ABSTRACT
Four brachiopod assemblages, and one range zone assemblage, were collected in the Permian successions of northern Karakorum. The oldest association, from the Asselian-early Sakmarian Gircha Fm., has been named the Trigonotreta lyonsensis-Punctospirifer afghanus assemblage, and is characterised by low diversity and dominance of spiriferids. The second association, named the Hunzina electa assemblage, was collected in the Sakmarian Lupghar Fm., of the upper Hunza valley, and in the Lashkargaz Fm. of Baroghil and Lashkargaz (Chitral), and is characterized by higher diversity. The third, the Orthotetina convergens-Aldina exilis assemblage, occurs at the top of the Lashkargaz Fm. at Lashkargaz. The fourth assemblage, typified by Waagenoconcha macrotuberculata and Callytharrella sinensis, is from the Lashkargaz Fm. at Lashkargaz and Baroghil, and the Panjshah Fm. of the upper Hunza valley. The last assemblage is characterized by high diversity and abundance, and is dominated by productids. The highest, the Stenocisma armenica – Chapursania tatianae assemblage, occurs in the Panjshah Fm. These faunas are compared to others from Eurasia and Australia, and their paleogeographic distribution is related to Gondwana glaciation.
