The ichnogenus Psammichnites in the Cambrian of the Zanskar region: biostratigraphic significance in the correlation of Tethyan Himalaya Cambrian sections, India

The Kunzam La Formation (Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4 to Wuliuan, Miaolingian) in the Zanskar region of the Tethyan Himalaya preserves Psammichnites traces in abundance. Their study in a biostratigraphically well-dated Cambrian section in the Zanskar region resulted in determination of three zones of Psammichnites. Stratigraphically, the Psammichnites gigas circularis zone dominates in the lowermost exposed rocks of the Kunzam La Formation, followed upward by the Psammichnites gigas gigas zone. The latter in the upper part of the Kunzam La Formation (latest Wuliuan, Miaolingian) overlaps with the Psammichnites gigas arcuatus zone. The Psammichnites from the Zanskar and the Spiti regions are critically analysed and the biostratigraphic correlation indicate that Psammichnites gigas circularis zone is restricted to rocks of the Cambrian Series 2, Stage 4 and is therefore useful for correlating the rocks of the same age in the Tethyan Himalayan sections.