Olenekian Stage

Olenekian Stage, upper of two divisions of the Lower Triassic Series, representing those rocks deposited worldwide during Olenekian time (251.2 million to 247.2 million years ago) in the Triassic Period. The stage name is derived from the Olenyok, or Olenek, River of Siberia. The stratotype for the Olenekian, which was defined in 1956, is the strata in the lower course of the Olenyok River that rest upon deposits of the Induan Stage and that are overlain by those of the Anisian Stage. The Olenekian Stage is subdivided into two substages, which in ascending order are the Smithian and Spathian. Olenekian marine strata are correlated worldwide by five ammonoid cephalopod biozones, four of which have designated type localities in North America. These zones cannot be used for nonmarine rocks, however. The Olenekian Stage underlies the Anisian Stage of the Middle Triassic Series and overlies the Induan Stage of the Lower Triassic Series.