Trace Fossils from the Cambrian of Zanskar (Ladakh Himalaya) and their Stratigraphic Significance

The Cambrian sequences exposed in the Kurgiakh Valley of the Zanskar area of Ladakh Himalaya contain a variety of trace fossils as in other Tethyan sequences of Himalayan region. The Ichnogenera identified from this sequence belongs mostly to the traces of trilobite origin, with other traces of arthropod and of unknown origin. These include the Ichnogeneras such as Rusophycus ; Cruziana; Monomorphichnus; Phycodes; Planolites; Skolithos; Meandering trails and trilobite scratch marks. The traces mostly belong to Early Cambrian to early Middle Cambrian in age and occur below the trilobite assemblage; few traces extend above the trilobite-bearing beds. The described species have been collected from the Kurgiakh Formation. The first appearance of species of Phycodes pedum has a special bearing on the identification of the beginning of Cambrian in the sequence. The present report of trace fossils from this Formation is the first report of trace fossils from this area of Ladakh Himalayan region.