Conodont biostratigraphy of the Java Formation (Upper Devonian) and the Frasnian-Famennian boundary in western New York State

Conodonts from black shale beds and carbonate intervals in the Java Formation (Pipe Creek Shale, Hanover Shale, and Wiscoy Sandstone) of the West Falls Group enable recognition of global event horizons: Lower Kellwasser interval, Upper Kellwasser interval, and the Frasnian-Famennian boundary. Palmatolepis winchelli, P. aff. P. hassi, and Polygnathus samueli indicate the Pipe Creek Member is in MN Zone 12 and equivalent to the lower Kellwasser interval in Europe. The lower and middle Hanover Shale contain conodonts indicative of MN Zone 13; the uppermost Hanover contains Famennian conodonts of the Lower and Middle triangularis zones. The Frasnian-Famennian boundary is resolved across western New York in the upper Hanover Shale Member to a discrete horizon within a black shale bed, marked by a cryptic disconformity. This black shale bed is equivalent to the upper Kellwasser interval. The occurrence of Palmatolepis triangularis, P. clarki, P. delicatula delicatula, and P. subperlobata in the basal Dunkirk Shale of the Canadaway Group indicates assignment to the Middle triangularis Zone or younger. Ancyrodella buckeyensis and Palmatolepis subperlobata are viable taxa; Ancyrognathus sp. A is a new species.