Permian Corals from Nevada and California

l 9(P<3 KCIfiZ A. LOWEHSTAI

PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA

1 i

W. II. EASTON

Reprinted from JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY Vol. 34, No. 3, May, 1960 JOURNAL OF PALEONTOLOGY, V. 34, NO. 3, p. 570-583, 18 TEXT-FIGS., May, 1960

PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA W. H. EASTON University of Southern California, Los Angeles 7, California

ABSTRACT—Seven species of rugose corals are described from Permian (mostly Leonard Series) strata in the Basin and Range Province of Nevada and California. Caninia trojana, Lithostrotionella mokomokensis, Lithostrotionella dilatata, Diphy- phyllum connorsensis, Thysanophyllum princeps, Lonsdaleia illipahensis, and Lonsdaleia cordillerensis are named. The corals occur in thick successions of commonly cyclical alternations of limestone and sandstone near the eastern margin of the Cordilleran geosyncline. Local distribution and biostromal development can be used in subdividing and mapping the Permian strata of east-central Nevada.

INTRODUCTION along the eastern or continental side of the Cordilleran geosyncline. HICK deposits of marine strata of TPermian age crop out in the Basin and It has been the good fortune of the Range Province in California, Nevada, and writer to be able to study and to collect Utah. Although paleontologists have de- from numerous successions of Permian voted some attention to the fusulinids in strata in the Cordilleran region. This work these Permian beds, much more descriptive was begun in 1947 and has continued work is needed on all phases of paleontology. through most of the succeeding summers. The purposes of this paper are to describe During parts of five summers the writer was some species of corals from the area and to engaged in mapping with students enrolled show their stratigraphic occurrence in the in the summer field geology courses con- Permian System. ducted by the University of Southern Cali- Permian corals have been discovered in- fornia in White Pine County, Nevada. Sev- frequently in North America, partly be- eral summers were spent in paleontologic cause of the restricted nature of Permian and stratigraphic studies of Permian and seas and partly because of seemingly ad- other strata on other projects. It is a pleas- verse environments for growth of corals in ure to acknowledge my indebtedness to nu- those seas. Known Permian faunas include merous students, faculty colleagues, and to several corals which have been described various other geologists for assistance in the from the midcontinent by Moore & Jeffords field work. Collections described herein (1941), who also (1941, p. 67,68) review which were originally made in the course of the previous works in that area. Permian field investigations for Union Oil Company corals from British Columbia have been de- of California have been deposited at the scribed by Smith (1935); from Oregon, by University of Southern California through Merriam (1942); and from California, by the kindness of Dr. J. C. Hazzard. Langenheim & McCutcheon (1959). Corals are locally very abundant in STRATIGRAPHY Permian strata of the Basin and Range Corals are described from two Permian Province. Indeed, they may comprise bio- localities in the southern part of the Basin stromes a foot or more in thickness. More- and Range Province. The detailed strati- over, some species are widespread, ranging graphic succession of Permian rocks in the north-south over a distance of at least 500 Providence Mountains of southeastern miles from northeastern Nevada to south- California has been published by Thompson eastern California. It is probable that the & Hazzard (1946), and the general se- corals occupy an east-west zone at least quence of Permian strata in the Spring 200 miles wide in the region between the Mountains of southwestern Nevada has Confusion Range of west-central Utah and been discussed by Longwell & Dunbar the Eureka district of east-central Nevada. (1936). Thus, a coralline facies of the marine Per- Only part of the thick Permian succession mian strata seems to have been deposited in east-central Nevada has been published 570 PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA 571 in detail. Knight (1956) has published graphic sections of two stratigraphic suc- KAIBAB" LS. cessions of Leonard strata in White Pine County. Additional detailed measurements are available for somewhat lower strata in 3 the same county through unpublished re- search by Ehring (1957). Most of the corals 5000 to which reference is made herein were collected from Permian strata in White Pine County. The Permian succession in east-central Nevada is one of the thickest discovered in North America. It is possible that over 7000 feet of Permian strata are represented there, of which at least 5000 feet are refer- 4000 - 1—~t able to latest Wolfcamp and Leonard Epochs. Corals have not been discovered in the latest Leonard or in the Guadalupe strata in the areas studied. The Permian succession pertinent to this report is depicted schematically in text- figure 1. Thicknesses are only approximated because the section is a composite of outcrops at several localities. The region is one 3000 - of considerable structural complexity, in addition to which the western outcrops in the region represent a more carbonate-rich l_L_ facies than is present in the eastern outcrops. Solution of some perplexing structural and stratigraphic problems has been materially assisted by use of corals in a block of quadrangles consisting of the Ely, 2000- Illipah, Illipah 1 advance sheet, Treasure Hill, Pancake Summit, Green Springs, and Buck Mountain quadrangles. The most nearly complete and readily accessible locality in which the Late Paleozoic rocks can be studied in the area lies along U. S. Highway 50 in the east half — ZONE 2 of the Illipah quadrangle, about 30 miles (airline) west of Ely, Nevada. The Illipah 1000 - section has been studied by many geologists engaged in exploratory programs of oil companies in Nevada between 1948 and the present. The section lies within the region mapped during several summers by students at the summer field geology camp of the University of Southern California. — ZONE 1 0 -J

TEXT-FIG. 1—Schematic and composite strati- FEET graphic section of the coral-bearing Permian strata in White Pine County, Nevada. ELY LS. 572 W. H. EASTON

