FRASNIAN CONODONTS FROM MOUNT MORGAN, QUEENSLAND

by
E. C. DRUCE

SUMMARY
Seven form-species of conodonts from a limestone lens within the Devonian Dee
Volcanics of the Mount Morgan area, Queensland, are described and figured. One new
taxon, Belodella costata, is proposed. The presence of known European species confirms
a Frasnian age for the lower part, at least, of the Dee Volcanics.

INTRODUCTION

During 1965-66 a joint Queensland Geological Survey and Bureau of Mineral

Resources field mapping party in the North Yarrol Basin found a small limestone
lens in andesitic lavas and tufIs of the Dee Volcanics (Maxwell, 1953, p. 4)
on the east bank of Trotters Creek, 200 yards east of the Dawson Valley
Highway. A small conodont fauna was extracted from this lens in a Bureau of
Mineral Resources palaeontological field laboratory during micropalaeontological
investigation of Palaeozoic rocks exposed in the Yarrol Basin.

Previous Work and Stratigraphy

A detailed sumniary of previous work, mainly mineral surveys, was given by
Maxwell (1953), who presented the first detailed account of the stratigraphy
and associated faunas (1953, 1954). Maxwell defined the Dee Volcanics and
designated as the type section the exposure along the railway line from Ulogie
to Muranu. The formation is composed largely of andesitic lavas and tuffs,
with limestone lenses and thin beds of tuffaceous lithic sandstone which are
locally ripple-niarked and current-bedded (Kirkegaard et aI., 1966, p. 23).

The base of the Dee Volcanics is not exposed and its relationship with
the nearby Mount Morgan granite is problematical; in some areas the contact
may be intrusive and in others unconformable (Kirkegaard et aI., 1966). The
lavas and tufIs with an intrusive contact are probably incorrectly referred to
the Dee Volcanics, which should consist only of the strata unconformably overlying
the granite (Kirkegaard, pers. comm.). The Dee Volcanics are 2200 feet
thick and are the oldest known rocks in the succession; they are conformably
overlain by the Thomson Clastics, which are about 500 feet thick (Maxwell,
1953, pp. 4, 5).

Method of Study
Samples were taken from a small limestone lens 30 feet long and 10 feet
thick within the volcanics. About 18 kilograms of limestone was crushed in a
portable jaw crusher at the exposure and treated with 20 percent monochloracetic
acid in a mobile field laboratory. The resulting residue was washed through
75
a lOO-mesh sieve and the heavy fraction separated with the aid of bromoform
(S.G. 2.85). The following fauna was recovered:

Ancyrognathus asymmetricus (Ulrich & BassIer)

Belodella costata sp. novo
Bryantodus sp.
Euprioniodina sp.
Icriodus alternatus Branson & MehI
Ozarkodina sp.
indeterminate fragments
Polygnathus sp.

Fig. 1: The Dee Volcanics, Mount Morgan, Queensland: conodont localities

76
 AGE AND CORRELATION

Previous work
Maxwell (1953, p. 4) recorded indeterminate crinoids and corals 'probably
of Givetian age' from the Dee Volcanics. A probable Upper Devonian (Frasnian)
age was suggested by McKellar (in Kirkegaard et al., 1966, p. 93), who
recorded the brachiopod Spinatrypa cf. aspera prideri (Coleman) from a
calcareous lithic sandstone bed (locality 22/2, see Fig. 1), approximately 400
feet stratigraphically above the conodont locality (Kirkegaard, pers. comm.).

Conodont Age
Conodonts from the limestone lens are Frasnian, probably Upper Frasnian
(tolo). Ancyrognathus asymmetrica (UIrich & Bassler) is restricted to the Upper
Palmatolepis gigas Zone (toI8) of the Frasnian (Ziegler, 1958, table 2;
1962, table 2). Icriodus alternatus Branson & Mehl has a European range of
toly-toIIla (Ziegler, 1968, 1962), but in North America has been recorded
from beds as low as the upper Middle Devonian Lingle Formation (Orr, 1964,
p. .9).

Correlation
At least part of the Dee Volcanics is Frasnian. The formation can be
correlated with the lower part of the Virgin Hills Formation in the northern
Canning Basin, Western Australia (Glenister & Klapper, 1966) and with the
upper part of the Cockatoo Formation of the Bonaparte Gulf Basin (Jones &
Druce, 1966; Roberts, Jones & Druce, 1967; Druce, 1969).

SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS

Genus ANCYROGNATHUS Branson & Mehl, 1934

Type species Ancyrognathus symmetrica Branson & Mehl, 1934.

ANCYROGNATHUS ASYMMETRICUS (Ulrich & Bassler, 1926)

(PI. 13, figs 2a, b, c; 3a, b, c)

1926 Palmatolepis asymmetrica Ulrich & Bassler, Proc. V.S. nat. Mus., 68(12), 50,
pI. 7, fig. 18.
1966 Ancyrognathus asymmetrica (Ulrich & Bassler); Glenister & Klapper, J. Paleont.,
40, 801, pI. 87, figs 1-5 (synonymy).

No. of specimens: 3; CPC 7647, 7648 figured.

Range: Frasnian tol8.

Remarks: The present specimens are very similar to that figured by Ulrich
& Bassler ( 1926). In the present material the platform growth extends over
the platform edge and encroaches on the aboral surface.
77
 A. asymmetrica can be distinguished from A. princeps by the nature of the
posterior margin: in A. princeps it is convex, in A. asymmetrica concave.
A. calvini can be distinguished by the rounded platform lobes, the platform
lobes in A. asymmetrica being narrow and elongated.

Genus BELODELLA Ethington, 1959

Type species Belodus devonicus Stauffer, 1940.

In a general discussion of conodonts consisting of cusps with dentition on

the posterior edge (oral edge of some authors), Ethington (1959, p. 271)
distinguished three genera, Belodus, Belodina, and Belodella. Belodus Pander
was amended by Ethington to include only forms with a single conical basal
cavity located in the proximal third of the cusp. Belodina Ethington was proposed,
and a generic diagnosis given, for those species with a deeply excavated cusp
and two deep conical basal cavities with 'keyhole' cross-section. Ethington also
concluded that Devonian forms with a single deep basal cavity should not
be included in either Belodus or Belodina, and proposed for them the genus
Belodella, with B. devonicus as type species. It was not until later (Clark &
Ethington, 1966, p. 676) that a generic diagnosis was published and B.
triangularis Stauffer was also included in Belodella.

Two further species, Belodus erectus Rhodes & Dineley, 1957, and B. resima
(Philip), 1965, appear to fall within Ethington's concept of the genus.

The genus ranges as high as the Upper Devonian. B. triangularis (Stauffer)

occurs in Middle and Upper Devonian limestones, especially in near-reef
limestones (Krebs, 1959, p. 378).

BELODELLA COSTATA sp. novo

(PI. 12, figs 1a-3c)

Derivation of name: From the costae developed on both lateral faces.

No. of specimens: 5; holotype CPC 7651; paratypes CPC 7649, CPC 7650.

Diagnosis: A species of Belodella with 2 to 5 costae developed on both

lateral faces.

Description: The unit is a slender elongate cusp which is straight proximally

and gently curved distally. The outer face is strongly convex posteriorly, becoming
concave toward the anterior edge. It bears up to 5 subparallel costae, the
posterior 2 or 3 diminishing distally in some specimens, the anterior
ones strengthening distally and running towards the anterior dentition. The
inner face is gently convex, with a keel developed on the posterior part. Up
to 5 costae are developed and run parallel with the keel proximally but tend
78
to merge with it distally. The anterior face of the unit bears well developed
dentition consisting of at least 20 small needle-like fused denticles fading
away toward the distal extremity.

Remarks: Four species referable to Belodella have been described. They are
B. devonica (Stauffer, 1940, p. 420), B. triangularis (Stauffer, 1940, p. 420),
B. erecta (Rhodes & Dinely, 1957, p. 359) and B. resima (Philip, 1965,
p. 98). The principal distinguishing feature of each species is the cross-section
of the cusp. B. devonica and B. erecla are fairly compressed, B. triangularis
and B. resima are triangular, differing in the orientation of the faces, and
B. costala has an oval cross-section. B. costata can be further distinguished
by the possession of lateral costae. Previously described belodellids have all
been reported from the Lower Devonian; the present fauna suggests that the
genus can range as high as the Frasnian.

Genus BRYANTODus Ulrich & Bassler, 1926

Type species Bryantodus typicus Ulrich & Bassler, 1926.

BRYANTODUS sp.
(PI. 12, figs 4a, b)

Figured specimen: CPC 7652.

Onc specimen referable to the genus Bryantodus was recovered. It is broken

and is unidentifiable at a specific level.

