A Late Devonian (Frasnian) Microbiota 

from the Farewell-Lyman Hills Area, 

West-Central Alaska 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1216-A 
A Late Devonian (Frasnian) Microbiota 

from the Farewell-Lyman Hills Area, 

West-Central Alaska 

By BERNARD L. MAMET and GEORGE PlAFKER 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO PALEONTOLOGY 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1216-A 

Microbiotafrom a limestone sequence near 

Farewell. Emendation of description of 

Frondilina and description of a new species, 

Multiseptida farewelliMamet 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1982 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

JAMES G. WATT, Secreta,ry 

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Dallas L. Peck, Director 

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data 

Mamet, Bernard L. 

A Late Devonian (Frasnian) microbiota from the 

Farewell-Lyman Hills area, west-central Alaska. 

(Contributions to paleontology) (Geological 

Survey Professional Paper 1216-A) 

Includes bibliographical references and index. 

Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.16:1216-A 

1. Foraminifera, Fossil. 2. Paleontology--

Devonian. 3. Paleontology--Alaska--Alaska Range. 

I. Plafker, George, 1929- II. Title. 

III. Series: Contributions to paleontology. 

IV. Series: United States. Geological Survey. 

Professional Paper 1216-A. 

QE772.M2944 563'.12'097983 81-607117 

AACR2 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Go\'ernment Printing Office 

Washington, D.C. 20402 
CONTENTS 

Page 

Abs~act --------------------------------------------- A1 

Page 

Systematic paleontology _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A6 

Introduction _________________________________________ _ Genus Frondilina Bykova 1952 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6 

Location of samples and geologic setting _____________ - ___ - _ 1 Frondilina sororis Bykova 1952 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7 

Microfacies, microbiota, and age ------------------------- 3 Genus M ultiseptida Bykova 1952 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 7 

Megafauna ------------------------------------------- 5 M ultiseptida corallina Bykova 1952 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 8 

Correlations, Frasnian micro biota _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 5 M ultiseptida {arewelli Mamet _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9 

North America ----------- ____ ---------------------- 5 References cited _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 9 

Eurasia___________________________________________ 5 IndeX------------------------------------------------ 11 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

[Plates follow index] 

PLATE 1. Frondilma sororis Bykova. 

2. Frondilina sororis Bykova. 

3. M ultiseptida {arewelli Mamet, n. sp. and M ultiseptida corallina Bykova. 

4. Multiseptida farewelll Mamet, n. sp. and Valvulinella youngi (Brady). 

Page 

FIGURE 1. Map showing general distribution of bedrock outcrops in upper Kuskokwim region and location of Frasnian limestone 

samples ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A2 

2. Drawing showing reconstruction of Frondilina _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 6 

TABLES 

Page 

TABLES 1. Localities, microfacies, and megafauna of microfossil samples of Frasnian age in the Farewell-Lyman Hills area_________ A3 

2. Distribution of microfossils in the Farewell-Lyman Hills area -------------------------------------------------- 4 

III 

CONTRIBUTIONS TO PALEONTOLOGY 

A lATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN) MICROBIOTA FROM THE 

FAREWELL-LYMAN HILLS AREA, WEST -CENTRAL AlASKA 

By BERNARD L. MAMET1 and GEORGE PLAFKER 

ABSTRACf 

A limestone sequence near Farewell in the Alaska Range foothills of 

west-central Alaska contains a microbiota that includes a large diverse assemblage of foraminifers of Frasnian (early Late Devonian) 

age not previously reported from Alaska. The fossil assemblages and 

lithology suggest that the limestone sequence was deposited on a very 

shallow open marine bank containing patch reefs of corals, stromatoporoids, and algae. The Fra-.nian limestone appears to overlie pillow basalt and is probably unconformably overlain by Permian lime-

. stone and clastic rocks. 

The only comparable microfauna reported from the North American Cordillera is from the Southesk Formation in Jasper National 

Park, Alberta, Canada, which represents a somewhat more restricted 

facies than the coeval Alaskan carbonates. Frasnian rocks containing 

complex and diversified microfaunas have been widely reported in 

the U.S.S.R., but little information is available on their microfacies. 

The excellent preservation of foraminifers in the Alaskan rocks permits emendation of descriptions originally made by Russian paleontologists for the genera Frondilina Bykova 1952 and Multiseptido 

Bykova 1952 and description of a new species of M ultiseptida, M. 

{arewelli Mamet. 

INTRODUCTION 

During the course of field investigations of the 

Farewell segment of the Denali fault system in 1976, 

George Plafker and Travis Hudson collected a number 

of limestone samples from north of the fault near 

Farewell and south of the fault in the Cheeneetnuk 

River drainage of the Lyman Hills (fig. 1). Petrographic study of these samples by Mamet has revealed 

a large and diagnostic marine microfauna that includes 

a diverse assemblage of foraminifers not previously reported in Alaska. 

'University of Montreal. Montreal, P.Q., Canada. 

In this paper, we describe the micro biota in samples 

collected and discuss some of the biostratigraphic, 

paleoecologic, and paleogeologic implications of its occurrence. 

Discovery of well-preserved foraminifers in the 

Devonian limestone permits an emendation of descriptions of the genera Frondilina 1952 and M ultiseptida 

Bykova and description of a new species, M ultiseptida 

{arewelli Mamet. Plafker is largely responsible for descriptions of the geologic setting and lithologic units; 

Mamet identified and described the microfossils. J. T. 

Dutro, Jr., identified the megafossils, and A. K. 

Armstrong kindly made a preliminary evaluation of the 

microfossils. 

LOCATION OF SAMPLES AND GEOLOGIC SETTING 

Samples discussed in this paper were collected along 

the north flank of the rugged Alaska Range, bordered 

on the north by the upper Kuskokwim Lowland, less 

than 500 m above sea level, and hills that rise between 

300 and 600 m above the lowland (fig. 1 ; Fernald, 

1960). The area lies within the southeastern part of the 

McGrath quadrangle. In this area, the rocks crop out 

only in the hills and mountains because the lowlands 

are underlain by Quaternary unconsolidated deposits. 

Geologic information on the Paleozoic bedrock in the 

upper Kuskokwim area is sparse, consisting largely of 

reconnaissance studies by Spurr ( 1900), Brooks 

( 1911), Cady, Wallace, Hoare, and Webber ( 1955), 

and Fernald ( 1960). Churkin, Reed, Carter, and Winkler ( 1977) carried out a stratigraphic study of lower 

Paleozoic rocks in the Alaska Range approximately 35 

km southeast of Farewell, and Sainsbury ( I965) made 

A1 
A2 CONTRIBUTIONS TO PALEONTOLOGY 

FIGURE 1.-McGrath quadrangle ( 1:250,000 scale) showing general distribution of bedrock outcrops in the upper Kuskokwim 

region (stippled) and location of Frasnian limestone samples (numbers). Sample numbers correspond to those in table 1. 

a detailed study of the geology in the vicinity of the 

White Mountain quicksilver mine. Reed and Nelson 

( 1977) completed a 1:250,000-scale geologic mapping 

project in the Alaska Range (Talkeetna quadrangle), 

immediately adjacent to the area on the east, that included reconnaissance mapping and sampling in the vicinity of Farewell. Churkin ( 1973) recently summarized the stratigraphy of the Paleozoic rocks of 

Alaska and their role in its structural evolution, but 

that publication includes minimal information on the 

Farewell-White Mountain area. 

The rocks of the area are mostly sedimentary and are 

assigned to the Holitna ( Ordovican?, Silurian, and Devonian), Gemuk (Carboniferous to Cretaceous), and 

Kuskokwim (Cretaceous) Groups (Cady and others, 

1955). 

Paleozoic rocks in nearby parts of the Alaska Range 

form a predominantly clastic sequence about 1 ,000 m 

thick of Early Ordovician through Late Silurian age 

( Churkin and others, 1977). In general, the Paleozoic 

rocks in the Alaska Range have been highly folded, cut 

by numerous faults, intruded by dikes and granitic plutons, and locally metamorphosed. In the Lyman Hills 

area (north of the Farewell fault and west of Big 

River), the Paleozoic rocks are largely calcareous; on 

the basis of their megafaunas, they include strata of 

Middle(?) Ordovician and Devonian(?) age in the vicinity of the White Mountain mine (Sainsbury, 1965). 

Permian clastic rocks and carbonates occur in the 

Lyman Hills area in fault contact with, or unconformably overlying, the older Paleozoic units. The Paleozoic 

rocks in the foothills commonly are moderately to 

strongly folded and faulted but are much less altered 

and metamorphosed than coeval rocks of the Alaska 

Range. 