Permian strata in the area rest with ap- ridge north and south of Moorman Ranch parent concordance upon the Ely limestone in the Illipah quadrangle. It is probable of Early Pennsylvanian age. The Ely lime- that this un-named unit is 2000 feet thick, stone consists of about 1500 feet of massive although the upper part is inadequately to platy, grey limestone. Detailed informa- known. Knight (1956) has published on the tion on the stratigraphy and paleontology fusulinids in the succession. Corals occur in of the Ely limestone will appear in a future some of the limestone beds. number of this journal in an article by Overlying the foregoing sequence at some Bernard O. Lane. places is a massive, white limestone about The basal unit of Permian rocks mapped 200 feet thick. It is referred to in text-figure by us is the Rib Hill formation. Its lower 1 as the "Kaibab" limestone because of its limit is determined by the presence of a position in section. It occurs between strata thin, chert pebble conglomerate. The suc- of Leonard age and strata containing the ceeding limestones account for as much as Phosphoria fauna. Corals are not known 300 feet of section at some localities, but from so-called Kaibab limestone. more generally only the uppermost bed of coralline limestone about 30 feet thick is FAUNAL ANALYSIS present. This massive unit locally is almost The most unusual feature of the Permian a biostrome of colonial corals. It comprises coral fauna from the Basin and Range zone 1 of the coral succession. The remain- Province is the abundance of compound der, and principal part, of the Rib Hill corals belonging to groups with a tendency formation consists of pink to yellow sand- for the development of some sort of axial stone in the eastern facies but becomes in- structure. In Lithostrotionella and Lons- creasingly calcareous and evenly buff in daleia the axial structure may be conspicu- color westward. The arenaceous portion of ous, whereas it is reduced in Diphyphyllum the Rib Hill formation is about 1000 feet and is absent in Thysanophyllum. Lithostro- thick. tionella is noteworthy because this genus is The Arcturus formation overlies the Rib widespread in Meramec strata (Middle Hill formation conformably and comprises Mississippian) from the Appalachian to the about 2000 feet of strata. In its eastern Cordilleran ranges. On the other hand, facies near the type section (as on the west Lithostrotionella has been reported from grade leading up to Murry Summit) the Pennsylvanian and Permian strata of sev- Arcturus formation consists of numerous eral countries, including Canada (Smith, beds of pink to yellow sandstone inter- 1935). Merriam (1942) was the first to re- calated with grey limestone in crudely port Lithostrotionella from Permian strata cyclical alternations. The western facies, in the United States (Leonard of Oregon). however, is even less cyclical in appearance A second notable feature is the localized and the sandstones are more uniformly abundance of very large specimens of buff and are very calcareous. Toward the Caninia. Caninia is common in Late Paleo- western margin of the mapped areas the zoic strata in many regions of the world, in- Rib Hill and Arcturus formations become cluding North America, but never before difficult to differentiate. The base of the (to the writer's knowledge) did species at- Arcturus formation, however, is a wide- tain the breadth of the species described spread, massive succession of limestones hereafter. which contain biostromes of corals referred A third, but negative, phenomenon is the to herein as zone 2. Corals occur less abun- apparent absence of species of Waageno- dantly in other limestone beds within the phyllum in the collections. Waagenophyllum Arcturus formation, particularly in the is widespread in Leonard strata of other lower strata. countries, and has also been reported from The uppermost strata containing corals Oregon and British Columbia. Perhaps its discussed herein comprise a strikingly cycli- presence will be proved by slicing of speci- cal sequence of criquina, grey sandstone, mens from future collections in the Basin and fusulinid-rich, buff limestone. The and Range Province. whole succession produces prominent cliffs Faunal elements associated with the and bench-and-bluff topography in the high corals are meager. Fusulinids may be PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA 573 locally abundant in coralline beds, but at is particularly abundant in the eastern other localities they are absent. A few portion of the region. It occurs much less specimens of the large gastropod, Omphalo- commonly in the lower limestone beds of trochus, have been collected, particularly in the Arcturus formation. Here and there in the Arcturus formation. Dictyoclostus ivesi zone 1 occur Diphyphyllum connorsensis, also occurs here and there in these Leonard Lithostrotionella dilatata, and Lonsdaleia cor- strata, but is rarely common. At a few dillerensis, particularly in the western por- localities large, ramose fronds of stony tion of the region. bryozoans and the spines and plates of the Zone 2 contains all seven species of corals echinoid, Echinocrinus, occur with the described herein, but it is characterized by corals. Crinoid ossicles, although tremen- two species. Caninia trojana is confined to dously abundant in many other beds, are the top of zone 2 in east-central Nevada, not common in the coralline beds proper. although it seems to occur at a lower level The corals themselves may be conspicu- (in the Wolfcamp Series) in the Spring ously abundant, as in zones 1 and 2, where Mountains of southern Nevada. The most they approach the nature of biostromes. conspicuous coral at most localities, how- Specimens of the colonial corals range in di- ever, is Lonsdaleia cordillerensis. Its fascicu- ameter from an inch or two up to elongate late colonies may comprise most of the mass colonies eight feet long and a foot or two in of many beds, and fragments of this species height. Most colonies are from six inches to may occur in beds which seem to lack the a foot in diameter. Specimens are infiltrated corallites proper. The species also is present and replaced by calcite in all cases, where- in limestone of Wolfcamp age in south- upon they appear as white masses against eastern California. Lithostrotionella dilatata the grey matrix of the limestone bed. is also a rather common element in the lower Surficial silicification has affected some Arcturus strata. colonies so that the nature of the calices is The upper cyclical limestone and sand- revealed and the axial structures can be in- stone sequence does not comprise a dis- spected with a hand lens in the field with- tinct faunal zone such as occurs in lower out resorting to preparation of thin sections beds. Corals are less abundant than in lower or polished surfaces. strata and the fauna is more meager. Lons- In many instances the colonies are plano- daleia illipahensis is rather consistently convex and lie in their positions of growth present in the sequence, although not with the convex side up. In structurally strictly confined to it. The species is less complex areas, however, the entire strati- common in the Arcturus formation. Speci- graphic sucession may be inverted, in which mens of Lonsdaleia cordillerensis which case the corals assist in determining the occur at a few places in the sequence seem true orientation of the strata. At several to be a variety with unusually broad coral- localities there is abundant evidence of dis- lites. ruption of colonies by current action. Large The localities from which the corals were colonies two or three feet in breadth are collected are described in a register ap- lying on their sides with fragments of the pended to this report. colonies strewn about in the matrix. Coralla with cylindrical corallites are naturally poorly compacted and are therefore particu- SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS larly prone to be broken apart. Reworked Phylum COELENTERATA colonies, of course, cannot be used for Class ANTHOZOA determination of stratigraphic tops, but the Subclass RUGOSA lineation of the fragments reveals the di- (TETRACORALLA) rections in which currents flowed. Family CYATHOPSIDAE Dybowski, 1873 STRATIGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Genus CANINIA Michelin in Gervais, 1840 Zone 1 is commonly dominated by the presence of Thysanophyllum princeps. It has Diagnosis.—Caninia comprises solitary been found at essentially every outcrop of cyathopsids whose septa reach the center in the basal Rib Hill limestone examined, and early stages but retreat from the axis in 574 W. H. EASTON

