Cambrian t o Middle Ordovician) is considered on the basis of new finds of organic rem ains in the Kursai (small shally fossils), Karagaily (algae, trilobites, br achiopods, conodonts, sponges, small shally fossils, and others), and Kirta bulga (trilobites, graptolites, conodonts, algae) formations. These finds f urnished an opportunity to reliably correlate the individual sections, comp ile an integral regional stratigraphic scheme, substantiate the local biost ratigraphic zonation, perform the interregional correlation, and confirm th e autochtonous position of the Cambrian-Ordovician deposits in question.