The major fault in the region is the Farewell fault 

(fig. 1), generally considered to be part of the Denali 

system that extends in a broad arc for 1,600 km across 

Alaska from the Canadian border on the east to Bristol 

Bay on the west. Although displacement on the Denali 

system east of the Farewell fault has been mainly 

strike-slip during the Quaternary, Holocene movement 

on the Farewell segment has been predominantly dipslip with the south side relatively up thrown ( Plafker 
A LATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN) MICROBIOTA FROM THE FAREWELL-LYMAN HILLS AREA, ALASKA A3 

TABLE I.-Localities, microfacies, and megafauna of microfossil samples of Frasnian age in theFarewell-LymanHills area 

( U .S.G.S. quadrangle map scale 1 :63.360] 

Sample 

localities 

(fig. 1) 

Field Nos. U.S.G.S. 

quadrangle 

Township, range. 

section Microfacies Megafauna 

Lyman Hills area 

76APr239 McGrath T. 23 N., R. 32 W., 

A-5 sec. 34 

2 76APr235 do T. 23 N., R. 31 W., 

sec.30 

3 76APr260 do do 

Fossiliferous packstone. 

Algal-coral boundstones 

and packstones. Algalstromatoporoid boundstones and grainstones. 

Pelletoidal grainstones. 

Extensive recrystalliztion. 

Recrystallized algal wackestones. Recrystallized 

fossiliferous packstones 

to wackestones. 

Bivalves, corals, algae. 

Algal-corals, bivalves, 

stromatoporoids. 

I ndospirifer? sp., 

Gypidula sp., 

Thamnopora, algae. 

Farewell area 

4 76APr243 McGrath T. 27 N., R. 25 W., 

B-4 sec.8 

5 76AH156 McGrath do 

B-2 

and others, 1977). Dextral separation may have occurred during the earlier history of the fault, although 

published. estimates suggest that the offset is less than 

100 km ( Churkin and others, 1977; Grantz, 1966) and 

new unpublished data (George Plafker and Travis Hudson, 1976) indicate that it could be as little as 10 km. 

Five sample localities, shown on figure 1 and table 1, 

yield diagnostic Devonian microfaunas. Localities 1-3 

are from a thick moderately folded sequence of 

carbonates that is in contact toward the southeast with 

interbedded fine- grained clastic rocks and carbonates 

that include beds of probable Permian age. The limestone is thin to thick bedded, gray-weathering, black, 

and locally fetid. It contains megafossils in varying 

abundance; these include bivalves, corals, and algae. 

One thin sandy bed within the limestone contained an 

abundant fauna of brachiopods in growth position. 

Immediately southwest of sample locality 1 along the 

Cheeneetnuk River, dark-colored altered and sheared 

pillow basalt crops out over a small area. Although the 

contact between the limestone and basalt is not exposed, it appears that the basalt lies structurally below 

the limestone. 

Sample localities 4 and 5 are immediately north of 

the Farewell fault approximately 6.4 km southsouthwest of Farewell. Locality 4 is an isolated ridge, 

several meters high and a few tens of meters long, of 

slab by to massive- bedded, gray-weathering black 

calcite-veined limestone containing a moderately 

abundant and well-preserved fauna. It is separated by 

Algal wackestones. Some 

I ssinella baffles tones. 

Algal boundstones. 

Algal fossil wackestones 

and packstones. 

Bivalves, corals, algae. 

Algae, few corals and 

stromatoporoids. 

a small valley in the headwaters of Sheep Creek from 

locality 5, an elongate ridge 200 m high along the north 

side of the Farewell fault. The north end of this ridge is 

underlain by tightly folded fossiliferous limestone of 

the kind at locality 4. A covered interval separates the 

limestone from a greenish- black pillow basalt that underlies part of the ridge to the southwest. 

MICROFACIES. MICRO BIOTA, AND AGE 

Of the five samples that contained diagnostic fossils, 

three (samples 76APr235, 76APr239, 76APr260) are 

from the Lyman Hills area and two (samples 76APr243 

and 76AH156) from near Farewell (table 1). The distribution of foraminifers in the samples is given in 

table 2 and the microfacies, microbiota, and age of 

these samples are summarized below. 

Sample: 76AH156 

Algal fossil wackestones and packstones. Few corals 

and stromatoporoids. 

Auroria sp. 

Bisphaera sp. 

Calcisphaera sp. 

Earlandia sp. 

Eonodosaria sp. 

Evlania sp. 

cf. Eogeinitzina sp. 

Girvanella sp. 

Frondilina sororis Bykova 

I ssinella sp. (extremely abundant; many Intertwined with K amaena 
A4 CONTRIBUTIONS TO PALEONTOLOGY 

Kamaena sp. 

M ultiseptida corallina Bykova 

M. farewel~i n. sp. 

Paratikhinella sp. 

Tikhinella sp. 

"U slonia" sp. 

Age: Frasnian. 

Sample: 76APr235 

Algal- coral boundstone and packstone. Algalstromatoporoid boundstones and grainstones. Pelletoidal grainstone. Recrystallized algal wackestones. Extensive recrystallization. 

Bisphaera sp. 

Calcisphaera sp. 

Eogeinitzina sp. 

Eonodosaria sp. 

Frondilina sororis Bykova 

Girvanella sp. 

"I rregularina" sp. 

I ssinella sp. (extremely abundant; forms boundstone and bafflestone patches) 

Kamaena sp. 

Multiseptida sp. 

M ultiseptida corallina Bykova 

M ultiseptida farewelli n. sp. 

Parathurammina sp. 

Pseudoglomospira sp. 

Semitextularia sp. 

Tikhinella sp. 

Uslonia sp. 

~ Age: Frasnian. 

Sample: 76APr239 

Fossiliferous packstones. 

Eonodosaria sp. 

Frondilina sororis Bykova 

Paratikhinella sp. 

Tikhinella sp. 

Age: Frasnian. 

Sample: 76APr243 

Algal wackestones. Some I ssinella bafflestones. Algal 

bounds tones. 

Bisphaera sp. 

Eonodosaria evlanensis (Lipina). 

Eogeinitzina sp. 

Evlania sp. 

Frondilina sororis Bykova 

Girvanella sp. 

I ssinella sp. 

Kamaena sp. 

M ultiseptida corallina Bykova 

M. farewelli n. sp. 

TABLE 2.-Distribution of microfossils in the Farewell-LymanHills area 

Farewell 

area 

McGrath 

Species B-2 

(.!) 

lQ 

M 

::r:: 

<t: 

(!) 

tAuroria sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

Bisphaera sp ------------------- x Calcisphaera sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

Earlandia sp ------------------- X 

Earlandia? sp _________________ _ 

Eogeinitzina sp ----------------- cf. Eogeinitzina sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

Eonodosaria evlanensis _______ -- __ Eonodosaria sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

EvlanlQ sp --------------------- X 

Frondilina sororis _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

Girvanella staminea ____________ _ 

Girvanella sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

"lrregularina" sp --------------- 1 ssinella sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

K amaena sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

M ultiseptida corallina _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

M ultiseptida farewelli _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

M ultiseptida sp ________________ _ 

Nanicella sp _____ ------ _-- ~-----

Palaeobereselleae __________ --- __ 

Parathurammina sp ____________ _ 

Paratikhmella sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

Pseudoglomospira sp ___________ _ 

Pseudosolenopora sp ___________ _ 

Semitextularia sp ______________ _ 

Tikhinella sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

Umbellina sp __________________ _ 

U slonia sp __________ - _____ -----

"U slonia" sp _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ x 

Paratikhinella sp. 

Pseudoglomospira sp. 

Pseudosolenopora sp. 

Tikhinella sp. 

Umbellina sp. 

Age: Frasnian. 

Sample: 76APr260 

B-4 

CQ 

~ 

~ 

1--< 

~ (.!) 

tX 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

0'.> 

CQ 

~ 

1--< 

~ (.!) 

tX 

X 

X 

X 

X 

Lyman Hills area 

McGrathA-5 

lQ 

CQ 

~ 

1--< 

~ (.!) 

tX 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

0 

(.!) 

~ 

1--< 

~ (.!) 

tX 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

Recrystallized fossiliferous packstones to :wackestones. 

Earlandia? sp. 

Girvanella staminea Garwood 

Eonodosaria sp. 

Kamaena sp. 

M ultiseptida {arewelli n. sp. 

Nanicella sp. 

Palaeo bereselleae 

Paratikhinella sp. 

Tikhinella sp. 

Age: Frasnian. 
A LATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN) MICROBIOTA FROM THE FAREWELL· LYMAN HILLS AREA, ALASKA A5 

The carbonate microfacies suggests a very shallow 

open-marine bank with abundant corals, stromatoporoids, and algae. Algal microflora is mostly represented 

by abundant tubular I ssinella and a few K amaena, 

many of the two genera intertwined to form bafflestones. Red algae (Pseudosolenopora) are scarce. Girvanella and Calcisphaeridae are present but uncommon. Usually this kind of assemblage contains 

Sphaerocodium, but none was found here. 

This environment, within the photic zone, is favorable 

to the foraminifers, which are abundant but undiversified; M ultiseptida, Frondilina, and Eogeinitzina are the 

most widespread genera. 

