Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Proposed reassessment of the Cambrian GSSP

Babcock, Loren LU ; Peng, Shanchi ; Zhu, Maoyan ; Xiao, Shuhai and Ahlberg, Per LU (2014) In Journal of African Earth Sciences 98. p.3-10
Abstract
Since the time of its ratification in 1992, the Cambrian GSSP, 23 m above the base of Member 2A (Quaco Road Member) of the Chapel Island Formation, Fortune Head section, Newfoundland, Canada, has been challenged as posing an ambiguous correlation level. Difficulties have been encountered in precisely correlating the horizon coinciding with the GSSP to strata on most paleocontinents, but especially to Siberia and South China (Gondwana). The GSSP point, which was intended to coincide with the base of the Treptichnus pedum (formerly Phycodes pedum or Trichophycus pedum) Ichnozone at the FAD of the trace fossil T. pedum, occurs above the first appearance of the trace in the stratotype section. Trace fossils of other forms in the stratotype... (More)
Since the time of its ratification in 1992, the Cambrian GSSP, 23 m above the base of Member 2A (Quaco Road Member) of the Chapel Island Formation, Fortune Head section, Newfoundland, Canada, has been challenged as posing an ambiguous correlation level. Difficulties have been encountered in precisely correlating the horizon coinciding with the GSSP to strata on most paleocontinents, but especially to Siberia and South China (Gondwana). The GSSP point, which was intended to coincide with the base of the Treptichnus pedum (formerly Phycodes pedum or Trichophycus pedum) Ichnozone at the FAD of the trace fossil T. pedum, occurs above the first appearance of the trace in the stratotype section. Trace fossils of other forms in the stratotype provide a means of bracketing the position of the GSSP, but are imprecise guides for correlation globally. Other chronostratigraphic guides are unavailable at the stratotype because of a dominance of coarse siliciclastic lithologies and metamorphic overprint. To facilitate global correlation of the Cambrian base and ensure nomenclatural stability to the extent possible, discussion of the merits and perceived weaknesses of the Cambrian GSSP is sought. Possible solutions to the problems surrounding the current GSSP definition are addressed in hopes that the global scientific community will actively participate in developing a well-reasoned, practical solution that will stand the test of time. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Terreneuvian, Paleozoic, GSSP, Ediacaran, Chronostratigraphy
in
Journal of African Earth Sciences
volume
98
pages
3 - 10
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000341903700002
  • scopus:84906793292
ISSN
1464-343X
DOI
10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2014.06.023
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bd4e7d90-3ed0-464c-a501-b8328bcc2dec (old id 4699699)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:09:54
date last changed
2022-04-12 02:28:25
@article{bd4e7d90-3ed0-464c-a501-b8328bcc2dec,
  abstract     = {{Since the time of its ratification in 1992, the Cambrian GSSP, 23 m above the base of Member 2A (Quaco Road Member) of the Chapel Island Formation, Fortune Head section, Newfoundland, Canada, has been challenged as posing an ambiguous correlation level. Difficulties have been encountered in precisely correlating the horizon coinciding with the GSSP to strata on most paleocontinents, but especially to Siberia and South China (Gondwana). The GSSP point, which was intended to coincide with the base of the Treptichnus pedum (formerly Phycodes pedum or Trichophycus pedum) Ichnozone at the FAD of the trace fossil T. pedum, occurs above the first appearance of the trace in the stratotype section. Trace fossils of other forms in the stratotype provide a means of bracketing the position of the GSSP, but are imprecise guides for correlation globally. Other chronostratigraphic guides are unavailable at the stratotype because of a dominance of coarse siliciclastic lithologies and metamorphic overprint. To facilitate global correlation of the Cambrian base and ensure nomenclatural stability to the extent possible, discussion of the merits and perceived weaknesses of the Cambrian GSSP is sought. Possible solutions to the problems surrounding the current GSSP definition are addressed in hopes that the global scientific community will actively participate in developing a well-reasoned, practical solution that will stand the test of time. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Babcock, Loren and Peng, Shanchi and Zhu, Maoyan and Xiao, Shuhai and Ahlberg, Per}},
  issn         = {{1464-343X}},
  keywords     = {{Terreneuvian; Paleozoic; GSSP; Ediacaran; Chronostratigraphy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{3--10}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of African Earth Sciences}},
  title        = {{Proposed reassessment of the Cambrian GSSP}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2014.06.023}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2014.06.023}},
  volume       = {{98}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}