Devonian and Lower Carboniferous conodont biostratigraphy, Spanish Central Pyrenees

Conodont faunas were collected from the Devonian and Lower Carboniferous in an area ranging from the Rio Fsera (prov. of Huesca) in the west to the Rio Llobregat (prov. of Barcelona) in the east. Most conodont zones and -Faunas recognized in Germany and Spain could be distinguished. The ages of the formations distinguished in the Compte-, Sierra Negra s.l.- and Renanue sub-facies of the Southern facies (Mey, 1968a) could be indicated quite accurately. The formations in the various sub-facies are lithostratigraphically and chronostratigraphically correlated. There is very strong evidence of a Tournaisian hiatus of changing extent, while the existence of a small Lower Frasnian hiatus is probable and the existence of a Siegenian hiatus in the Compte subfacies might be suggested. Lithostratigraphic correlation of the formations of the Southern facies area with formations to the east, north and west, furnished stratigraphic cross sections, which were used for a reconstruction of the Pyrenean Basin. The picture arises of a basin in which during the Upper Givetian or lowermost Frasnian a central geanticline emerged, the Pyrenean Geanticline. Until the end of the Visean the Pyrenean Geanticline remained an area of non-deposition. During the Namurian an intermontane basin possibly developed. A lithostratigraphic correlation is presented between the Central Pyrenees and the Palentine facies of the Cantabrian Mountains, which suggests that both areas belonged to the same basin during the Devonian and Lower Carboniferous.