Furongian (late Cambrian) brachiopods and associated conodonts from the Takaka Terrane in the Springs Junction-Maruia area, South Island, New Zealand

The Sluice Box Formation, exposed in the Maruia - Lake Daniels - Springs Junction area at the southernmost extension of the Takaka Terrane west of the Alpine Fault in New Zealand's South Island, ranges in age from late Cambrian (early to middle Furongian) to Middle Ordovician (late Darriwilian). Linguliformean brachiopods described from Furongian exposures include Maruia castellum new genus and species, and the new species Mirilingula antipodes and Akmolina? tubulus, associated with Broeggeria sp., Experilingula sp., Notiobolus? sp. and an unnamed new species of Quadrisonia. The linguliformean brachiopods show strong biogeographic affinities to Kazakhstan, specifically the Malyi Karatau region. Conodonts from the lower Sluice Box Formation are assigned to the Furnishina quadrata - Prooneotodus muelleri assemblage, Cordylodus proavus assemblage, and the Juanognathus variabilis - Bergstroemognathus extensus assemblage. These are respectively of early to middle Furongian (Paibian to Jiangshanian) age, basal Datsonian (equivalent to the middle of the unnamed Stage 10 of latest Cambrian age), and early Floian (Early Ordovician) age.