Archaeocyathids are an extinct group of animals that lived and thrived in the warm, clear marine waters of the Lower Cambrian. In general shape, they resemble rugose corals, but in skeletal details, numerous differences between these groups exist, i.e. inner and outer walls, central cavities, parieties, etc. are unique to Archaeocyathids. The Archaeocyathids which are the subject of this thesis were collected by Dr. H. Little from the South Fork of the Salmo River, and from north of Colville, Washington. In the Salmo area, they occur in a narrow band of limestone at the base of the Laib group. The Colville collection is from an outcrop of Old Dominion limestone. The identification and description of the species present in these collections are the main considerations of the thesis. Two new species are described, Ethmophyllum lineatus and Syringocnema colvillensis. The former species occurs in the Lower Cambrian limestone of the Laib group, Salmo area; the latter is reported from the Old Dominion limestone of the Colville area. Archaeocyathids may be useful in the correlation of Lower Cambrian formations, providing further accurately located (stratigraphically) collections are made. At present, insufficient stratigraphic data are available to erect Archaeocyathid zones. However, some attempt to correlate the known Archaeocyathid occurrences is made. In correlating the ten known Archaeocyathid occurrences from Washington to the Yukon Territory, it is suggested that the most southerly, Colville, Washington, is stratigraphically lower than the Salmo occurrence, and that the latter is, in turn, stratigraphically lower than the northern localities. These northern occurrences are considered to be late Lower Cambrian. The age assigned to the northern localities is, in general, based on stratigraphic and paleontological evidence other than that afforded by Archaeocyathids. The occurrences of Archaeocyathids in the northern part of the Cordillera are given below with their related lithologic unit where possible: 1) Colville, Washington - Old Dominion limestone 2) Salmo, B.C. - lower part of the Laib group 3) Dogtooth Range, B.C. - Donald formation 4) Quesnel Lake, B.C. - Cariboo series 5) Sinclair Mills, B.C. - 6) Pine Pass, B.C. - Misinchinka schists 7) Aiken Lake, B.C. - upper Wolverine complex 8) McDame Creek, B.C. - Atan group 9) Wolf Lake, Yukon Territory - Lord's group B and c units 10) Quiet Lake, Yukon Territory – It is believed that these occurrences outline the western edge of the geosyncline present in this region in Lower Cambrian time. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Trilobites and other fossils from three measured sections in the Murray Range, Pine Pass map-area, British Columbia, are described and their zonal significance is discussed. Zones represented by fossil assemblages are the Upper Olen-ellus subzone (uppermost Lower Cambrian), the Ogygopsis klotzi and Tonkinella stephensis subzones of the Bathyuriscus-Elrathina zone (upper Middle Cambrian), the upper Conaspis zone and Ptychaspis subzone of the Ptychaspis-Prosaukia zone (Upper Cambrian, Franconian Stage), the Lower or Middle Saukia zone (Trempealeau-an Stage), and Zones A, B and D of the Lower Ordovician (Canadian Series). The lower Middle Cambrian, Dresbachian and lower Franconian zones, and the Lower Ordovician Zone C, appear to be missing. Early Cambrian assemblages show some affinities with faunas of the southern hemisphere (the archaeocyathid genera Sigmocya-thus, Syringocnema and Monocyathus) and eastern Canada and the United States (species of Bonnia, Kootenia, Paedeumias and Eo-ptychoparia). However, these affinities become weaker in Middle Cambrian and later assemblages, and all the present collections are predominantly Cordilleran in character. They are considered representative of the intermediate extracratonic biofacies realm as defined by Lochman-Balk and Wilson (1958). The sections provide a further example of the transition, well-known in other parts of the Canadian Cordillera, from Lower Cambrian argillaceous and arenaceous clastic rocks to more or less argillaceous limestone and dolomite of the Middle Cambrian and later Series. Throughout Cambrian and early Ordovi-cian time the original area represented by the present sections was covered by miogeosynclinal seas which progressively encroached upon the craton. This marine transgression was interrupted at times, and the comparatively local uplift of the Peace River Arch was responsible for extreme reduction in thickness of the Middle and Upper Cambrian portions of the early Palaeozoic section. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Extensive fossil collections from the upper part of the Sandilands and the lowermost Ghost Creek Formations allowed a detailed taxonomic study of the latest Hettangian to earliest Phensbachian ammonoid fauna of the Queen Charlotte Islands. 