Umbellinids, of probable charophyte affinities, are 

represented only by occasional floated, mud-filled 

specimens of Umbel/ina. 

MEGAFAUNA 

Fossil bivalves, corals, and algae were observed in 

the limestone at localities 76APr235, 239, 243, and 

260, but preservation is rarely good enough for identifications to be made at the species level. Brachiopods 

from locality 76APr260 include large Indospirifer? sp., 

large Gypidula sp., and poorly preserved tabulate corals ( Thamnopora) that range in age from early Middle 

Devonian to early Late Devonian ( J. T. Dutro, Jr., written commun., 1978). A diverse assemblage of Middle(?) Devonian corals was collected earlier from the 

Lyman Hills area immediately north of the Cheeneetnuk River. According to Oliver, Merriam, and Churkin 

( 1975, table 14), the corals identified include Alveolites 

sp., C ladopora sp., Favosites sp., H eliolites sp., 

Pachy{avosites sp., Syringopora sp., Thamnopora sp., 

Grypophyllum sp., cf. N eostringophyllum sp., cf. 

Siphonophrenitis sp., and Sociophyllum sp., cf. S. 

glomerulatum ( Crickmay). The megafossils suggest 

deposition on a shallow open marine bank with patch 

reefs. 

Environmental interpretations and ages based on 

megafossils are consistent with the conclusions arrived 

at in this paper from microscopic studies of limestone 

samples from these same localities. 

CORRElATIONS, FRASNIAN MICROBIOTA 

NORTH AMERICA 

The only closely comparable Frasnian microbiota reported from the American Cordillera is that of the 

Southesk Formation, Ancient Wall carbonate complex, 

Jasper National Park, Alberta (Toomey and others, 

1970), Canada. In this carbonate complex, which 

represents a restricted and lagoonal environment, calcispheres and parathuramminids dominate; tikhinellids 

and multiseptidids are scarcer than in the FarewellLyman Hills area. Dasycladacean algae, like Vermiporella, are associated with blue- green" chain algae" 

such as Sphaerocodium. 

In our samples, parathuramminids and calcisphaerids 

are scarce, birdseyes are not observed, and plurilocular 

foraminifers are dominant. Of the microflora, the only 

abundant specimens are I ssinella. These differences 

with the Southesk Formation indicate more open 

marine conditions and greater water agitation for the 

Alaskan localities. Although there are differences in 

relative abundances between the Canadian and Alaskan 

material, the elements of the foraminiferal assemblage 

is similar, as both include Eogeinitzina, Eonodosaria, 

M ultiseptida, Nanicella, Paratikhinella, and Tikhinella. 

Other described North American microbiotas show 

less similarity to the Alaskan micro biota, even though 

they have some fossil elements in common. Examples 

are biotas from: ( 1) the Leduc Formation of central Alberta (Toomey, 1965), where abundant parathuramminids are mixed with tikhinellids, paratikhinellids, 

and nanicellids; ( 2) the Lime Creek Shale (Upper Devonian) of Iowa, which contains an Eonodosaria! Evlania assemblage (Toomey, 1972) including 

some Semitextularia (Miller and Carmer, 1933); ( 3) the 

Mount Hawk Limestone of British Columbia, which 

displays a Girvanellal Eonodosaria! Nanicella assemblage (Toomey, 1972); and (4) the Cedar Valley 

Limestone (Middle Devonian) of Iowa, which contains 

mostly Bisphaera!Semitextularia!Parathuramminidae, 

mixed with Girvanella, Sphaeroporella, ?V ermiporella, 

kamaeniids, and red algae (Kettenbrink and Toomey, 

1975). All these microbiota characteristically have very 

low diversity at both the generic and specific levels. 

EURASIA 

Frasnian foraminiferal assemblages in the U.S.S.R. 

are reported on and described in Lipina ( 1950), 

Bykova ( 1952), Reitlinger ( 1954), Bykova in Bykova 

and Polenova ( 1955), Chuvashov ( 1963, 1965), and 

Manukalova-Grebeniuk ( 1974). Although little analysis 

of the faunal and floral distributions in relation to the 

carbonate microfacies has been made by Russian 

paleontologists, the Russian microbiotas are clearly 

more diversified than their American counterparts. 

Toomey ( 1972, p. 628) coined the term Tikhinella!Eonodosaria!Multiseptida microfauna and described it as "the most complex assemblage in terms of 

biotic abundance." This description is certainly valid in 

the American Cordillera but not in Eurasia, where far 

more complex and diversified faunal assemblages have 
A6 CONTRIBUTIONS TO PALEONTOLOGY 

been described from the Russian Platform and from 

the Urals (see Toomey and Mamet, 1979). 

SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY 

Phylum PROTOZOA 

Order FORAMINIFERIDA Eichwald, 1830 

Family undetermined 

Genus FRONDILINA Bykova, 1952, emend. herein 

1952. Frondilina Bykova, VINIGRI Trudy 60, Mikrofauna SSSR. 

Sbornik 5, p. 24-27. 

1954. Frondilina Reitlinger. VNIGRI, Paleont. Sbornik, no. 1, p. 75. 

1955. Frondilina Bykova. Bykova and Polenova, VNIGRI Trudy 87, 

Mikrofauna SSSR, Sbornik 6, p. 10. 

1964. Frondilina Loeblich and Tappan. Protista, pt. C, in Moore, R. 

C., ed., Treatise Invert. Paleontology, p. C324 . 

1959. Frondilina Bykova , Dain, and Fursenko. Rauzer·Chernoussova 

and Fursenko, Protozoa, pt. 1, in Orlov, Yu., ed., Principles of 

Paleontology, Akad. Nauk SSSR, p. 251. 

1965. Frondilina Chuvashov. Akad. Nauk SSSR Ural. Fil., Inst. Geol. 

Trudy 74, p. 67-68. 

Discussion.-In the original diagnosis of Frondilina, 

Bykova ( 1952, p. 24) states that the foraminifers consist of a series of uniserial overlapping chambers. The 

type of the genus, Frondilina devexis, was drawn 

(Bykova, 1952, pl. 5, fig. 4b) flattened and laterally 

compressed with a rectilinear pseudobiserial arrangement. The other representative of the genus, Frondilina 

sororis (Bykova, 1952, pl. 5, fig. 5b) also was reported 

to be uniserial with bilateral symmetry. This diagnosis 

was accepted by Bykova , Dain, and Fursenko (in 

Rauzer- Chernoussova and Fursenko, 1959) and by 

Loeblich and Tappan ( 1964). However, Loeblich and 

Tappan ( 1964) stated that the chamber arrangement is 

similar to that of Lunucammina, a uniserial nodosinellid 

with a longitudinal depression giving a pseudobiserial 

appearance. 

The uniserial character described in Bykova's original 

diagnosis, however, does not fit the rest of the description. Bykova noted that "the chambers are not always 

located on one plane. Part of them are sometimes deflected around the longitudinal axis on the body" 

(translated). For example, her drawing of the holotype 

(Bykova, 1952, pl. 5, fig. 4a) shows that the third and 

the fourth chambers are not in the same plane as the 

first and second chambers. A thin section of the 

paratype (pl. 6, fig. 7) shows an "erratic" deviation of 

the chambers. Bykova ( 1952) described this deviation 

"towards the end quite often a deflection of the chambers around the longitudinal axis is noted and the 

plane of the chambers becomes almost perpendicular 

to the planes of the others. The result of this is sections 

in which part of the chambers are in transverse and 

part in a longitudinal direction" (translated). If this 

description is correct, a simple uniserial bilateral disposition of the chambers is unlikely. 

The second special feature attributed to the genus as 

represented by Frondilina soron·s is equally puzzling. In 

the diagnosis uniserially arranged chambers are 

"sometimes deflected to one side or another along the 

longitudinal axis" (translated). For the type ( Bykova, 

1952, pl. 5, figs. 5b and 5c), a simple straight-forward 

uniserial arrangement is drawn. But in one of the 

para types (pl. 6, fig. 9), the highly irregular disposition 

is described as "sections in which six chambers are cut 

laterally and two longitudinally, due to the deflection of 

the chambers along the longitudinal axis" (translated). 

Many longitudinal, axial, and oblique sections of 

Frondilina from Alaska allow a somewhat different reconstruction (fig. 2). In axial section, the chambers do 

not have bilateral symmetry as reported by Bykova 

( 1952, see her idealized drawings pl. 5, figs. 4 b and 

FIGURE 2.-Reconstruction of Frondilina. The elongate test consists of 

uniserial series of triradiate chambers with deep sutures. The 

chambers are curved, roundly tapered toward the end, and overlap 

one another. 
A LATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN) MICROBIOTA FROM THE FAREWELL-LYMAN HILLS AREA; ALASKA 

5b) but are triradiate with deep sutures. In addition, 

the chambers are strongly arcuate and overlap each 

other. An axial cut, therefore, shows the three round 

tips of the overlying chamber (see pl. 2, figs. 12-17). 

