ORDOVICIAN ACRITARCHS FROM THE MIAOPO FORMATION OF YICHANG,HUBEI

A moderately abundant and diverse acritarch assemblage was recovered from the Miaopo Formation at 4 sections in Yichang area, Hubei, South China. The acritarch assemblage consists of 28 species assigned to 17 genera. Compared with those of a similar age in other places, the acritarch assemblages of the Miaopo Formation in Yichang show not only typical acritarch species of the Upper Ordovician, but those of the Arenig. The acritarch assemblage is dominated by Baltisphaeridium and Leiosphaeridia, followed by Ordovicidium and Polygonium. The acritarch assemblage, as also suggested by brachiopod fauna, may imply the outer-shelf deep-water environment of the Miaopo Formation.