TEXT-FIGS. 2-4—Caninia trojana. 2—longitudinal section of paratype in mature region, USC 5015, locality 330, X1.3; 3—Transverse section of late mature region, paratype, USC 5016, locality 330, X4; 4—Transverse section in early maturity, paratype, USC 5017, locality 330, X1.3. amplexoid fashion in maturity; septa nor- also been referred to as Campophyllum and mally are dilated in the tabularium; minor Pseudozaphrentoides in American literature. septa are short and are confined to the dissepimentarium; the cardinal fossula is dis- CANINIA TROJANA n. sp. tinct but the alar pseudofossulae are indis- Text-figs. 2-4 tinct; the dissepimentarium is narrow to Exteriors.—Corals are simple, very large, wide, mostly consisting of herringbone dis- curved, and have an apical angle of about sepiments between septa; lonsdaleoid dis- 50°. The theca is very thin and either is sepiments may be present near the periph- smooth or bears faint septal grooves. The ery. calyx is deep and is essentially flat-floored. Remarks.—Caninia is particularly com- The holotype, which is the largest rela- com in North America in Pennsylvanian tively complete specimen, is 12 cm. long and strata. For instance, it occurs as minor bio- is 9 cm. in diameter at the widest place; stromes in the Ely limestone of Nevada. if this specimen were complete it would be The following species is noteworthy for its about 15 cm. long. The deep axial portion large diameter. It is the first species of of the calyx is about one-third as wide as Caninia described from the Permian of the the diameter of the coral. The cardinal fos- Basin and Range Province. Caninia has sula is on the concave side of the coral. PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA 575

Transverse sections.—At the earliest ob- mm. Tabulae near the periphery slope out- served stage of one specimen (diameter ward and apically. Tabulae in the axial re- about 17 mm.) there are about 36 long gion of adult specimens are essentially major septa which are dilated until they horizontal and are slightly more numerous essentially close off the intervening loculi than in youthful stages. and come within 2 or 3 mm. of meeting at Comparison.—Caninia trojana is dis- the axis. About 5 major septa lie in each tinctly the broadest caninoid coral yet dis- cardinal quadrant. Minor septa are not covered in North America, and possibly is present. Possibly one rank of dissepiments the broadest known to science. Some phases is present. At a slightly later stage of the of Caninia torquia from the Pennsylvanian same specimen (diameter about 20 mm.) 2 of Illinois approach 60 cm. (2 feet) in length, or 3 ranks of herringbone dissepiments are but the broadest specimen there measured present in a few loculi but minor septa are only 5.2 cm. (Easton, 1944, p. 127). not present. Caninia trojana is larger than typical C. In early maturity (diameter 43 mm.) torquia, has more major septa in maturity, about 50 dilated major septa extend to has less well developed minor septa, and within 5 mm. of the axis. Approximately 8 has a less well developed dissepimentarium or 9 major septa lie in each cardinal quad- which is not introduced until late in the rant. The short cardinal septum occupies a ontogeny. conspicuous fossula. Alar pseudofossulae Another unusually large caninoid is the are indistinct. Minor septa are absent. A Upper Mississippian species, Caninia neva- dissepimentarium of 3 or 4 ranks of herring- densis (Meek, 1877) from the Brazer forma- bone dissepiments is as much as 4 mm. wide tion of Stansbury Island in Great Salt Lake and is broadest on the counter side of the and from the Chainman shale of the Con- coral. Loculi are not closed off by dilation of fusion Range, both localities being in Utah. septa. Specimens with about 70 long septa attain It is estimated that in late maturity a breadth of 7.5 cm. and may have been 25 (diameter about 90 mm.) 70 major septa are cm. in length, if they were complete. C. present in the holotype, of which possibly nevadensis is essentially cylindrical instead 10 may lie in each cardinal quadrant. Septa of flaring. are less dilated than in earlier stages and Although caninoid corals occur locally in they leave an open space on the tabularium Late Paleozoic deposits in the Cordilleran about 25 mm. in diameter. The dissepi- region, the other species are all more cylin- mentarium is as broad as 15 mm., which is drical than flaring, and are less broad than half the length of the septa. Dissepiments C. trojana. are almost entirely herringbone, except in Occurrence.—USC localities 330 (type the outer edges at a few places where slender locality), 331, 346, 348, 349. minor septa up to 5 mm. in length are pres- Material.—Holotype, USC 5104. Para- ent; whereupon a concentric pattern is as- types, USC 5105-5110. Topotypes, USC sumed by dissepiments. From 18 to 20 5111. Other specimens, USC 5131, 5132, ranks of dissepiments may be present. 5134, 5137. Collection contains 33 speci- Longitudinal sections.—Apical regions are mens. devoid of dissepiments but the dissepi- Remarks.—Some of the herringbone dis- mentarium appears shortly and widens sepiments present in C. trojana differ some- distally. Long axes of dissepiments lie es- what from typical herringbone dissepiments sentially vertically or are inclined apically because the present ones commonly consist and inwardly as much as 15°. Dissepiments of a transverse plate like a concentric dis- are mostly 2 or 3 mm. long, but here and sepiment, against which two oblique plates there one attains a length of 5 mm. From abut across the outer angles. 10 to 12 incomplete tabulae occur in 10 mm. Strata containing C. trojana in White in mature regions where they may be Pine County lie near the base of the Para- slightly concave axially. In youthful stages fusulina zone of Leonard fusulinids, whereas where the dissepimentarium is thin to lack- strata with C. trojana in the Spring Moun- ing, only 4 or 5 tabulae are present in 10 tains contain Wolfcamp fusulinids. 576 W. H. EASTON