61 taxa, allocated to 27 genera, are described. Sunrisites senihlevis, Plesechioceras yakounense, Tetraspidoceras pacificum and Tetraspidoceras recognitum are introduced as new species. The vertical distribution of ammonites, documented in measured sections, serves as a basis to distinguish six successive assemblage zones: the Canadensis Zone, "Coromceras" Zone, Arnouldi Zone, Varians Zone, Harbledownense Zone, and Recognitum Zone. Of these only the Canadensis Zone was established earlier, the remaining five are defined here for the first time. This zonation permits high-resolution correlation of the sections. The total thickness of uppermost Hettangian to lowermost Pliensbachian strata in sections on Kunga Island is estimated at 385 m. A comparison of selected zones in different sections shows a subtle thickness increase to the south. The contact of the Sandilands Formation and the overlying Ghost Creek Formation is diachronous, younging gradually to the south. The faunal succession in the Queen Charlotte Islands agrees well with that of the Taseko Lakes area and Nevada, promising regional applicability of the proposed zones. Intercontinental correlation with the northwest European standard zonation is possible at diffrent levels. The Hettangian/Sinemurian boundary is contained within the Canadensis Zone. It is best approximated by the first appearance of Badouxia columbiae and Metophioceras spp. The position of the Recognitum Zone at the Sinemurian/Pliensbachian boundary remains problematic; most evidence on hand points to its Pliensbachian affinities. The ammonite fauna consists of taxa with pandemic, Tethyan, Athabascan, East Pacific, and Pacific distribution. Provincialism was not prominent but existed during the Sinemurian time. The high proportion of Tethyan forms is in accord with the theory suggesting a more southerly original paleolatitude for Wrangellia. The distribution of Tethyan forms can be explained by the early opening of the Hispanic Corridor, proven to be in existence by the Pliensbachian. Alternatively, the pantropic distribution model cannot be ruled out, although the faunal record from the eastern Tethys is inadequate to prove it. Thestrong representation of Athabascan and East Pacific elements renders long-distance longitudinal tectonic dislocation of Wrangellia unlikely. The paleoecology and taphonomy of ammonites, associated macrofauna, and trace fossils is used for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. The general lack of bioturbation, predominance of thin-shelled, presumably pseudo-planktonic bivalves, and the intact preservation of fish and a crinoid specimen indicate prevailing oxygen deficient bottom conditions. Trace fossils provide evidence for periodic improvements of bottom oxygenation. Different modes of ammonite preservation are controlled by shell morphology as well as the varying sedimentation rate and diagenetic regime. The latter reflects changes in redox conditions in the upper sediment layers. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate

Radiolarian biostratigraphy is used to construct an informal zonation for sediments of upper Pliensbachian to lower Bajocian age from the Maude and Yakoun Formations, Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C. Paleoenvironmental studies assess depositional environment and the effects of changing facies relationships on the fauna. Seven distinctive assemblages are recognized comprising 167 species of spumellarian and nassellarian Radiolaria. The first well established middle Toarcian radiolarian assemblages are documented and both these and upper Toarcian assemblages are highly diverse and contain many new and unusual forms. Five genera and 89 new species are described many of which have restricted biostratigraphic ranges. A chlorophyte algal cyst appearing in all lowest Bajocian samples may, with further study, prove to be a significant marker for the lower Bajocian in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Although Toarcian Radiolaria have been little studied, the assemblages compare with others from North America, the Mediterranean and Japan, and are distinctly Tethyan in aspect. This is consistent with the position of Wrangellia, which paleomagnetic and ammonite biogeographic evidence indicates was in the northern hemisphere within 30° of the equator during the Early to Middle Jurassic. Studies of the abundance of spumellarians vs. nassellarians indicate thatnassellarians predominate, are abundant and diverse in deeper-water deposits (middle Toarcian and lower Bajocian shales) whereas spume Marians, particularly those with multi-layered or spongy tests, dominate in shallow-water deposits (upper middle Toarcian to Aalenian sandstones). Shallow-water nassellarians are much less diverse but a few species (all multicyrtids with thickened tests) are very abundant. Depth appears to be the major factor controlling radiolarian distribution patterns in this relatively shallow-water setting. Studies of eustatic sea-level changes throughout the Jurassic have indicated that major phases of sea-level rise occurred in the early to mid Toarcian and in the early Bajocian with a major phase of sea-level lowering in the late Toarcian to Aalenian; detailed study of the radiolarian faunal succession in the Queen Charlotte Islands appears to confirm this major worldwide trend. / Science, Faculty of / Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of / Graduate