Genus bUPRIONIODlNA Ulrich & Bassler 1926

Type species Euprioniodina deflecta Ulrich & Bassler, 1926.

EUPRIONIODlNA sp.
(PI. 12, figs 5a, b)

Figured specimen: CPC 7653.

A fragmentary specimen recovered from the Dee Volcanics is similar to

specimens referred to Prioniodina prona Huddle by Bischoff & Ziegler (1957,
pI. 9, figs 3a, b). Prioniodina prona is a neoprioniodid because it lacks the
denticulate anterior bar characteristic of Euprioniodina. The two genera are
closely related because characteristic species of one genus can be matched
in the other genus, the anterior bar dentition being the sole distinguishing
criterion.
79
 Genus ICRIODUS Branson & Mehl, 1934

Type species Icriodus expansus Branson & Mehl, 1934.

ICRIODUS ALTERNATUS Branson & Mehl, 1934

(PI. 14, figs 4a-d)

1934 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl, Univ. Mo. Stud., 8, 225, pI. 13, figs 4-6.
1938 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Branson & Mehl, J. Paleont. 12, 161, pI. 26,
figs 4-6.
1938 Icriodus elegantulus Stauffer, J. Paleont., 340, pI. 52, figs 26, 27.
1944 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Branson & Mehl in Shimer & Shrock.
INDEX FOSSILS OF NORTH AMERICA, p. 245.
1947 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Youngquist & Peterson, J. Paleont., 21, 246,
pI. 37, figs 18, 19, 21.
1947 Icri'Odus parvus Youngquist & Peterson, ibid., 248, pI. 37, figs 11, 12.
1947 Icriodus expansus Branson & Mehl; Youngquist & Peterson, ibid., 246, pI. 37,
figs 5-7, 10, 20.
1956 Icriodus sp. Hass, U.S. geol. Surv. prof. Pap'. 286, pI. 4, fig. 6.
1959 Icriodus sp. Hass, U.S. geol. Surv. prof. Pap. 294-J, pI. 50, fig. 2.
1959 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Helms, Geologie, 8, 642, pI. 1, fig. 1; pI. 4,
fig. 7.
1960 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; C1ark & Becker, Bull. geol. Soc. Amer.,
71, 1670.
1961 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Dvorak & Freyer, Geologie, 10, 881.
1962 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Ethington, N. Mex. geol. Soc., 13th Field
Conf., Guidebook, 74.
1962 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Zieg1er, Hess. Landesamt Bodenf., Abh.,
38,5(
1964 Icriodus altematus Branson & Meh1; Orr, Ill. geol. Surv. Circ. 361, 9, pI'. 2,
figs 11, 12.
1964 Icriodus altema/us Branson & Mehl; Budurov & Tschunev, Bull. Inst. Sci. Rech.
Geol., 1, 256.
1965 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Ethington, J. Paleont. 39, 573, pI. 67, fig. 8.
1966 Icriodus altematus Branson & Mehl; Anderson, J. Paleont., 40, 405, pI. 52,
figs 11, 12;
1966 lcriodus alternatus Branson & Mehl; Glenister & Klapper, J. Paleont., 40, 804.

No. of specimens: 1; CPC 7654 figured.

Range: ?Upper Middle Devonian (tmo)-Frasnian (toly)-Famennian (tolIIa).

Description: The unit is nearly symmetrical; it bears three rows of nodes

on the oral surface. The nodes in the outer rows alternate with the nodes
in the central row. All the nodes are discrete and in lateral view are triangular.
The main cusp is weakly developed and is inclined posteriorly. The basal cavity
extends over the whole of the aboral surface; it is widest in the posterior third
and narrows towards both terminations. A shallow median keel is developed
in the anterior half of the basal cavity.
80
 Genus OZARKODINA Branson & Mehl, 1933
Type species Ozarkodina typica Branson & Mehl, 1933.

OZARKODINA sp.
(PI. 13, figs la, b)

Figured specimen: CPC 7655.

One specimen of an ozarkodinid was recovered from the Dee Volcanics; it

is reasonably complete, with only the tips of the denticles missing. It bears a
strong resemblance to Ozarkodina immersus (Hinde) (1879, p. 364; Branson
& Mehl, 1933, p. 140).

Genus POLYGNATHUS Hinde, 1879

Type species Polygnathus dubius Hinde, 1879.

