THE SEARCH FOR A NEW TOURNAISIAN-VISEAN BOUNDARY STRATOTYPE

Recent work indicates that a new biostratigraphic criterion and a new stratotype are required to define the Tournaisian-Visean (T-V) boundar y. Investigation of the T-V transition in Guangxi (South China) has pr ovided data which give a new insight on the problem. The foraminifer E oparastaffella provides a goon new criterion for the establishment of the T-V boundary, based on its evolutionary stages. The sequence strat igraphy of this interval may also play a part in the recognition of th e boundary. The idea of a type basin rather than a type section is put forward in preference to a single section as a better way of understa nding the transition.