A deceptive illusion that the chambers are situated in 

the same plane is produced by a longitudinal section 

along the sutures (see, for instance, pl. 1, fig. 4); but 

the 120° symmetry of the triradiate chambers is demonstrated in plate 1, figures 11-14. 

With respect to the nature of the wall structure, 

Bykova ( 1952) mentioned an outer micritic layer and 

an inner radial layer, the sutures being "threelayered." "Three layered" sutures are well displayed in 

our material, as exemplified along the septa of the 

specimen figured in plate 1, figure 9. This structure, 

however, is produced by penecontemporaneous cementation and is not an original microstructure. Most of 

our material shows partial dissolution of the wall and 

development of early cement. We suggest that the 

same process diagenetically altered Bykova's material. 

We therefore propose the following emendation of 

Frondilina. 

Emended diagnosis.-Test elongate, free, tapering, 

consisting of a uniserial series of triradiate chambers. 

In axial section, chambers have a ternary symmetry. 

Chambers are curved, roundly tapered toward the end, 

and overlap one another. In thin section, this arrangement gives the illusion of uniserial- biserial and triserial 

series, depending on the. orientation of the cut. Sutures 

deep. Aperture is a round opening in the depressed 

apertural face. Wall double-layered, consisting of a 

dark micritic layer and a thin, commonly dissolved, yellowish pseudofibrous layer. 

Type of genus.-1952. Frondilina devexis Bykova. 

VNIGRI Trudy 60, Mikrofauna SSSR, Sbornik 5, p. 25, 

pl. 5, Figs. 4a, b, c, pl. 6, Figs. 4-7. 

Taxa included in the genus Frondilina: 

1952 devexis Bykova 

1952 sororis Bykova 

Remarks.-Figure 4b of the type is idealized and contradicts figures 4a and 4c, which are more nearly correct. 

Though originally assigned to the Lagenidae by 

Bykova ( 1952), transferred to the Nodosinellidae/Nodosinellinae by Loeblich and Tappan ( 1964), 

and considered a Lagenidae/Lageninae by Chuvashov 

( 1965), the genus does not belong to either family. The 

same holds true for the Frasnian Eogeinitzina,. 

Eonodosaria, which belong to an as yet undescribed 

family. 

Frondilina sororis Bykova, 1952, emend. herein 

Plate l, figures 1-18; plate 2, figures 1-21 

1952. Frondilina sororis Bykova, VNIGRI Trudy 60, Mikrofauna 

SSSR, Sbornik 5, p. 26-27, pl. 5, fig. 5, pl. 6, figs. 8-10. 

1954. Frondilina sororis Reitlinger. VNIGRI, Paleont. Sbornik, no. 

1, p. 7' pl. 22, fig. 8. 

1965. Frondilina sorosis [sic] Chuvashov. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ural. 

Fil., Inst. Geol. Trudy 74, p. 67-68, pl. 15, figs. 10-11. 

Diagnosis.-Test elongate, tapering, consisting of 9 to 

11, exceptionally 12, uniserial triradiate chambers. 

Chambers have a ternary symmetry in ·axial section. 

Sutures deep. In longitudinal section, chambers are arcuate, and overlap one another. Chambers increase 

uniformly in width; their height increases less sharply. 

Total length for 6 chambers (range): 480-610 J1. 

7 chambers (range): 500-640 J1. 

8 chambers (range): 660-800 J1. 

9 chambers (range): 750-930 J1. 

10 chambers (range): 810-970 J1. 

11 chambers (range): 850-980 JJ. 

12 chambers (range): 850-1,040 J1. 

Diameter of the sixth chamber (range): 210-340 J1. 

seventh chamber (range): 

240-360 J1. 

eighth chamber (range): 260-

370 ,u 

Chambers taper toward the peripheral end, where 

they become rounded. Peripheral border of the test 

roundly lobate. Wall double-layered, thin, about 10-15 

JJ.. Thickness difficult to estimate owing to extensive 

diagenetic alteration and subsequent early cementation. Proloculum, oval to round, extremely variable, 

commonly crushed or deformed, varying from 70-160 

J1. in diameter. 

Remarks.-By its general morphology, our material is 

very similar to that of the original description of 

Bykova ( 1952). Bykova's types and paratypes, however, are immature forms. She drew tests consisting of 

four to seven chambers, but in her description, cites 

"nine or more chambers." Our material shows that the 

adults have indeed 9 to 11 chambers, 12 being exceptional. The only noticeable difference between the 

American and Russian material is the shape and size of 

the proloculum. Bykova reports an oval form, whereas 

our material shows all types of deformation owing to 

the large size of the first chamber. This characteristic 

should not be used as a valid argument for the erection 

of a new taxon. 

Stratigraphic range and distribution.-Frasnian. 

Eurasia and Alaska. 

Figured specimens.-USNM 305135, USNM 305173. 

Genus MULTISEPTIDA Bykova, 1952 

1952. M ultiseptida Bykova, VNIGRI Trudy 60, Mikrofauna SSSR, 

Sbornik 5, p. 27. 

1954. Multiseptida Reitlinger. VNIGRI, Paleont. Sbornik, no. 1, p. 

73-74. 

1955. Multiseptida Bykova. Bykova and Polenova. VNIGRI Trudy 87, 

Microfauna SSSR, Sbornik 6, p. 10. 
A8 CONTRIDUTIONS TO PALEONTOLOGY 

1959. Multiseptida Bykova, Dain, and Fursenko, RauzerChernoussova andFursenko, Protozoa, pt.1, inOrlov,Yu., ed., 

Principles of Paleontology, Akad. Nauk SSSR, p. 251, figs. 

394-395. 

1962. [Not] Multiseptida Bogush and Yuferev. Akad. Nauk SSSR 

Sibirsk Otdeleniye, Inst. Geologii Geofiziki Trud:x, p. 200. 

1963. Multiseptida Pokorny. Principles of Zoological Micropalaeontology, v. 1, p. 299, fig. 260. 

1964. Multiseptida Loeblich and Tappan. Protista, pt. C, in Moore, 

R. C., ed., Treatise Invert. Paleontology, p. C328. 

1965. Multiseptida Chuvashov. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ural. Filial, Inst. 

Geol. Trudy 74, p. 68. 

1970. Multiseptida Toomey, Mountjoy, and MacKenzie. Canadian 

Jour. Earth Sciences, v. 7, no. 3, p. 978. 

1972. Multiseptida Toomey. International Geol. Congress, 24th, sec. 

7, Paleontology, p. 626. 

1975. Multiseptida Neumann, Pozaryska and Vachard. Revue Micropaleontologie, v. 18, no. 1, p. 50. 

Diagnosis.-Test free, elongate, cylindrical, slowly 

tapering, rectilinear, uniserial. Proloculum spherical to 

oval followed by low discoidal overlapping chambers. 

Chambers subcylindrical. Septa have secondary thickenings at the tip. Secondary partitions, more or less 

complete, are perpendicular to the primary septa near 

the aperture, then slanted, oblique toward the 

periphery. Wall secreted, calcareous, two-layered. Inside wall micritic, dark, with a thin outer yellowish 

pseudofibrous layer. 

Type of genus.-Multiseptida corallina Bykova, 1952. 

VNIGRI Trudy 60, Mikrofauna. SSSR, Sbornik 5, p. 27, 

pl. 7, figs. 1-4, pl. 8, figs. 1-5. 

Taxa included in the genus M ultiseptida: 

1952 corallina Bykova 

1982 farewelli new species 

M ultiseptida akkusica Bogush and Yuferev 1962, 

which is not a foraminifer, should be transferred to the 

botanical realm. It is probably related to the 

Palaeo bereselleae. 

Remarks.-Diagrammatic reconstructions of the 

genus by Bykova ( 1952), later reproduced by Bykova 

and others (1959), Pokorny (1963), and Loeblich and 

Tappan ( 1964) are correct. M ultiseptida was originally 

assigned to the Lagenidae by Bykova ( 1952), considered as a Nodosariidae by Pokorny ( 1963), transferred 

to the Collaniellidae by Loeblich and Tappan ( 1964) 

and to the Lagenidae/Collaniellinae by Chuvashov 

( 1965) and by Toomey, Mountjoy, and MacKenzie 

( 1970). 

Colaniella is exclusively Upper Permian, and Multiseptida, Upper Devonian. Because there is no link between the two genera, they should not be included in 

the same family. 

The occurrence of secondary partitions is of little 

value for the erection of a new family or subfamily. 

Secondary partitions have appeared at least three times 

among Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian 

foraminifers. For instance, in the Visean, Valvulinella 

(see pl. 4, fig. 20 and compare with M ultiseptida) is derived from Pseudotaxis by progressive development of 

secondary walls. Both V alvulinella and Pseudo taxis 

have always been placed in the same family. 