Family LITHOSTROTIONIDAE ginal dissepiments are almost all concentric. d'Orbigny, 1851 Very few herringbone dissepiments are Diagnosis.—Compound rugose corals with present. The tabularium is devoid of axial the inner end of the counter septum func- structures in most instances, but in a few sections there are isolated segments which tioning as an axial plate, but axial struc- might be either broken tabulae or median tures may be lacking in some strains. The plates. dissepimentarium is lonsdaleoid in some groups. Longitudinal section.—The theca is only Remarks.—McLaren & Sutherland (1949) slightly contorted. Dissepiments are con- have indicated that several genomorphs of sistently globose and seem mostly to Lithostrotion can be differentiated on the comprise one vertical series in which 12 dis- basis of variation in strength of axial struc- sepiments occur in 1 cm. Tabulae are tures, circular or prismatic corallites, and mostly complete and are broadly arched presence or absence of lonsdaleoid dis- distally. About 17 tabulae occur in 1 cm. sepiments. Their system is followed in part No trace of an axial plate was observed. herein and genomorphs of Lithostrotion are Comparison.—Lithostrotion [ Thysano- indicated by brackets. phyllum] princeps differs from Thysanophyl- lum orientate (Thomson, 1876), from the LITHOSTROTION [THYSANOPHYLLUM] Lower Carboniferous of Europe in having PRINCEPS n. sp. narrower corallites, about half as many Text-figs. 5,6 septa, less well developed lonsdaleoid dis- Exteriors.—Coralla are composed of pris- sepiments, and in having more closely matic corallites which are mostly 6 mm. in spaced tabulae. diameter. Coralla commonly attain diam- The dissepimentarium of Thysanophyl- eters of 10 to 15 cm. but one mass 240 cm. lum princeps resembles that of Lonsdaleia in length and 20 cm. thick was observed in illipahensis, but Thysanophyllum princeps an outcrop. Calices are rather deep. Calical does not have an axial complex. Lithostro- floors are almost flat or are gently convex. tionella mokomokensis has merely an axial Transverse section.—Corallites are ir- plate for a columella, which might not be regularly polygonal and are separated by present in some sections, but L. mokomo- ungrooved thecae whose plane of juncture kensis has much coarser lonsdaleoid dissepi- is denoted by a dark line. From 14 to 16 ments than T. princeps has. major septa extend across f of the radius. Occurrence.—USC localities 334 (type Minor septa, when present, commonly are locality), 330, 335, 340, 341, 345, 348, 352, merely short spines which scarcely pene- 360. trate one rank of dissepiments. Dissepi- Material.—Holotype, USC 5112. Other mentaria commonly are composed of no specimens, USC 5113-5116, 5130, 5141, more than 3 ranks of dissepiments. Mar- 5142, 5148. Collection contains 9 specimens. ginal dissepiments commonly are lons- Remarks.—Slight crushing of some speci- daleoid but are not consistently of that pat- mens causes rupture and displacement of tern. Inner dissepiments and some mar- skeletal elements. Thus, isolated segments

TEXT-FIGS. 5-18—5-6, Lithostrotion [Thysanophyllum] princeps. Transverse and longitudinal sections, holotype, USC 5112, locality 334; 7,8, Lithostrotion [Lithostrotionella] dilatata. Longitudinal and transverse sections, holotype, USC 5117, locality 340; 9,10, Lithostrotion [Lithostrotionella] mokomokensis. Longitudinal and transverse sections, holotype, USC 5119, locality 330; 11-14, Lithostrotion [Diphyphyllum] connorsensis. Longitudinal and transverse sections of four corallites, holotype, USC 5120, locality 332; 15,16, Lonsdaleia illipahensis. 15—Transverse section, holotype, USC 5122, locality 336. 16—Longitudinal section, a paratype, USC 5123, locality 337; 17,18, Lonsdaleia cordillerensis. Longitudinal and transverse sections, holotype, USC 5127, locality 342. All figures X3. PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA 577 578 W. H. EASTON