POLYGNATHUS sp.
(PI. 14, figs 1a-3b)

1965 Polygnathus normalis, Miller & Youngquist s.l.; Krebs & Ziegler, Fortschr. Geol.
Rheinld Westf., 9, 2, fig. 1.

No. of specimens: 22; CPC 7656-8 figured.

Range: Upper Middle Devonian (tmo)-Frasnian (toIIa).

Description: Platform elongate, about four times as long as wide. A medial

carina composed of low circular fused nodes divides the platform almost equally.
The outer platform is developed slightly more than the inner. The ornament
on both consists of small low nodes arranged in transverse rows disappearing
towards the medial carina in the posterior half, and low transverse
ridges in the anterior half. Troughs on either side of the carina deepen anteriorly
and the platform edges become constricted.

In lateral view the platform is slightly arched; the blade is the same length
as the platform and is composed of about 10 laterally compressed denticles
of equal height with free chevron tips.

A small basal cavity is developed in the anterior third of the platform.

A keel runs to the posterior termination, becoming sharper posteriorly. A fine
median groove bisects the keel.

Remarks: The species is unlike any named species of polygnathid. It appears

to be identical with a specimen referred to P. normalis s.l. by Krebs & Ziegler
(1965, pI. 2, fig. 1).
81
 Indeterminate Fragments
(PI. 12, figs 6, 7)

Figured specimens: CPC 7659, CPC 7660.

Four fragments which appear to be parts of palmatolepids were found in

the Dee Volcanics, though none was complete enough to be identified with
certainty. One specimen (PI. 12, fig. 6) appears to be the posterior part of
Palmatolepis punctata (Hinde), bearing a striking resemblance to a specimen
figured by Glenister & Klapper (1966, pI. 88, fig. 8).

82
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

BRANSON, E. B.• and MEHL, M. G., 1933-A study of Hinde's types of conodonts preserved
in the British Museum. Univ. Mo. Stud., 8, 133-156, pis 11, 12.
CLARK, D. L., and ETIUNGTON. R. L., 1966-Conodonts and biostratigraphy of the Lower
and Middle Devonian of Nevada and Utah. J. Paleont., 40, 659-689, pis 82-84.
DRUCE. E. c., 1969-Devonian and Carboniferous conodonts from the Bonaparte Gulf
Basin, northwestern Australia. Bur. Miner. Resour. Aust. Bull. 98.
ETffiNGTON, R. L., 1959-Conodonts of the Ordovician Galena formation. J. Paleont.,
33, 257-292, pIs 39-41.
GLENISTER, B. F., and KLAPPER, G., 1966-Upper Devonian conodonts from the Canning
Basin, Western Australia. J. Paleont., 40, 777-843, pIs 85-96.
HELMS, J., 1959-Conodonten aus dem Saalfelder Oberdevon. Geologie, 8, 634-637, pIs 1-6.
HINDE. G. J., 1879-0n con0c1 n nts from the ("'hazy and Cincinnati group of the Cambro-
Silurian and from the Hamilton and Genesee shale division of the Devonian in
Canada and the U.S. Quart. J. geol. Soc. Lond., 35, 351-369, pIs 15, 17.
JONES, P. J., and DRUCE, E. C., 1966-Intercontinental conodont correlation of the
Palaeozoic sediments of the Bonaparte Gulf Basin, north-western Australia. Nature,
211 (5047) 357-359.
KREBS, W., and ZIEGLER, W., 1965-Ueber die Mitteldevon/Oberdevon-Grenze in der
RifIacies bei Aachen. Fortschr. Geol. Rheinld Westf., 9, 731-754, pIs 1, 2.
KIRKEGAARD, A. G., SHAW, R. D., and MURRAY, C. G., 1966-The geology of the Rock-
hampton and Port Clinton 1:250,000 Sheet areas. Geol. Surv. Qld Rec. 1966/1 (unpubl.).
KREBS, W., 1959-Zur Grenze Mittel/Ober-Devon und zur Gliederung des obersten Mittel-
IJevons und der tieferen Adorf-Stufe nach Conodonten. Senck. leth., 40, 367-387.
MAXWELL, W. G. H., 1953-Upper Palaeozoic formations in the Mount Morgan District-
stratigraphy and structure. Pap. Dep. Geol. Univ. Qld, 4(4), 1-14.
MAXWELL, W. G. H., 1954-Upper Palaeozoic formations in the Mount Morgan Distriet-
faunas. Ibid., 4(5), 1-58, pis 1-6.
McKELLAR, R. G., 1966-in McKELLAR, R. G., DEAR, J. F., and FLEMING, P. J. F.-
Fossil collections from the Rockhampton Sheet area, in KnucEoAARD et aI., 1966,
The geology of the kockhampton & Port Clinton 1:250,000 Sheet areas. Geol. Surv.
QM Rec. 1966/1 (unpubl.).
ORR, R. W., 1964-Conodonts from the Devonian Lingle and Alto Formations of
Southern Illinois. Ill. geol. Surv. Circ. 361, 1-28, pIs 1-4.:
PHILIP, G. M., 1965-Lower Devonian conodonts from the Tyers area, Gippsland, Victoria.
Proc. Roy. Soc. Vie., 79, 95-117, pIs 8-10.
ROBERTS, I., JONES, P. J., and DRUCE, E. C.-Palaeontology and correlations of the Upper
Devonian of the Bonaparte Gulf Basin, Western Australia and Northern Territory.
International Symposium on the Devonian, Calgary, Alberta.
RHODES, F. H. T., and DINELEY, D. L., 1957-Devonian conodont faunas from southwest
England. J. Paleont., 31, 353-369, pIs 37, 38.
STAUFFER, C. R., 1940-C0nodonts from the Devonian and associated clays of Minnesota.
J. Palcont., 14, 417-435, pIs. 58-60.
ZIEGLER, W., 1958-Conodontenfeinstratigraphische Untersuchungen an der Grenze Mittel-
devon/Oberdevon und in der Adorf-Stufe. Hess. Landesamt Bodenf., Notizbl., 87,
7-77, pIs 1-12.
ZIEGLER, W., 1962r-Taxonomie und Phylogenie Oberdevonischer Conodonten und ihre
stratigraphische Bedeutung. Hess. Landesamt Bodenf., Abh., 38, 1-166, pis 1-14.
83
 PLATE 12