Stratigraphic range and distribution.-Frasnian. 

Eurasia, Alaska, Alberta. 

Multiseptida corallina Bykova, 1952 

Plate 2, figures 22-23; plate 3, figures 5-6 

1952. Multiseptida corallina Bykova, VNIGRI Trudy 60, Mi~ofauna 

SSSR, Sbornik 5, p. 27, pl. 7, figs. 1-4, pl. 8, figs. 1-5. 

1954. Multiseptida corallina Reidinger. VNIGRI, Paleont. Sbornik, 

no. 1, p. 73-74, pl. 20, figs. 1-6. 

1963. Multiseptida corallina Pokorny. Principles of Zoological Micropalaeontology, v. 1, p. 299, fig. 260. 

1964. Multiseptida corallina Loeblich and Tappan. Protista, pt. C, in 

Moore, R. C., ed., Treatise Invert. Paleontology, p. C328, fig. 

244, 1-3. 

1965. Multiseptida corallina Chuvashov. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ural. Filial, Inst. Geol. Trudy 74, p. 68, pl. 15, figs. 12-14. 

1970. Multiseptida sp. cf. M. corallina Toomey, Mountjoy, and 

MacKenzie. Canadian Jour. Earth Sciences, v. 7, no. 3,·p. 978, 

pl. 7, figs. 64-69. 

1970. Multiseptida sp. Toomey, Mountjoy, and MacKenzie. Canadian Jour. Earth Sciences, v. 7, no. 3, p. 978, pl. 7, figs. 

70-77. 

1972. Multiseptida sp. cf. M. corallina Toomey. International Geol. 

Congress, 24th, sec. 7, Paleontology, p. 626, pl. 2, figs .. 1-3. 

1975. Multiseptida corallina Neumann, Pozaryska and Vachard. 

Revue Micropaleontologie, v. 18, no. 1, p. 50, pl. 3, figs. 5-8. 

Diagnosis.-Test free, elongate, cylindrical, tapering, 

rectilinear, uniserial. Proloculum spherical, !about 

20-40 JJ. in diameter, followed by low discoidal overlapping chambers. Number of chambers 6-10, the most 

common count being 8 or 9. 

Septa long with terminal thickenings. Total length for 

adult specimens varies from 300-520 JJ.. For individuals 

of seven chambers, length varies between 370 and 430 

JJ., for individuals of nine chambers, length varies between 450 and 510 JJ.. Diameter of the seventh chamber 

varies between 160 and 230 JJ., diameter of the ninth 

chamber varies between 180 and 250 JJ.. 

Wall double layered with an inner dark microcrYstalline layer and an outer hyaline layer. Wall commonly 

dissolved and replaced by early penecontemporaneous 

cement. Owing to recrystallization, leaching, and early 

cementation, original thickness of the wall is difficult 

to assess. Bykova ( 1952) reports 13-18 JJ., Toomey 

( 1970) somewhat more. Our specimens are cl0ser to 

Bykova's estimate. Early cementation in our material 

produces a "three-layered wall" (see pl. 3, fig. 6). 

Diameter of the aperture 30-50 JJ.. Number of secondary septa in our material 8-12; Bykova reports 8-11; 

Toomey, 8-12. 

Stratigraphic range and distribution.-Frasnian. 

Eurasia, Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia. 
A LATE DEVONIAN (FRASNIAN) MICROBIOTA FROM THE FAREWELL-LYMAN HILLS AREA, ALASKA A9 

Figured specimens.- USNM 30517 4, 30517 5 (part), 

305187, and 305188. 

Multiseptida farewelli Mamet, new species 

Plate 2, figure 23; plate 3, figures 1-4, 7-11; plate 4, figures 1-19 

Diagnosis.-Test free, elongate, cylindrical, tapering. 

Nine to 11 cylindrical chambers. Exceptionally large 

specimens have 12 chambers. Proloculum oval to 

round, fragile, usually crushed, around 100-140 J1 in 

diameter. Chambers low, discoidal, strongly overlapping, with deep suture. Diameter of chambers increase 

progressively: 

Chamber Range(J.I) Average (J.I) Height progression ( J.l) 

------------------ 160-240 200 25-51 

2------------------- 180-270 235 32-58 

3------------------- 195-300 255 41-66 

4------------------- 230-340 280 42-68 

5------------------- 255-380 320 48-72 

6------------------- 300-410 375 58-88 

7------------------- 320-480 400 60-91 

8------------------- 390-520 430 68-103 

9------------------- 425-530 450 90-105 

10 ------------------ 460-550 500 95-120 

11 ------------------ 550-560 560 102-123 

12 ------------------ 570-600 575 102-130 

Range of total length for adult specimens: 9 chambers, 560-720 JJ.; 10 chambers, 580-810 JJ.; 11 chambers, 680·-830 J..l.. 

Wall double layered with inner dark microcrystalline 

layer and an outer yellowish layer, typically dissolved. 

Penecontemporaneous cement and recrystallization 

. obscure the original ultrastructure making the actual 

wall thickness difficult to assess. Micritic layer about 

15 J..1. thick, commonly reduced to 10 J..1. or less by leaching. Septa have septal thickenings. 

The number of secondary partitions increases with 

the number of chambers as follows: 

Chamber Average number of partitions 

3 ---------------- 23 

4 ---------------- 24 

5 ---------------- 25 

6 ---------------- 29 

7 ---------------- 30 

8 ---------------- 35 

9 ---------------- 36 

10 ---------------- 38 

11 ---------------- 40 

The apertural size increases progressively and is proportional to its diameter. 

Comparison.-Specimens of Multiseptida {arewelli are 

readily distinguishable from those of M. corallina by 

having larger tests with more chambers and by having 

more secondary partitions in its chambers than those 

of coral/ina. The secondary partitions of farewelli appear to be remarkably similar to those of 

Pseudotaxidae from the Visean. For comparison, the 

secondary chamberlets of Valuulinella youngi, a Visean 

Pseudotaxidae, are shown on plate 4, figure 20. 

Stratigraphic range and distribution.-Frasnian. Apparently endemic to Alaska. 

Figured specimens.-USNM 305176-USNM 305186; 

305189-305207; and 305175 (part). 

REFERENCES CITED 

Bogush, 0. L, and Yuferev, 0. V., 1962, Foraminifers and strati· 

graphy of the Carboniferous deposits in the Kara-Tau and Tallas 

Ala-Tau: Akademiya Nauk SSSR Sibirskoye Otdeleniye, Trudy 

Institut Geologii i Geofiziki, p. 1-234, 9 pls. [in Russian]. 

Brooks, A. H., 1911, The Mount McKinley region, Alaska: U.S. 

Geological Survey Professional Paper 70, 234 p. 

Bykova, E. V., 1952, Devonian foraminifers of the Russian Platform 

and Cis· Urals: Trudy Vsesoyuznogo Neftyanogo Nauchno· 

Issledovatel'skogo Geologo·Razvedochnogo Institut (VNIGRI 

Trudy 60), Mikrofauna SSSR, Sbornik 5, p. 5-64, 14 pls. [in 

Russian]. 

Bykova, E. V., and Polenova, E. L, 1955, On the Foraminifera, 

Radiolaria, and Ostracoda in the Devonian period of the VolgaUral region: Trudy Vsesoyuznogo Neftyanogo Nauchno· 

Issledovatel'skogo Geologo· Razvedochnogo Institut ( VNIGRI 

Trudy 87), Mikrofauna SSSR, Sbornik 6, p. 1-141, 24 pls. [in 

Russian]. 

Cady, W. M., Wallace, R. E., Jr., Hoare, J. M., and Webber, E. J., 

1955, The central Kuskokwim region, Alaska: U.S. Geological 

Survey Professional Paper 268, 132 p. 

Churkin, Michael, Jr., 1973, Paleozoic and Precambrian rocks of 

Alaska and their role in its structural evolution: U.S. Geological 

Survey Professional Paper 740, 64 p. 

Churkin, Michael, Jr., Reed B. L., Carter, Claire, and Winkler, G. R., 

1977, Lower Paleozoic graptolitic section from the Terra Cotta 

Mountains, southern Alaska Range: U.S. Geological Survey Cir· 

cular 751-B, 37 p. 

Chuvashov, B. 1., 1963, Contribution to the ecology of Late Frasnian 

Foraminifers and Algae: Akademiya Nauk SSSR Paleontologicheskiy Zhurnal, no. 3, p. 3-9. [in Russian]. 

_ 1965, Foraminifers and Algae from the Upper Devonian sediments in the western slope of the central and southern Urals: 

Akademiya Nauk SSSR Ural'skiy Filial, Institut Geologicheskiy 

Trudy 74, p. 3-153, 29 pls. [in Russian]. 

Fernald, A. T., 1960, Geomorphology of the upper Kuskowim region, 

Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1071-G, p. G 191-G279. 