of tabulae in some corallites illustrated in like juncture of septa with steeply-inclined text-figure 5 resemble the median plate of tabulae which Hayasaka likened to a tube. an axial structure. L. mokomokensis seems to be related to L. berthiaumi Merriam, 1942 from the LITHOSTROTION [LITHOSTROTIONELLA] Permian of Oregon. Both species have un- MOKOMOKENSIS n. sp. usually large dissepiments, but L. berthiaumi Text-figs. 9,10 has concave tabulae, more septa, and a Exteriors.—Corallum massive, sub-hemi- stronger axial structure. spherical to flattened, about 20 cm. in diam- Occurrence.—USC localities 330 (type eter (reconstructed) and at least 5 cm. thick. locality), 347, 349. Mature corallites are mostly about 7 mm. Material.—Holotype, USC 5119. Other in diameter and are 5- or 6-sided. The specimens, USC 5133, 5136. Collection con- common wall between corallites projects tains 3 specimens. above the conspicuously convex dissepi- Remarks.—Although Lithostrotionella is ments in calices. Axial ends of septa pene- confined to rocks of Meramec (Middle trate the nearly vertically disposed inner Mississippian) age in the midcontinent, it slopes of dissepiments. Floors of calices are occurs from Mississippian into Permian mostly domed and may retain the trace of strata in the Cordilleran region. Thin sec- the axial plate. Calices are 4 to 5 mm. deep. tions commonly are required in order to Transverse sections.—Calical walls bear a differentiate the various species. As a rule of distinct, median, dark line and commonly thumb the Mississippian species seem to retain interseptal ridges. Calices are sharply have rather more distinctly developed divided into dissepimentaria and tabularia minor septa than are present among the at a prominent inner wall. The dissepi- Permian species. mentarium commonly consists of only 1 or 2 ranks of large, lonsdaleoid dissepiments which may be surmounted by few to many LITHOSTROTION [LITHOSTROTIONELLA] DILATATA n. sp. septal spines. The tabularium is subrounded Text-figs. 7,8 to irregularly polygonal. Mature calices mostly contain 15 thin major septa, of Exteriors.—Coralla at least 15 cm. in di- which only one (the presumed counter ameter, rather spherical, and composed of septum) reaches and even slightly passes prismatic corallites. Calices moderately the axis. The axial end of the long septum is deep and floored by a convex tabula from not dilated. Minor septa are present alter- which projects a short but prominent axial nately with the majors but only extend half plate. as far across the tabularium as the majors Transverse sections.—Thecae smooth and do. separated one from another by a dark Longitudinal section.—A single row of central line. About 16 or 17 major septa ex- large, globose dissepiments normally lines tend § of the radius and are thickened each side of the tabularium. About 10 dis- within the tabularium. Minor septa are in- sepiments occur in 1 cm. The tabularium is conspicuous spines or septal crests near the divided in half by the somewhat sinuous periphery. Dissepimentarium consists of axial plate. Complete and incomplete tabu- 1 to 5 ranges of mostly irregular concentric lae are both present, there being from 15 to and herringbone dissepiments. A few lons- 20 in 1 cm. Tabulae rise slightly at the daleoid dissepiments occur, particularly in periphery to meet the dissepiments. recesses formed in the angles of the polyg- Comparison.—The best known clisio- onal corallites. Columella consists of a phylloids from North America are species single, slightly dilated plate. Elliptical out- of Lithostrotionella from the Mississippian lines of tabulae surround the axial plate. System. L. mokomokensis resembles L. Longitudinal sections.—Thecae are tubifera Hayasaka, 1936 from Montana in slightly contorted. Dissepiments are some- size of corallites, number of septa, and dis- what elongate and slope inward at about tinction between tabularium and dissepi- 40°. About 20 dissepiments occur in 1 cm. mentarium, but lacks the prominent ring- along the theca. Tabulae are arched distally PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA 579

at about 30° to meet the sinuous axial locally wrinkled. Dissepiments are mostly plate. From 14 to 18 tabulae occur in 1 cm. rather globose, although a few elongate in the outer portion of the tabularium. ones may be present. From 12 to 15 of the Comparison.—Lithostrotion [Lithostrotio- globose disseopients occur in 1 cm. Tabulae nella] dilatata differs from L. mokomokensis are thin, very slightly convex distally, and in having only sparse lonsdaleoid dissepi- are complete (with rare exceptions). About ments, dilated major septa, and in having a 11 tabulae occur in 1 cm. dilated axial plate which is separate from In one section (text-fig. 14) an axial the counter septum. Dissepimentaria of plate can be traced over a sinuous course Thysanophyllum princeps and Lonsdaleia for 6 mm. illipahensis are constructed similar to those Comparison.—Lithostrotion [Diphyphyl- of L. dilatata, but T. princeps lacks all trace lum] connorsensis resembles Lonsdaleia cor- of axial structure, and L. illipahensis has an dillerensis in being composed of loosely % arachnoid columella. All of the foregoing fasciculate corallites, but L. connorsensis species construct coralla of prismatic coral- lacks an axial structure. L. connorsensis h lites, hence they resemble each other at first resembles corals of similar form in the glance. Monte Cristo formation (Mississippian) i Occurrence.—USC localities 340 (type of the Basin and Range Province which locality), 345, 349-351, 332. seem to be referable to Lithostrotion [Sipho- Material.—Holotype, USC 5117, Para- nodendron] sp. (Easton, 1957, p. 619), but type, USC 5118. Other specimens, USC the Mississippian coral normally retains its 5138-5140, 5149. Collection contains 6 axial plate and tent-like tabulae, whereas specimens. L. connorsensis normally lacks an axial Remarks.—Assignment of this species to plate and has simply-arched tabulae. a genus raises questions which need to be in- Occurrence.—USC localities 332 (type vestigated much more than in this intro- locality), 334, 349, 355, 357. ductory study. Lithostrotionella dilatata can Material.—Holotype, USC 5120. Other be interpreted as a relative of Lithostrotion specimens, USC 5121, 5135, 5143, 5145. [Thysanophyllum] princeps which retains its Collection contains 5 specimens. axial plate, or it can be interpreted as a Family LONSDALEIIDAE Chapman 1893 relative of Lithostrotionella mokomokensis Genus M'Coy, 1849 which retains a simple dissepimentarium LONSDALEIA but has dilated septa and a dilated axial Diagnosis.—Mostly compound corals plate. Inasmuch as assignments are made with arachnoid columellae, major and minor herein on purely morphologic features, this septa, one order of essentially transverse species is referred at this time to the geno- tabulae, and an outer zone of lonsdaleoid morph Lithostrotionella. dissepiments. Remarks.—Hudson (1958, p. 178) has commented on the recent tendency to as- ^ LITHOSTROTION [DIPHYPHYLLUM] n. sp. sign Lonsdaleia-like Permian corals to CONNORSENSIS genera such as Waagenophyllum and Went- Text-figs. 11-14 zelella. These genera have transverse inner , Exteriors.—Coralla composed of loosely tabulae but have steeply-inclined outer fasciculate corallites from 8 to 10 mm. in tabulae (clinotabulae), and some of them diameter. Coralla range up to at least 15 have a tertiary order of septa. The material cm. in diameter. Corallites are cylindrical. at hand, however, seems to represent the Thecae bear faint septal grooves. orthodox morphology of Lonsdaleia. Inas- Transverse sections.—The theca is very much as Waagenophyllum is definitely thin. From 18 to 20 thin major septa extend known from Cordilleran deposits through up to \ the radius. Short minor septa can be the researches of Smith (1935) and Merriam distinguished between some major septa. (1942), it is possible that the genus will be The dissepimentarium consists of 1 to 3 discovered among the rich coral faunas of ranks of mostly concentric dissepiments. the eastern part of the Basin and Range Longitudinal sections.—The theca is Province. 580 W. H. EASTON

