A proposal for the subdivision of tertiary time in New Zealand

Carter, R.M.

doi:10.1080/00288306.1970.10423972

Cited by 13 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Similarly, a type fossiliferous bed could define but not fix the boundaries for a stage. With this historical antecedent, and given Hedberg's intentions, it is not surprising that as soon as oppelzones were established it was argued that they were equivalent to, and should replace, the local New Zealand biostratigaphic stages of the day (Carter 1970;. Equally unsurprising, given the deep conservatism of stratigraphers, is that biostratigraphic stage usage continued in New Zealand in defiance of the then new ISSC definition of stages as strictly chronostratigraphic units, and the provision of the oppelzone category for precisely such local biostratigraphic units as the New Zealand stages.…”

Section: The Guide's Formal Definition Of Oppelzones Readmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stratigraphy into the 21st century

Carter

2007

strat

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19th and 20th century stratigraphy often concerned itself primarily with classification and nomenclature, during what can be termed the heroic and codex ages of stratigraphy. In contrast, 21st century stratigraphy will fall within the post-modern age. In possession of agreed classification schemes, future stratigraphers will concentrate on (i) the reconstruction of earth environments and processes (including evolution) through time, (ii) the eficient location and recovery of useful earth resources, and (iii) the study of those geological hazards that can be understood within a stratigraphic context. The first objective -reconstructing environments through time -requires the use of a conceptual framework similar to the one that we term the geological time scale (GTS). The 21st century GTS will be based on GSSP designations at the base of all geological Periods and, ultimately, Ages, i.e. it will comprise an internationally agreed chronologic hierarchy. Recognition of local chronologic schemes (as distinct from biostratigraphies based on Oppelzones) will thereafter serve no useful purpose and local "Ages" will become redun-dant. Globally, recognition of a separate but completely parallel chronostratigraphic classification will also serve no useful purpose, and this hierarchy too will be abandoned. Correlation of events into the GTS will be undertaken using a wide variety of methods, including numeric dating, fossil occurrence, physical and chemical properties, tephrochronology and astrochronologic retrodictions. Biostrati-graphy, though remaining a vital tool, especially for Phanerozoic strata, will carry no necessary correlation primacy. Meeting the second and third objectives -locating and recovering earth resources, and studying hazards -requires first and fore-most the creation of detailed geological maps and stratigraphic columns. The lithostratigraphic hierarchy of Bed-Member-Forma-tion-Group-Supergroup is an efficient and mostly objective classification whereby useful maps and columns are created. Because geological mapping is concerned with local stratigraphic detail and complexity, it cannot, like chronology, be organized within a global nomenclature. Over different large areas, different major, genetically-related packages of sediments correspond to the form ation, filling and sometimes destruction of sedimentary basins -as driven by regional tectonic events, and as influenced by regional climatic and oceanographic histories. At the supra-Group or supra-Supergroup level, major sediment assemblages of this type are separated by re-gional unconformities, as recognized by the creation of a category of Unconformity-bounded Units (UBU) in the 1994 2nd edition of the International Stratigraphic Guide. Whether or not UBU are continued with as a formal unit of classification, the strong need will persist for the type of regional, unconformity-bounded units that have successively been termed Sequence and Synthem, for use as the highest level within the lithostratigraphic hierarchy.

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Section: The Guide's Formal Definition Of Oppelzones Readmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stratigraphy into the 21st century

Carter

2007

strat

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“…The system is known at present from a single fossil locality (Jenkins & Jenkins 1971) and it seems unlikely that subdivisions of the Carboniferous will be needed for mapping purposes or fossil record retrieval in New Zealand for a considerable time, if ever. For completeness, the letter "F' is suggested for the Carboniferous.…”

Section: Carboniferousmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There has been considerable discussion and debate on the concept and general philosophy involved in the definition and application of stages in New Zealand (Allan 1933;Scott 1960Scott , 1965Homibrook 1965Homibrook , 1971Carter 1970Carter , 1974Water· house 1982); however, their continued use by New Zealand geologists is testimony to their usefulness. As adopted by the Geological Society of New Zealand (Homibrook et al 1965) following principles now embodied in the International Stratigraphic Guide (Hedberg 1976), the separate concepts of time stratigraphic units (or chronostratigraphic units: erathem, system, series, stage), time units (era, period, epoch, age), and rock stratigraphic units (or lithostratigraphic units: group, formation, member, bed) are generally recognised.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%