Grantz, Arthur, 1966, Strike-slip faults in Alaska: U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 66-53, 82 p. 

Kettenbrink, E, C., and Toomey, D. F., 1975, Distribution and 

paleoecological implications of calcareous foraminifers in the 

Devonian Cedar Valley Formation of Iowa: Journal of Foraminif· 

eral Research, v. 5, no. 3, p. 176-187. 

Lipina, 0. A., 1950, Upper Devonian foraminifers of the Russian 

Platform: Akademiya Nauk SSSR Geologicheskiy Institut Trudy 

119, no. 43, p. 110-133, 3 pls. [in Russian]. 

Loeblich, A. R., Jr., and Tappan, Helen, 1964, Protista, Pt. C., in 

Moore, R. C., ed., Treatise on invertebrate paleontology: New 

York, Geological Society of America and University of Kansas 

Press, v. 1, p. C1-510. 

Manukalova-Grebeniuk, M. F., 1974, Upper Devonian Foraminifera 

from the Dnepr·Donets amd Pripyat Basins: Moscow, NEDRA, p. 

1-63, 15 pis. [in Russian]. 
AlO CONTRffiUTIONS TO PALEONTOLOGY 

Miller,- A. K., and Carmer, A.M., 1933, Devonian Foraminifera from 

Iowa: Journal ofPaleontology, v. 7, no. 4, p. 423-431. 

Neumann, M., Pozaryska, K., and Vachard, D., 1975, Remarques sur 

les microfacies du Devonien de Lublin (Pologne): Revue Micropaleontologie, v. 18, no. 1, p. 38-52, 3 pls. 

Oliver, W. A., Jr., Merriam, C. W., and Churkin, Michael, Jr., 1975, 

Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian corals of Alaska: U.S. Geo· 

logical Survey Professional Paper 823-B, p. B13-B44, 

Plafker, George, Hudson, Travis, and Richter, D. H., 1977, Prelimi· 

nary observations on late Cenozoic displacements along the 

Totschunda and Denali fault systems, in Blean, K. M., ed., The 

United States Geological Survey in Alaska-Accomplishments 

during 1976: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 751-B, p. 

B67-B69. 

Pokorny, VI., 1963, Principles of zoological micropaleontology: New 

York, Macmillan, v. 1, p. 1-625. [English translation] 

Rauzer·Chernoussova, D. M., and Fursenko, A. V., 1959, Protozoa, 

Pt. 1, in Orlov, Yu., ed., Principles of Paleontology: Akademiya 

Nauk SSSR, p. 1-368, 13 pls. 

Reed, B. L., and Nelson, S. W., 1977, Geologic map of the Talkeetna 

quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field 

Studies Map MF-870-A, scale 1:250,000. 

Reidinger, E. A., 1954, Devonian Foraminifera from some sections of 

the eastern part of the Russian Platform: Trudy Vsesoyuznyy 

Nauchno-Issledovatel'skiy Geologorazvedochnyy Neftyanoy Institut (VNIGRI), Paleontologicheskiy Sbornik, no. 1, p. 52-81, 8 

pls. [in Russian] 

Sainsbury, C. L., 1965, Previously undescribed Middle(?)· ,Ordovician, Devonian(?), and Cretaceous(?) rocks, White Mountain 

area, near McGrath, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional 

Paper 525-C, p. C91-C95. 

Spurr, J. E., 1900, A reconnaissance in southwestern Alaska in 1898: 

U.S. Geological Survey 20th Annual Report, pt. 7, p. 31-264. 

Toomey, D. F., 1965, Upper Devonian (Frasnian) Foraminifera from 

Redwater and South Sturgeon Lake Reefs, Alberta: Bulletin of 

Canadian Petroleum Geology, v. 13, p. 252-270. 

__ 1972, Distribution and palaeoecology of Upper Devonian (Frasnian) Algae and Foraminifera from selected areas in western 

Canada and the northern United States: International Geological 

Congress, 24th, Montreal, sec. 7, Paleontology, p. 621-630. 

Toomey, D. F., and Mamet, B. L., 1979, Devonian Protozoa, in The 

Devonian System: Palaeontological Association Special Papers in 

Palaeontology 23, p. 189-192. 

Toomey, D. F., Mountjoy, E. W., and MacKenzie, W. S., 1970,, Upper 

Devonian (Frasnian) Algae and Foraminifera from the Ancient 

Wall carbonate complex, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada: 

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 7, no. 3, p. 946-981, 3 

pls. 
A 

Age, samples, 3 

akkusica, Multiseptida, 8 

Alaska Range, 1, 2 

Paleozoic clastic sequence, 2 

Algae, 3, 5 

blue-green, 5 

dasycladacean, 5 

red, 5 

Algal, boundstone, 3, 4 

microflora, 5 

packstone, 3 

·wackestone, 3, 4 

Alveolites sp., 5 

American Cordillera, 5 

Ancient wall carbonate complex, 5 

Armstrong, A. K., cited, 1 

Auroria sp., 3, 4 

B 

Bafflestone, fossiliferous, 3, 4, 5 

Basalt, 3 

Bisphaera sp., 3, 4 

Bisphaera I Semitexularia!Parathuramminidae, 5 

Bivalves, 3, 5 

Blue-green algae, 5 

Bogush, 0. 1., cited, 8 

Boundstone, fossiliferous, 3, 4 

Brachiopods, 3, 5 

Brooks, A. H., cited, 1 

Bykova, E. V., cited, 5, 6, 7, 8 

quoted, 6, 7 

Cady, W. M., cited, 1 

Calcisphaera sp., 3, 4 

Calcisphaeridae, 5 

Calcispheres, 5 

Carbonate microfacies, 5 

c 

Cedar Valley Limestone, Iowa, 5 

Charophyte, 5 

Cheeneetnuk River, 1, 3, 5 

Churkin, Michael, Jr., cited, 1, 2, 3 

Chuvashov, B. I., cited, 5, 7, 8 

Cladopora sp., 5 

Colaniella, 8 

Collaniellidae, 8 

corallina, Multiseptida, 4, 8, 9; pis. 2, 3 

secondary partitions, Multiseptida, 9 

Corals, 3, 5 

Devonian, 5 

tabulate, 5 

Cordillera, American, 5 

Correlations, Frasnian microbiota, 5 

D 

Dasycladacean algae, 5 

Denali fault system, 2 

devexis, Frondilina, 6, 7 

Distribution, Frondilina sororis, 7 

Multiseptida, 8 

corallina, 8 

farewelli, 9 

Dutro, J. T., Jr., cited, 1 

INDEX 

[Italic page numbers indicate major references] 

Earlandia sp., 3, 4 

Eogeimtzina, 5, 7 

sp., 3, 4 

Eonodosaria, 4, 5, 7 

evlanensis, 4 

sp., 3, 4 

E 

Eonodosaria! Evlania assemblage, 5 

Eurasia, correlations of Frasnian micro biota, 5 

evlanensis, Eonodosaria, 4 

Evlania sp., 3, 4 

Farewell, Alaska, 1, 2, 3 

Farewell fault, 1, 2, 3 

F 

farewelli, Multzseptida, 1, 4, 8, 9; pis. 2, 3, 4 

Favosites sp., 5 

Fernald, A. T., cited, 1 

Foraminiferal assemblages, Alaska, 1, 3, 4, 5 

Canada, 5 

Frasnian, 5 

Russian, 5 

United States, 5 

Foraminiferida, 6 

Foraminifers, 5 

Frondilina, 1, 5, 6 

Alaskan specimens, 6 

Bykova's original diagnosis, 6, 7 

devexis, 6, 7 

distribution, 7 

emended diagnosis, 7 

sororis, 3, 4, 6, 7; pis. 1, 2 

Alaskan specimens, 7 

Russian specimens, 7 

stratigraphic ranges, 7 

symmetry, 6, 7 

three-layered sutures, 7 

uniserial character, 6, 7 

wall structure, 7 

Gemuk Group, 2 

Geologic setting, 1 

Girvanella, 5 

staminea, 4 

sp., 3, 4 

G 

Girvanellal Eonodosaria! Nanicella assemblage, 5 

glomerulatum, Sociophyllum, 5 

Grainstone, fossiliferous, 3, 4 

Grypophyllum sp., 5 

Gypidula sp., 3, 5 

Heliolites sp., 5 

Holitna Group, 2 

Hudson, Travis, cited, 3 

Indospirifer sp., 3, 5 

Introduction, 1 

Irregularina sp., 4 

/ssinella, 5 

bafflestone, 3, 4, 5 

sp., 3, 4 

H, I 

J,K 

Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, 5 

Kamaena, 3, 5 

sp., 4 

Kamaeniids, 5 

Kuskokwim Group, 2 

Kuskokwim Lowland, 1 

L 

Lagenidae, 7, 8 

Lagenidae/Collaniellinae, Chuvashov, 8 

Lagenidae/Lageninae, Chuvashov, 7 

Leduc Formation, Alberta, 5 

Lime Creek Shale, Iowa, 5 

Limestone, Devonian, 1, 3 

Lipina, 0. A., cited, 5 

Loeblich, A. R., Jr., cited, 6, 7, 8 

Lunucammina, 6 

Lyman Hills, 1, 2, 3, 5 

Paleozoic rocks, 2 

Permian clastic rocks, 2 

M 

Mamet, Bernard, cited, 1 

Manukalova-Grebeniuk, M. F., cited, 5 

M_cGrath quadrangle, 1 

M.egafauna, 3, 5 

Megafossils, 1 

Micropiota, 1, 3 

Alaskan, 1, 5 

Frasnian, 5 

correlations, 5 

North A.merican, 5 

Russian, 5 

samples, 1·. 

