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The palaeogeographic position of the Lake District in the early Ordovician

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

R. A. Fortey ,
R. M. Owens  and
A. W. A. Rushton
R. A. Fortey
Affiliation:
British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, U.K.
R. M. Owens
Affiliation:
National Museum of Wales, Cardiff CF1 3NP, U.K.
A. W. A. Rushton
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Notts NG12 5GG, U.K.
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Abstract

The early Ordovician was a time of maximum continental separation and hence a time when faunal evidence can be used to assess palaeogeography in a critical way. We summarize the known trilobite occurrences (18 genera) from the Arenig–Llanvirn of the Lake District, and record some genera for the first time. Maps of the distribution of some of these forms are given. All genera except Cyclopyge were confined to the Gondwana continent at the time, and some are known from many localities; and two species are widespread in England, Wales, France, Iberia and Bohemia. The fauna is entirely distinct from those of Scandinavia and North America. All the palaeontological evidence points to the Lake District being adjacent to Ordovician Gondwana. In the earlier Ordovician it is not reasonable to suggest that the Iapetus Ocean lay to the south of the Lake District as did Allen (1987).

Type
Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 126 , Issue 1 , January 1989 , pp. 9 - 17
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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