Discussion. Brachiopod zonation and age of the Permian Kapp Starostin Formation (Central Spitsbergen)

The following discussion will concentrate on the stratigraphical implications of the brachiopod zonation proposed by Nakamura et al. (1987). No such brachiopod zonation can be recognised in Greenland where in contrast diagnostic species of the upper zones in the Kapp Starostin Formation co-occur throughout the entire section. It is therefore concluded that the correlations proposed by Nakamura et al. (1987) are not valid. At best the overall similarities of the East Greenland and Svalbard faunas may indicate a Kazanian- early Tatarian age for the upper part of the Kapp Starostin Formation.