Microfacies, 3 

Microfauna, Devonian, 3 

Microflora, algal, 5 

Microfossils, distribution, 4 

Mount Hawk Limestone, British Columbia, 5 

Multiseptzda, 1, 5, 7, 8, 

akkusica, 8 

corallina, 4, 8, 9; pis. 2, 3 

distribution, 8 

secondary partitions, 9 

stratigraphic range, 8 

distribution, 8 

{arewelli, 1, 4, 8, 9; pis. 2, 3, 4 

chamber size, 9 

distribution, 9 

secondary partitions, 8, 9 

stratigraphic range, 9 

stratigraphic range, 8 

sp., 4 

Multiseptidids, 5 

N 

Nanicella, 5 

sp., 4 

N anicellids, 5 

Neostringophyllum sp., 5 

Nodosariidae, 8 

Nodosinellidae/Nodosinellinae, Loeblich and 

Tappan,7 

North America, correlations of Frasnian 

microbiota, 5 

All 
A12 

p 

Packstone, fossiliferous, 3, 4 

Pachyfavosites sp., 5 

Palaeobereselleae, 4, 8 

Paleozoic bedrock, Kuskokwim area, 1 

Paleozoic clastic sequence, Alaska Range;·2 

Paleozoic rocks, Lyman Hills, 2 

Parathurammina sp., 4 

Parathuramminids, 5 

Paratikhinella, 5 

sp., 4 

Paratikhinellids, 5 

Permian clastic rocks, Lyman Hills, 2 

Plafker, George, cited, 1, 3 

Pokorny, VI, cited, 8 

Polenova, E. 1., cited, 5 

Protozoa, 6 

Pseudoglomospira sp., 4 

.Pseudosolenopora, 5 

sp., 4 

Pseudotaxidae, 9 

Pseudotaxis, 8 

Red algae, 5 

Reed, B. L., cited, 2 

References cited, 9 

Reitlinger, E. A., cited, 5 

Russian platform, 6 

R 

INDEX 

Sainsbury, C. L., cited, 1 

Samples, age, 3 

location, 1 

microbiota, 1 

s 

Secondary partitions, number, 9 

occurrence, 8 

Semitextularia, 5 

sp., 4 

Siphonophrenitis sp., 5 

Sociophyllum glomerulatum, 5 

sp., 5 

sororis, Frondilina, 3, 4, 6, 7; pis. 1, 2 

Southesk Formation, 5 

Sphaerocodium, 5 

Sphaeroporella, 5 

Spurr, J. E., cited, 1 

staminea, Girvanella, 4 

Stratigraphic range, Frondilina sororis, 7 

Multiseptida, 8 

corallina, 8 

farewelli, 9 

Stromatoporoids, 3, 5 

Sutures, three layered, 7 

Syringopora sp., 5 

Systematic paleontology, 6 

T 

Tabulate corals, 5 

Talkeetna quadrangle, 1 

Tappan, Helen, cited, 6, 7, 8 

Thamnopora, 5 

sp., 3, 5 

Tikhinella, 5 

sp., 4 

Tikhinellal Eonodosaria! Multiseptida microfauna, 5 

Tikhinellids, 5 

Toomey, D. F., cited, 5, 8 

Umbellina, 5 

sp., 4 

Umbellinids, 5 

U,V 

Ural Mountains, Russia, 6 

Uslonia sp., 4 

Valvulinella, 8, 9 

secondary chamberlets, 9; pl. 4 

youngi, 9; pl. 4 

Vermiporella, 5 

W,Y 

Wackestone, fossiliferous, 3, 4 

White Mountain, 2 

White Mountain quicksilver mine, 1, 2 

youngi, Valvulinella, 9; pl. 4 

Yuferev, 0. V., cited, 8 
PlATES 1-4 

[Contact photographs of the plates in this report are available, at cost, from the U.S. Geological 

Survey Photographic Library, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225] 
PLATE 1 

FIGURES 1-18. FrondilinasororisBykova 1952, (p. 7). 

All samples from Frasnian, Farewell-Lyman Hills area. See table 1 for loca· 

tions. Thin sections from a given sample are designated by a letter following 

sample number. 

1. Central longitudinal section through aperture (x 90). USNM 305135, 

76APr156A ( 10), Univ. Montreal458/29. 

2. Longitudinal section, slightly off-centered, showing sutures of triradiate 

chambers ( x 58). USNM 305136, 76APr156A ( 10), Univ. Montreal 

402/1. 

3. Centered longitudinal section showing proloculum ( x 90). USNM 

305137, 76APr156A (8), Univ. Montreal458/22. 

4. Longitudinal section along suture of series of triradiate chambers, giving 

illusion that they are coplanar (x 73). USNM 305138, 76APr156A 

(10), Univ. Montreal458/32. 

5. Section as in figure 2 (x 90). USNM 305139, 76APr156A (3), Univ. 

Montreal 457/23. 

6. Section as in figure 5 ( x 90). USNM 305140, 76APr156A (8), Univ. 

Montreal 458/23. 

7. 0 blique section along tip of front row of chamber, then through aperture 

(x 90). USNM 305141, 76APr156A ( 11), Univ. Montreal458/16. 

8. Section similar to figure 3, showing arcuate, overlapping chambers ( x 

90). USNM 305142, 76APr156A ( 10), Univ. Montreal458/26. 

9. Section as in figure 5 ( x 90). USNM 305143, 76APr243D ( 1), Univ. 

Montreal456/14. 

10. Section similar to figure 7 (x 90). USNM 305144, 76APr243D, Univ. 

Montreal456/15. 

11. Section similar to figure 7 (x 90). USNM 305145, 76APr156D (2), Univ. 

Montreal459 /18. 

12. Longitudinal oblique section passing along axis of one "row" of chambers 

and through tip of underlying "row" (x 90). USNM 305146, 

76APr156A (3), Univ. Montreal457 /26. 

13. Longitudinal section passing through axis of one "row" of chambers and 

showing other "row" at 120° (x 90). USNM 305147, 76APr156D (2), 

Univ. Montreal459 /17. 

14. Section similar to figures 6 and 13 ( x 90). USNM 305148, 76APr156A 

(4), Univ. Montreal457 /30. 

15. Section similar to figure 13 (x 90). USNM 305149, 76APr243D (13), 

Univ. Montreal457 /13. 

16. Section similar to figure 13 ( x 90). USNM 305150, 76APr243D ( 11), 

Univ. Montreal457 /8. 

17. Oblique longitudinal section, centered along apertures between two 

series of front "rows," and through tips of underlying "row" of cham· 

bers (x 90). USNM 305151, 76APr156A, Univ. Montreal401136. 

18. Section similar to figure 17 ( x -90). USNM 305152, 76APr156A ( 10), 

Univ. Montreal458/27. 
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1216-A. PLATE 1 

13 14 15 17 18 

FRONDILINA SORORIS BYKOVA 
PLATE 2 

FIGURES 1-21. Frondilina sororis Bykova 1952, ( p. 7). 

All samples from Frasnian, Farewell-Lyman Hills area. See table 1 for locations. Thin sections from a given sample are designated by a letter following 

sample number. 

1. Highly oblique, nearly axial section, through two rows at 120°, and along 

top of chambers of third "row" (x 90). USNM 305153, 76APr243D 

(1), Univ. Montreal456/11. 

2. "Random" oblique section (x 90). USNM 305154, 76APr243D (2), Univ. 

Montreal456/16. 

3. Oblique high section along tips of two divergent "rows" (x 90). USNM 

305155, 76APr243D (2), Univ. Montreal456/17 .. 

4. Section as in figure 3 (x 90). USNM 305156, 76APr243D (2), Univ. 

Montreal456/18. 

5. "Random" oblique section (x 90). USNM 305157, 76APr243D (3), Univ. 

Montreal 456/20. 

6. Nearly perfect axial section, with ends of overlying chambers ( x 73). 

USNM 305158, 76APr243D, Univ. Montreal402/19. 

7. "Random" axial oblique section (x 90). USNM 305159, 76APr243D (7), 

Univ. Montreal 456/36. 

