Theory, ideas and pressure of the terrestrial stratotype establishment are discussed based on study of the stratotype candidate of terrestrial Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, Luanping, northern Hebei, compared with “Revised Guidelines” of the ICS and stipulates of the International Stratigraphic Guide. The terrestrial stratotype is necessary to be established alone. Terrestrial strata are especially developed in China and the studies are urgent to be deepened, but stratotypes established now by studies on marine strata can not be applied to terrestrial strata. Terrestrial strata can meet requirements of stratotype establishment, and have distinctively superiorities as contrast to marine strata. They include rich volcanic rocks and minerals by which reliable iso-chronic data can be got, possess successive sandstone and mudstone by which accurate magneto-stratigraphic columns can be set up and distinguish geological events, and also contain a large number of wide-spread fossils which can be used to correlate strata in a large scope. Key of the terrestrial stratotype establishment is to discover a sediment-successive section with rich fossils and complete exposure. Both “unit stratotype” and “boundary stratotype” can be carried out equally, but it is better firstly to set up “boundary stratotype” if a suitable section could be found. Biostratigraphic zonation and mark-fossil erection should be based on restoring evolutionary pedigrees or occurrence sequences, and the boundaries should be put at the horizon of the “first appearence”. Moreover, establishment of the terrestrial stratotype should be stressed on comprehensive studies including multi-courses, multi-methods and multi-classes of fossils.
About author: Tian Shugang, born in 1951, was graduated from the Geology Department of Peking University in 1978, and received his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) in 1985 and 1988 separately. Now he is a professor of Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and is mainly engaged in biostratigraphy, paleoecology and sequence stratigraphy. Tel: 68999703, E-mail: sgtian@cags.net.cn.
Cite this article:
. Knowledge and ideas about establishment of “Terrestrial Stratotype”[J]. JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY, 2005, 7(4): 561-569.
. Knowledge and ideas about establishment of “Terrestrial Stratotype”[J]. JOPC, 2005, 7(4): 561-569.