LONSDALEIA ILLIPAHENSIS n. sp. strotionella mokomokensis externally, but Text-figs. 15,16 has a more complicated columella and lacks Exteriors.—Coralla are composed of pris- the broad lonsdaleoid dissepimentarium of matic corallites which mostly are from 7 to the latter species. 10 cm. in diameter and are depressed hemi- Occurrence.—USC localities 336 (type spherical. Calices are rather deep with slop- locality), 332, 337-339, 359. ing inner margins and a low, dome-shaped, Material.—Holotype, USC 5122. Para- axial boss on the calical floor. type, USC 5123. Other specimens, USC Transverse sections.—Corallites are ir- 5124-5126, 5147. Collection contains 6 regularly polygonal. Thecae have smooth specimens. margins and are joined along a dark median Remarks.—Lonsdaleia illipahensis varies line. From 12 to 17 rather sinuous major somewhat in strength and number of major septa traverse as much as f of the radius of septa. A specimen from the lower part of a mature corallite. Minor septa are present the Arcturus formation has about 14 or 15 t near the periphery but rarely traverse more major septa and they mostly do not reach than two ranks of dissepiments. The dis- the axial complex. On the other hand, a sepimentarium occupies approximately f specimen from the cyclical beds above the of the radius. Outer dissepiments are ir- Arcturus formation has about 17 septa in * regularly concentric. Commonly 4 or 5 each corallite, and the septa mostly reach ranks of dissepiments are present. The the axial complex. axial structure is distinctly arachnoid and may occupy most of the tabularium. As LONSDALEIA CORDILLERENSIS n. sp. many as 2 or 3 ranks of tabellae surround a Text-figs. 17,18 slightly thickened median plate. Lamellae Exteriors.—Coralla are composed of transect the tabellae and may correspond in loosely fasciculate corallites about 10 to 12 number and position with the major septa; mm. in diameter. Diameters of coralla or lamellae may be reduced in number until range from about 10 cm. up to great masses they are almost lacking. Major septa may which approach a meter in diameter. Calices touch the axial structure at some points and are deep, lined with prominent septal ends, may even be confluent with some lamellae. and are occupied by a very prominent axial Longitudinal section.—Thecae are some- boss on which traces of tabellae are pre- what sinuous. Dissepiments are rather served. elongate and occur in 1 to 3 ranks. About Transverse sections.—Mature calices of 12 to 14 dissepiments occur in 1 cm. Tabu- the holotype at a diameter of 9 mm. contain lae slope peripherally at only about 15° to from 22 to 28 thin major septa, a few of 30°. Some incomplete tabulae are present which reach the axial structure. Most major and approximately 22 tabulae of both kinds septa reach the theca. Minor septa are in- occur in 1 cm. The axial complex is com- conspicuous and short; moreover, they may posed of closely-spaced tabellae which not be present in all quadrants. Dissepi- slope distally at very steep angles and may mentaria occupy as much as ^ of the radius be vertical or even overhang slightly. The and consist of about 5 ranks of dissepiments median plate is broadly sinuous, as are the when best developed. Dissepiments are lamellae. mostly herringbone. Although a few Ions- t Comparison.—Lonsdaleia illipahensis re- daleoid dissepiments may be present at some sembles species of Lithostrotionella from the positions in some calices, they are not con- Mississippian of North America which have sistently present. prismatic corallites, but L. illipahensis has The axial structure is a well-developed an arachnoid columella, whereas the colu- arachnoid columella which occupies almost mellar structure of Lithostrotionella consists the entire tabularium in its most highly de- merely of a median plate. veloped condition. On the other hand, Lonsdaleia illipahensis resembles Thy- corallites of mature dimensions may bear sanophyllum princeps externally, but has an only feebly developed columellae. Tabellae arachnoid columella instead of no colu- and lamellae are somewhat sinuous and ir- mella. L. illipahensis also resembles Litho- regularly disposed, thus rendering the PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA 581 axial structure both complex and variable. Arcturus formation. Outcrops extend north- Moreover, calices as much as 7 mm. in di- south along the synclinal crest of Moko- ameter and containing 20 major septa may moke Ridge in the southwest part of the lack all traces of a columella. The theca is Illipah quadrangle, Nevada, along a line thin and lacks distinct septal grooves. about 500 feet west of the centers of sec. 4, Longitudinal section.—The theca is T. 16 N., R. 58 E., and sec. 33, T. 17 N„ R. wrinkled conspicuously. Dissepiments are 58 E. The ridge crest can be reached by a closely packed and of various shapes, but rough vehicle trail which ascends the south are mostly hemispherical. From 25 to 30 end of Mokomoke Ridge northward from tabulae occur in 1 cm. and mostly slope a point on the gravel road about 1 mile east away from the axial complex at 15° to 30°. of Hamilton. The axial complex consists largely of USC 331. Grey, massive limestone of the tightly-packed, sinuous tabellae which slope Bird Spring formation along the crest of the away from the center at angles up to about ridge which strikes N. 55° E. and lies 6 70°. The median plate is sinuous and thin, miles S. 80° W. from the intersection of Lee as are the traces of lamellae. Canyon (Nevada Highway 52) and the Comparison.—Lonsdaleia cordillerensis Indian Springs road (U. S. Highway 95) resembles species of Waagenophyllum such about 27 miles northwest of Las Vegas, as W. columbicum Smith, 1935 in cylindrical Clark County, Nevada. The locality can be shape of corallites and presence of an reached by driving 2.5 miles cross-country arachnoid columella, but L. cordillerensis has up the alluvial fan southwest from U. S. transverse tabulae instead of some trans- Highway 95. The locality lies 2300 feet stratigraphically above the contact of the verse tabulae and some clinotabulae. Bird Spring formation upon the Monte L. cordillerensis also resembles species of Cristo formation (Mississippian). This zone Waagenophyllum described from the Per- is at the base of the Permian System (Wolf- mian of Oregon by Merriam (1942) in sim- camp) in the section referred to by Longwell ilar growth habit, but has lonsdaleoid dis- and Dunbar (1936). sepiments and lacks clinotabulae. Diphyphyllum connorsensis also has cylin- USC 332. Base of 125 foot dark grey drical corallites, but it generally is devoid of limestone comprising the lower part of the any axial structure. Arcturus formation. Outcrops form prominent, partly overhanging bluff and road cut Occurrence.—USC localities 342 (type on the north side of former U. S. Highway locality), 332, 343, 344, 356, 358, 360. 93, about 1.2 miles east of the summit of Material.—Holotype, USC 5127. Other Connors Pass and about 23 miles southeast specimens, USC 5128, 5129, 5144, 5146, of Ely, Nevada. Probably near SE cor., 5150, 5151. Collection contains 7 specimens. sec. 26, T. 14 N., R. 65 E. Remarks.—This species is referable to USC 333. Light grey, sandy, buff- Lonsdaleia with doubt in some instances be- weathering limestone in the lower part of cause corallites seem to lack the character- the Arcturus formation. Outcrops are istic lonsdaleoid dissepiments. On the other located on the west side of U. S. Highway 6, hand, clinotabulae are not present so it can about 3 miles SW of Ely, Nevada. Sec. 25, scarcely be referred to Waagenophyllum. T. 16 N., R. 62 E., Ely quadrangle. In its typical occurrence the corallites are USC 334. Buff limestone at the base of the only about 8 mm. in diameter, but in the Rib Hill formation, forming bluff about cyclical sediments overlying the Arcturus 200 yards north of U. S. Highway 50 at a formation the corallites attain diameters of point 1 mile east of the Hamilton road. perhaps 15 mm. Perhaps it will be ad- Near cen., sec. 7, T. 17 N., R. 59 E., Illipah visable to differentiate these varieties in quadrangle. future studies. USC 335. Grey limestone 140 feet thick, lying 40 feet stratigraphically below sand- LOCALITY REGISTER stone beds of the Rib Hill formation, due USC 330. Buff, fine-grained, silty, thick- west of 2 large water tanks at the SE end of bedded limestone in the lower part of the the north ridge of Rib Hill, 1 mile SW of 582 W. H. EASTON

