Overview of Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSP's)

e 0.781
0.00
Astronomical cycles in sediments
occurrence of calcareous nannofossil Gephyrocapsa spp. (medium-sized morphotype) and extinction level of planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides extremus Magnetic -- Base of magnetic polarity Chron C2r (Matuyama). base Gelasian Stage 2.588 0.00 Astronomical cycles in sediments Marine isotopic stage 103. Above are extinction levels of calcareous nannofossil Discoaster pentaradiatus and D. surculus (base Zone CN12c) Midpoint of sapropelic Nicola Bed ("A5"), Monte San Nicola, Gela, Sicily, Italy (37° 08'48.8"N*, 14° 12'12.6"E*) Ratified 1996 Episodes 21 (2), p.82-87, 1998
2008
Pleistocene Series
Climatic -- Base of the Eemian interglacial stage (= base of base Tarantian Stage 0.126 0.00 Astronomical cycles in sediments marine isotope stage 5e) before final glacial episode of Pleistocene. Base of Tyrrhrenian regional stage of Mediterranean Magnetic -- Brunhes-Matuyama magnetic reversal (base of Chron 1n) Magnetic -- Just above top of magnetic polarity Chron C2n base Calabrian Stage 1.806 0.00 Astronomical cycles in sediments (Olduvai) and the extinction level of calcareous nannofossil Discoaster brouweri (base Zone CN13). Above are lowest Candidate sections in Italy (Montalbano Jorica or Valle di Manche) and Japan (Chiba) Top of sapropel layer 'e' in the Vrica section, Calabria, Italy (39° 02'18.61"N, 17° 08'05.79"E) Ratified 1985 Episodes 8 (2), p.116-120, 1985 GSSP anticipated in 2009 Amsterdam-Terminal borehole (63.5 m below surface), Netherlands (52° 22'45"N, 4° 54'52"E) GSSP anticipated in 2008 -
Quaternary System
about 2.6 Ma (set equal to base isotopic stage 103, and
Holocene Series
base Holocene 0.011784 0.00 Annual layer counting in Cllimatic -- End of the Younger NorthGRIP ice core, ice core ("ka" is relative Dryas cold spell, which is Greenland GSSP anticipated in -
to AD2000); counting uncertainy is 69 years
reflected in a shift in deuterium (75.1° 42.32° N, W) excess values, followed closely by changes in d18O, dust concentration, a range of chemical species, and by a change in annual layer thickness
PHANEROZOIC Eon
Cenozoic Era
Quaternary is recommended as a formal Period/System of the Cenozoic. It is the interval of oscillating climatic extremes (glacial and interglacial 2.588 episodes) that was initiated at of Gelasian stage), therefore it encompasses the Holocene and Pleistocene epochs and the late Pliocene. Equivalent to GSSP of Gelasian at Monte San Nicola, Gela, Sicily, Italy. Correlates with marine base of magnetic polarity Chron C2r (Matuyama). ICS and INQUA recommendation to IUGS; May 2007. IUGS has tabled formalizing Quaternary until late 2008 Proposed definition in Episodes 28 (2), p.118-120, 2005 (although sub-era rank was not accepted)
Neogene System Pliocene Series
Magnetic -- Base of Gauss magnetic polarity Chron C2An base Piacenzian Stage 3.600 0.00 Astronomical cycles in sediments (Gauss); extinction levels of planktonic foraminifers Globorotalia margaritae (base Zone PL3) and Pulleniatina primalis base Zanclean Stage, base Pliocene Series 5.332 0.00 Astronomical cycles in sediments Magnetic -- Top of magnetic polarity Chron C3r, ~100 kyr before Thvera normal-polarity Base of Trubi Fm (base of carbonate cycle 1; insolation cycle 510 from Ratified 2000 Episodes 23 (3), p.179-187, 2000 Base of beige layer of carbonate cycle 77, Punta Piccola, Sicily, Italy (37° 17'20"N*, 13° 29"36"E*) Ratified 1997 Episodes 21 (2), p.88-93, 1998
Overview of Global Boundary Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSP's)
Status on 2007, compiled by Jim Ogg (ICS Executive Secretary) EON, Era, System, Series, Stages Age (Ma) GTS 2004 Est. ±Ma Derivation of age Principal correlative events GSSP and location Status Publication
the present), Eraclea Minoa, Sicily, Italy
Miocene Series
Planktonic Foraminifer -base Messinian Stage 7.246 0.00 Astronomical cycles in sediments Lowest regular occurrence of the Globorotalia conomiozea group; middle of magnetic polarity Chron C3Br.1r Microfossils -- Last Common Occurrences of the calcareous base Tortonian Stage 11.608 0.00 Astronomical cycles in sediments nannofossil Discoaster kugleri and the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides subquadratus. Associated with the short normal-polarity Chron C5r.2n Climatic -- Mi3b isotopic event base Serravallian Stage 13.82 0.00 Astronomical cycles in sediments (global cooling episode) in upper magnetic polarity chronozone C5ACn. Above (13.65 Ma) is the lowest Base of Blue Clay Formation, Ras il Pellegrin coastal section, Ratified 2006 Fomm Ir-Rih Bay, west Malta Midpoint of sapropel 76, Monte dei Corvi beach section, Ancona, Italy (43° 35'12"N, 13°34'10"E) Ratified 2003 Episodes 28 (1), p.6-17, 2005 Base of red layer of carbonate cycle 15, Oued Akrech, Rabat, Morocco (33° 56'13"N, 6° 48'45"W) Ratified 2000 Episodes 23 (3), p. 172-178, 2000