Biostratigraphy of the Bilk Limestone (Permian), Northwestern Nevada

The Bilk Limestone (new manuscript name) described in this report is a carbonate sequence located in the Bilk Creek Mountains at the southernmost end of the Kings River Range (fig. 1), about 30 miles south of the town Denio in north-central Humboldt County, Nevada. This study investigates the biostratigraphy and general paleoecology of about 2900 feet of limestone of early to middle Permian (middle Wolfcampian to middle Leonardian) age. The limestone is interbedded with nodular chert and is considerably altered by faulting and fracturing with associated epigenetic dolomitization. The fossil content is varied, and in this report stress is placed on fusulinid identification and their use as age indicators. They, as well as the carbonate patrology, yield important information for studying the paleoenvironment. The fossil content and lithology are notably distinct from any previously described carbonate of similar age in other areas.