Introduction

In the last decade, several important reports have been published on the stratigraphy of sections that include the Permo-Triassic boundary in South China (e.g., Hou et al., 1979; Sheng et al., 1984; Yang, Wu & Yang, 1981; Yang et al., 1987; Yin, 1983, 1985; Liao, 1980; Liao & Meng, 1986) and the authors have in press a study of the brachiopods collected from the boundary interval at 32 localities in South China. In the present contribution, we summarize our work with Permo-Triassic brachiopods, outline a zonal scheme based on them, and suggest correlations with sections in other parts of the Tethys region.

A number of schemes of brachiopod zonation have been suggested since 1979 when three Permian faunas were recognized by Hou et al. in the upper Wujiapingian through Changxingian interval (Table 9.1) of the Lianxian area of Guangdong Province. A year later, on the basis of a study of brachiopods from the western part of Guizhou Province, Liao described three brachiopod assemblages, two in the Wujiapingian and one in the Changxingian (Table 9.1). In 1987, Xu (in Yang et al., 1987) reported on a study of brachiopods from 31 sections in South China and in that study set up five assemblage zones in the Wujiapingian through lower Griesbachian interval. In this report, we suggest a new scheme of brachiopod zonation in the same interval (Table 9.1) and note that the nature of brachiopod faunas in the Changxingian is affected to a great extent by lithofacies.