New Results of U-Pb SHRIMP Dating of Zircons from Upper Wuchiapingian (Upper Permian) Deposits in Northeastern Russia

The first results are presented for U-Pb SHRIMP-II dating of zircons from the upper part of the Khivachian regional horizon (stage) of the Regional Stratigraphic Scale (RSS) of the Permian in northeastern Russia. The obtained isotope age of 255 +/- 2 Ma is close to that of the present boundary between the Wuchiapingian and Changhsingian stages of the Permian system in the International Stratigraphic Scale (254.1 Ma). Based on the distribution of bivalves-Intomodesma spp. and Claraioides aff. primitivus (Yin)-in the sections considered, their relations to the stratigraphic positions of the samples considered and dated formerly, and in view of the interregional correlation of recent delta C-13(org) data for clayey rocks, one may assume with certainty that most of the regional zone of Intomodesma costatum corresponds to the upper part of the Wuchiapingian stage. Here, the Changhsingian stage in northeastern Asia complies only with the uppermost part of this zone within the I. postevenicum subzone and, partially, of Otoceras layers within the Otoceras concavum zone.