Ruth, Nevada. Near SE cor., sec. 16, T. 16 the main sandstone body of the Rib Hill N., R. 62 E., Ely quadrangle. formation. USC 336. Bluff of brown limestone over- USC 344. Low bluff of limestone overlying white limestone on north side of dry lying light grey dolomite. On the east face valley where unimproved road crosses of the Providence Mountains at the junc- creek bed, 1.1 miles west of Ruby Valley ture of two prominent spurs due west of the Truck Trail (Ruby Marsh Road) and 6 Gilroy Mine, San Bernardino County, miles north of U. S. Highway 50. SE, SW, California. Locality is about \ mile north of SW, sec. 8, T. 18 N., R. 59 E., Illipah quad- Mitchell's Caverns. rangle. USC 345. Same limestone described in USC 337. Grey limestone cropping out locality 332, but comprising a faulted ex- 2200 feet along forest road running north- tension to the north but offset about 500 west of Murry Summit about 6 miles south- feet westward and cropping out on the west of Ely, Nevada. Cen., S^, sec. 27, T. north side of old U. S. Highway 93. 16 N., R. 62 E., Ely quadrangle. USC 346. Prominent bluff of limestone USC 338. Buff limestone 300 feet strati- along the southwest face of the hills north graphically above the base of measured of the deep canyon draining westward in section 2 published by Knight (1956, p. the NE, SE, sec. 12, T. 18 N., R. 57 E., 776). About 600 feet above U. S. Highway Illipah quadrangle. Can be reached from 50, on north side of road, about 0.3 mile roads in the Pancake Summit quadrangle. west of Moorman Ranch. Cen., NW, Basal limestone of the Arcturus formation. sec. 9, T. 17 N., R. 59 E., Illipah quad- USC 347. From steep slope of limestone rangle. about 20 feet above the rim of the prominent bluff described in USC 346. USC 339. Grey limestone 13 feet thick cropping out in road cut on the north side of USC 348. Rounded slopes developed on U. S. Highway 6, 200 yards west of Murry the basal limestone of the Arcturus formation in the cen., Ei NE, sec. 3, T. 19 N., R. Summit, about 6 miles southwest of Ely, 57 E., Buck Mountain quadrangle. Nevada. NE, NE, NE, sec. 34, T. 16 N., R. 62 E., Ely quadrangle. USC 349. Prominent bluff of limestone in the lower part of the Arcturus formation USC 340. Upper 10 feet of 125 foot bluff cut by Circle Wash about 100 feet south of of limestone at locality 332. the road and down the slope from bench- USC 341. Prominent outcrop of bio- mark 7633. Near NW, sec. 33, T. 15 N., R. stromal limestone alongside the rough road 59 E., Treasure Hill quadrangle. through Indian Pass, Confusion Range, USC 350. Limestone bluff in the lower Utah. Outcrops are probably in the Arc- part of the Arcturus formation where turus formation. Locality is 1400 feet NW Circle Wash cuts southeastward through of benchmark 5970. the hills about 200 yards south of Circle USC 342. Bluff of coralline limestone on Wash reservoir. Probably cen., W^, sec. the low spur extending southwest from the 26, T. 15 N., R. 59 E., Treasure Hill quad- prominent hogback on the south side of rangle. Rib Hill, about 2 miles south of Ruth, USC 351. Steeply west-dipping lime- Nevada. Basal limestone of the Arcturus stones about 100 yards east of Circle Wash formation. Cen., SW, sec. 22, T. 16 N., R. Road in a V-shaped gully with dry falls of 22 E., Ely quadrangle. Can be reached on bold outcrops. Probably sec. 22, T. 15 N., faint vehicle trails leading southwest from R. 59 E., Treasure Hill quadrangle. Basal the main road into the center valley of Rib limestones of the Rib Hill formation. Hill. USC 352. Low ridge of Arcturus lime- USC 343. Grey, cherty, bluff-forming stone about \ mile west of USC 349 and on limestone 7 feet thick, a short distance up the west side of the road south from bench- hill from locality 335 but 70 feet