8. Section as in figure 7 (x 90). USNM 305160, 76APr243D (7), Univ. 

Montreal456/34. 

9. Section as in figure 7 (x 90). USNM 305161, 76APr243D, Univ. 

Montreal402/22. 

10. Slightly oblique axial section (x 90). USNM 305162, 76APr156A (6), 

Univ. Montreal458/6. 

11. Section similar to figure 10 (x 90). USNM 305163, 76APr156A (11), 

Univ. Montreal45917. 

12. Perfect axial section showing chamber divisions at 120°, wide aperture, 

and circular shape of tip of overlying chambers ( x 90). USNM 305164, 

76APr243D (5), Univ. Montreal456/28. 

13. Section similar to figure 12 (x 90). USNM 305165, 76APr156A (4), 

Univ. Montreal457/34. 

14. Section similar to figure 12 ( x 90). USNM 305166, 76APr243D ( 5), 

Univ. Montreal456/39. 

15. Section similar to figure 12 ( x 90). USNM 305167, 76APr156D ( 4), 

Univ. Montreal 459/22. 

16. Section similar to figure 12 ( x 90). USNM 305168, 76APr243D ( 13), 

Univ. Montreal457/10. 

17. Section similar to figure 12 (x 90). USNM 305169, 76APr243D (5), 

Univ. Montreal456/32. 

18. Longitudinal very high section along end of one "row" of chambers (x 

90). USNM 305170, 76APr156D (2), Univ. Montreal459/20 

19. Section similar to figure 18 (x 90). USNM 305171, 76APr156D (5), 

Univ. Montreal 459125. 

20. Section similar to figure 18 ( x 90). USNM 305172, 76APr156A ( 10), 

Univ. Montreal458/31. 

21. Section similar to figure 18 ( x 73). USNM 305173, 76APr156A ( 10), 

Univ. Montreal458/34. 

22-23. Multiseptida corallina Bykova 1952 and Multiseptida {arewelli n. sp. ( p. 8 ,9) 

22. Pelletoidal grainstone containing three Multiseptida corallina Bykova, 

1952 (x 58). USNM 305174, 76APr235 (2), Univ. Montreal402/11. 

23. Fossiliferous wackestone containing echinoderm debris, Multiseptida 

corallina Bykova, 1952, andMultiseptida farewelli n. sp. (x 23). Locality as in figure 1. USNM 305175, 76APr156A ( 3), Univ. Montreal 

457/27. 
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1216--A. PLATE 2 

16 17 

22 18 19 20 21 23 

FRONDILINA SORORIS BYKOVA 
PLATE 3 

FIGURES 1-4, 7-13. Multiseptida farewelli Mamet, n. sp., ( p. 9). 

All samples from Frasnian, Farewell-Lyman Hills area. See table 1 for locations. 

1. Centered longitudinal section along apertures; first cham hers crushed ( x 

90). USNM 305176, 76APr156A ( 10), Univ. Montreal458/35. 

2. Longitudinal section, passing through proloculum. Type of new species 

( x 90). USNM 305177, 76APr156D (8), Univ. Montreal457 /29. 

3. Section comparable to figure 2 (x 90). USNM 305178, 76APr156D (7), 

Univ. Montreal 459/28. 

4. Slightly off-centered, longitudinal section showing secondary partitions 

( x 90). USNM 305179, 76APr156A ( 10), Univ. Montreal458/35. 

7. Slightly oblique longitudinal section, off-centered at proloculum and 

within apertures at last chambers (x 90). USNM 305180, 76APr156A 

( 3), Univ. Montreal 457/24. 

8. Oblique section showing strong lateral slant of secondary partitions ( x 

90). USNM 305181, 76APr156A (7), Univ. Montreal458/15. 

9. Slightly oblique longitudinal section ( x 90). USNM 305182, 76APr156A 

( 10), Univ. Montreal459/16. 

10. High, off-centered, longitudinal section ( x 73). USNM 305183, 

76APr156A (7), Univ. Montreal458/16. 

11. High, off-centered, slightly oblique longitudinal section ( x 90). USNM 

305184, 76APr156A (8), Univ. Montreal458/21. 

12. Oblique section (x 90). USNM 305185, 76APr156A (2), Univ. Montreal 

459/26. 

13. High, epidermic section, showing irregular secondary partitions ( x 90). 

USNM 305186, 76APr156 (6), Univ. Montreal459/26. 

5-6. Multiseptida corallinaBykova, 1952, (p. 8). 

5. Centered longitudinal section along apertures (x 90). USNM 305187, 

76APr235 (2), Univ. Montreal402/12. 

6. Oblique high section showing heavy secondary partitions ( x 90). USNM 

305188, 76APr156A (3), Univ. Montreal457 /25. 
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1216-A, PlATE 3 

2 

4 

5 

7 

9 

6 

10 11 12 13 

MULTISEPTIDA FAREWEll/ MAMET, N. SP. AND MULTISEPTIDA CORAUINA BYKOVA 
PLATE 4 

FIGURES 1-19. Multiseptida(arewelliMamet, n. sp., (p. 9). 

All samples from Frasnian, Farewell-Lyman Hills area. See table 1 for locations. 

1. Slightly oblique longitudinal section, passing through proloculum, apertures, and chamberlets (x 90). USNM 305189, 76APr156A (6), Univ. 

Montreal 458 /7. 

2. Oblique section through apertures and chamberlets but missing proloculum. Picture inverted to simulate V alvulinella ( x 90). USNM 

305190, 76APr243D ( 3), Univ. Montreal456/2. 

3. Highly oblique off-centered section showing primary and secondary incomplete partitions. Picture inverted to simulate Valvulinella ( x 90). 

USNM 305191, 76APr243 (6), Univ. Montreal456/33. 

4. Section similar to that in figure 1, but slightly off-center ( x 90). USNM 

305192, 76APr156A ( 3), Univ. Montreal 457/21. 

5. Perfectly centered longitudinal section showing septal thickenings and 

crushed, collapsed proloculum ( x 90). USNM 305193, 76APr156A ( 4), 

Univ. Montreal457 /1. 

6. Section similar to that in figure 1 ( x 90). USNM 305194, 76APr156A, 

Univ. Montreal401138. 

7. Centered axial section of eighth chamber, showing ribbing of overlying 

ninth chamber (x 90). USNM 305195, 76APr156A (7), Univ. Montreal 

458/14. 

8. Slightly oblique axial section of third and overlying fourth chamber. 

Note slight ribbing produced by secondary partitions ( x 90). USNM 

305196, 76APr156A, Univ. Montreal458112. 

9. Slightly oblique axial section of fifth and overlying sixth chamber ( x 

90). USNM 305197, 76APr156A ( 1), Univ. Montreal457 /17. 

10. Perfectly centered axial section of fourth and overlying fifth chamber ( x 

90). USNM 305198, 76APr156A ( 11), Univ. Montreal459/6. 

11. Centered axial section of tenth chamber (x 90). USNM 305199, 

76APr156A, Univ. Montreal 401/37. 

12. Slightly oblique axial section of tenth and eleventh chamber ( x 90). 

USNM 305200, 76APr156A ( 11), Univ. Montreal459/3. 

13. Slightly oblique axial section of fifth and sixth chamber ( x 90). USNM 

305201, 76APr156A (7), Univ. Montreal458/13. 

14. Oblique axial section of fifth, sixth, and seventh chambers ( x 90). 

USNM 305202, 76APr156A (3), Univ. Montreal457 /19. 

15. Slightly oblique axial section of fifth and sixth chamber ( x 90). USNM 

305203, 76APr156A ( 3), Univ. Montreal457 /20. 

16. Slightly oblique axial section of sixth and seventh chamber. Note external ribs (x 90). USNM 305204, 76APr156D (2), Univ. Montreal 

459119. 

17. Centered axial section of eleventh chamber ( x 90). USNM 305205, 

76APr156A (8), Univ. Montreal458 /24. 

18. Slightly oblique axial section of seventh and eighth chamber ( x 90). 

USNM 305206, 76APr156A (5), Univ. Montreal457 /36. 

19. Centered axial section of ninth chamber ( x 90). USNM 305207, 

76APr156A (5), Univ. Montreal457 /37. 

20. Valuulinellayoungi (Brady), 1876, (p. 9). 

Dagirsacik Plateau near Ankara, Turkey. Late Middle to Early Late Visean. 

Sample of Professor S. Erk. Axial section showing secondary chamberlets. 

( x 58). Compare with figures 8, 11, and 17. Univ. Montreal454/1. 
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1216-A, PLATE 4 

17 18 19 20 

MULTISEPTIDA FAREWEUI MAMET, N. SP. AND VALVULINELLA YOUNG/ (BRADY) 
GPO 587..,04!/36 
~TMICROBIOTA'"'FROM THE FAllE'WE:tr;.tYMl\N HILI:S ARM WEST -CENTRAL AlASKA- Geological Su