Magnification x40

Figs 1-3. Bel/odella cOSlala sp. novo

Fig. la. Outer lateral view of paratype CPC 7650.
b. Inner lateral view of paratype CPC 7650.
c. Inner lateral view of uncoated paratype CPC 7650.
Fig. 2a. Outer lateral view of paratype CPC 7649.
b. Inner lateral view of paratype CPC 7649.
c. Inner lateral view of uncoated paratype CPC 7649.
Fig. 3a. Outer lateral view of holotype CPC 7651.
b. Inner lateral view of uncoated holotype CPC 765 I.
c. Inner lateral view of holotype CPC 7651.

Fig. 4 Bryantodus sp.

a. Outer lateral view of specimen CPC 7652.
b. Inner lateral view of specimen CPC 7652.

Fig. 5 Euprioniodina sp.

a. Inner lateral view of specimen CPC 7653.
b. Outer lateral view of specimen CPC 7653.

indeterminate fragments
Fig. 6 Oral view of specimen CPC 7659.
Fig. 7 Oral view of specimen CPC 7660.
BMR Bull. 108 - Druce Old Frasnian Conodonts Plate 12
 PLATE 13

Magnification x40

Fig. Ozarkodilla sp.

a. Inner lateral view of specimen epe 7655.
b. Outer lateral view of specimen epe 7655.

Figs 2, 3. Ancyrognalhus asymmelricus (Ulrich & Bassler, 1926)

Fig. 2a. Oral view of specimen epe 7648.
b. Aboral view of specimen epe 7648.
c. Lateral view of specimen epe 7648.
Fig. 3a. Oral view of specimen epe 7647.
b. Aboral view of specimen epe 7647.
c. Lateral view of specimen epe 7647.

86
BMR Bull. 108 - Druce Old Frasnian Conodonts Plate 13
 PLATE 14

Magnification x40

Figs 1-3. Polygllathus sp.

Fig. la. Aboral view of specimen CPC7658.
b. Oral view of specimen CPC 7658.
c. Lateral view of specimen CPC 7658.

Fig. 2a. Aboral view of specimen CPC 7657.

b. Oral view of specimen CPC 7657.

Fig. 3a. Aboral view of specimen CPC 7656.

b. Oral view of specimen CPC 7656.

Fig. 4. lcriodus altematus Branson & Mehl, 1934

a. Aboral view of specimen CPC 7654.
b. Oral view of specimen CPC 7654.
c, d. Lateral views of specimen CPC 7654.

88
BMR Bull. 108 - Druce Old Frasnian Conodonts Plate 14