strati- mark 7633. W line, sec. 33, T. 15 N., R. 59 graphically below that locality. Basal lime- E., Treasure Hill quadrangle. stones of probable Wolfcamp age beneath USC 355. Basal limestone of the Arcturus PERMIAN CORALS FROM NEVADA AND CALIFORNIA 583 formation on a prominent shoulder on the LITERATURE CITED inverted mountain at a point 2100 feet EASTON, W. H., 1944, Revision of Campophyllum south and 2850 feet east of NW corner of in North America: Jour. Paleontology, v. 18, Illipah #1 (SE) advance sheet. no. 2, p. 119-132, pi. 22, 4 text-figs. USC 356. From third distinctly resistant , 1957, On the tetracoral Lithostrotion har- modites Milne-Edwards and Haime: ibid., v. 31, limestone about 275 feet stratigraphically no. 3, p. 616-622, pi. 71. above the base of the Arcturus formation on EHRING, T. W., 1957, The Murry Formation the west face of the inverted mountain. (Permian) Nevada: Thesis, Master of Art 2800 feet south and 2450 feet east of NW (Geology), University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, p., pis. corner of Illipah #1 (SE) advance sheet. 47 4 HAYASAKA, ICHIRO, 1936, On some North Ameri- USC 357. Limestone at the base of the can species of Lithostrotionella: Mem. Faculty Rib Hill formation on a prominent shoulder Science Agriculture,. Taihoku Imp. Univ., v. on the west side of the inverted mountain. 13, no. 5, p. 47-73, pi. 11-17. HUDSON, R. G. S., 1958, Permian corals from 1200 feet due east of hill 8028 on Illipah #1 northern Iraq: Paleontology, v. 1, pt. 3, p. (SE) advance sheet. 174-192, pis. 32-35, 4 text-figs. USC 358. From lower massive limestone KNIGHT, R. L., 1956, Permian fusulines from of cyclical beds overlying the Arcturus for- Nevada: Jour. Paleontology, v. 30, no. 4, p. 773-792, pis. 83-88, 3 text-figs. mation on the first knoll at the south end of LANGENHEIM, R. L., and MCCUTCHEON, V. A., the SW-trending low ridge at a point 7450 1959, Bayhaium merriamorum, a new Permian feet west and 3800 feet north of the SE tabulate coral from California: Ibid., v. 33, no. corner of Illipah #1 (SW) advance sheet. 1, p. 99-102, pi. 19. LONGWELL, C. R., & DUNBAR, C. O.. 1936, Prob- Easily reached by old road SE from Moor- lems of the Pennsylvanian-Permian boundary man Ranch across Jake's Valley, then south in southern Nevada: Am. Assoc. Petroleum along base of hills and up the slope on an Geologists, v. 20, no. 9, p. 1198-1207. old sheep camp trail. MCLAREN, D. J., & SUTHERLAND, P. K. 1949, Lithostrotion from northeast British Columbia USC 359. From massive, grey, coralline and its bearing on the genomorph concept: limestone at the base of the Arcturus for- Jour. Paleontology, v. 23, no. 6, p. 625-634, pi. mation on a ridge crest about 100 feet south 103, 4 text-figs. of a small but very prominent outcrop on MERRIAM, C. W., 1942, Carboniferous and Per- mian corals from central Oregon: Ibid., v. a knoll 5700 feet west and 9650 feet north of 16, no. 3, p. 372-381, pis. 54-57. the SE corner of Illipah #1 (SW) advance MOORE, R. C., & JEFFORDS, R. M., 1941, New sheet. Permian corals from Kansas, Oklahoma, and USC 360. Bluff of limestone (strike 078, Texas: Kansas Geol. Survey Bull. 38, pt. 3, p. 65-120, pis. 1-8. dip 25 SE) lying about 50 feet down the SMITH, STANLEY, 1935, Two Anthrocolithic corals north face of the knoll half a mile south of from British Columbia and related species from U. S. Highway 93, in NW, NW, sec. 36, T. the Tethys: Jour. Paleontology, v. 9, no. 1, p. 14 N., R. 65 E., Ely quadrangle. This is the 30-42, pis. 8,9. THOMPSON, M. L., & HAZZARD, J. C., 1946, Per- lower limestone of the Arcturus formation mian fusulinids of southern California: Geol. and is the continuation a long strike south- Soc. Amer., Mem. 17, p. 37-53, pis. 10-18, ward from USC 332. 4 text-figs. '%%