Chitinozoans from the middle Rhuddanian (lower Llandovery, Silurian) ‘hot’ shale in the E1-NC174 core, Murzuq Basin, SW Libya

Chitinozoans recovered from the E1-NC174 core, south-west Libya, are described. On the basis of key biostratigraphical taxa, including Belonechitina postrobusta, Belonechitina pseudarabiensis, Plectochitina pseudoagglutinans, Angochitina seurati and Sphaerochitina palestinaense, the entire core is suggested to be of Rhuddanian age, with the ‘hot’ shale constrained to the upper part of the range of Belonechitina postrobusta. The age of this ‘hot’ shale, and the significant decline of chitinozoan abundance within it, shows strong similarity with the middle Rhuddanian ‘hot’ shale occurring in the BG-14 core of southern Jordan. In total, nineteen different taxa are described from fifty samples, adding valuable data to the chitinozoan record for lower Silurian strata in northern Gondwana.

► Fifty samples from the E1-NC174 core, Murzuq Basin, Libya, were processed. ► 6655 chitinozoans were analysed, with abundances up to c. 4000 per gram recorded. ► The whole core is suggested to be of Rhuddanian (lower Llandovery, Silurian) age. ► The organic-rich ‘hot’ shale within the core is constrained to the mid Rhuddanian. ► The importance and value of high-resolution biostratigraphy are demonstrated.