The occurrence and diversification of the skeletal fossils during the latest Ediacaran and early Cambrian (Terreneuvian) witness the significant evolutionary event, “Cambrian explosion”, in earth history. These skeletal fossils were collectively termed as “small shelly fossils (SSFs)” for their micro-size and mineralization in normal. They represent the earliest metazoan records, and are crucial for studying the origins and early evolution of many animal clades. Due to their worldwide distribution and rapid biodiversification, the SSFs have been taken as an important tool for the early Cambrian stratigraphical correlation (especially for the Terreneuvian) and paleobiogeographical reconstruction. The North Pakistan locating the western Himalaya is one of the adjoining areas of Tibet Plateau. For the lack of basic stratigraphic and palaeontological studies, it’s hard to confirm the exact age of the Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian strata assigned by the previous studies. Few SSFs had been reported in the early Cambrian Hazira Formation at Salhad section in the eastern Hazara Basin, however, the studies of these fossils are quite preliminary and problematic. Therefore, it’s urgent to carry on new detailed research to clarify the genus and species of these fossils which is fundamental for the biostratigraphical studies. Herein, basing on the expedition of the Salhad section in eastern Hazara Basin, we have systematically collected and done the lab process of the fossil samples, and tentatively recognized 24 genus, 18 species and 3 unidentified species.

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The file name is "Diagnostic list of Cambrian Small shelly fossil from the Northern Pakistan", which is composed of research site (Northern Pakistan) + age (Cambrian) + data type (Diagnostic list of Small shelly fossil). The data is stored in word format and can be opened and read by Microsoft software.

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Cite as:

Pan, B. (2021). Diagnostic list of Cambrian Small shelly fossil from the Northern Pakistan. A Big Earth Data Platform for Three Poles, DOI: 10.11888/Geo.tpdc.271731. CSTR: 18406.11.Geo.tpdc.271731. (Download the reference： RIS | Bibtex )

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Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition Program

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