Arenig Fawr, the mountain which lends its name to the geological series

In geology, the Arenig (or Arenigian) is a time interval during the Ordovician period and also the suite of rocks which were deposited during this interval.

History

The term was first used by Adam Sedgwick in 1847 with reference to the "Arenig Ashes and Porphyries" in the neighbourhood of Arenig Fawr, in Merioneth, North Wales. The rock-succession in the Arenig district has been recognized by W. G. Fearnsides (“On the Geology of Arenig Fawr and Moel Llanfnant", Q.J.G.S. vol. lxi., 1905, pp. 608–640, with maps). The above succession is divisible into:

1. A lower series of gritty and calcareous sediments, the "Arenig Series" as it is now understood;
2. A middle series, mainly volcanic, with shale, the "Llandeilo Series"; and
3. The shale and limestones of the Bala or Caradoc Stage.

It was to the middle series (2) that Sedgwick first applied the term "Arenig". In the typical region and in North Wales generally the Arenig series appears to be unconformable upon the Cambrian rocks; this is not the case in South Wales.^[1]

The Arenig series is represented in North Wales by the Garth Grit and Ty Obry beds, by the Shelve series of the Corndon district, the Skiddaw Slates of the Lake District, the Ballantrae Group of Ayrshire, and by the Ribband Series of slates and shale in Wicklow and Wexford. It may be mentioned here that the "Llanvirn" Series of H. Hicks was equivalent to the bifidus shale and the Lower Llandeilo Series.^[1]

Geochronology

In the geologic timescale, the Arenig or Arenigian refers to an age of the Early Ordovician epoch, between 477.7 and 470 million years ago, contemporary with the Floian of the ICS,^[2] based on a section in Sweden (Diabasbrottet quarry) and with the same boundaries. The Arenig and Floian rocks are the upper part of the Lower Ordovician and follow the Tremadocian (Gasconadian in North America) which is the lower part. Either is followed by the Middle Ordovician ICS Dapingian or by the Llanvirnian of older chronologies. The Arenig and equivalent Floian are represented in North America by the upper three stages of the Canadian which is followed by the Middle Ordovician Whiterockian which is the lower part of the now shortened Chazyan.

Events

The Arenig rocks were deposited during a sudden worldwide rise in sea level resulting in widespread marine transgression. The early Ordovician surge in marine diversity also began around this time.^[3]

Brachiopod fauna

Incertae sedis brachiopods of the Floian^[4]

• Eurorthisina
• Tegulella

Acrotretida of the Floian^[4]

Lingulida of the Floian^[4]

Orthida of the Floian^[4]

Paternida of the Floian

• Dictyonites

Pentamerida of the Floian

Cephalopoda

Actinocerida

• Metactinoceras
• Ordosoceras
• Polydesmia

Trilobite fauna

Trilobites of the Floian^[6]

• Canningella
• Gogoella
• Macrogrammus
• Priceaspis
• Thymurus

Agnostida of the Floian'^[6]

• Galbagnostus
• Geragnostella

Asaphida of the Floian^[6]

Asaphus

Corynexichida of the Floian^[6]

Lichida of the Floian^[6]

Odontopleurida of the Floian^[6]

Phacopida of the Floian

Colpocoryphe grandis

Proetida of the Floian

Ptychopariida of the Floian^[6]

External links

• palaeos

References