THE USE OF CONODONTS IN SILICEOUS ROCKS IN THE DETERMINATION OF THE AGE OF OPHIOLITES——Some Thoughts on the Investigation of Ophiolites of Kazakhstan

This paper gives a brief introduction to the rock associations, geological settings, extent and direction of 13 ophiolite belts in the Republic cf Kazakhstan. Abundant conodont fossils have been collected from siliceous rocks and jnsper rocks in these ophiolite belts. It has been ascertained that the age of the ophiolites is mostly Cambrian-Middle Ordovician and exceptionally Middle Ordovician-Late Devonian. The above research method and results give us a useful enlightenment. Likewise siliceous rocks and jasper rocks exist in Paleozoic ophiolite belts of China, but the study of conodonts just begins. In the future attention should be paid to this study so as to raise the level of study of the age of ophiolite of China.