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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Apologies for Cross-posting,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>If you are not yet aware of the background to the
threat to the Quaternary System/Period please have a read through the
correspondence from John <span class=SpellE>Clague</span> (president of INQUA)
and Brad <span class=GramE>Pillans, that</span> I have appended to the bottom
of this email. Brad has proposed a compromise that would probably be acceptable
to most of us but there is no guarantee that the </span></font><st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>International</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Commission on Stratigraphy of IUGS will listen UNLESS they are under the gun to
do so. Quaternary workers form a significant percentage of all geologists (and
please note that <span class=SpellE>Quaternarists</span> also include many
non-Geologists).<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>We can exert pressure
on IUGS to accept Brad’s compromise (as an absolute minimum) by
petitioning our national <span class=SpellE>Geoscience</span> Societies. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I will send a letter to the Geological Society of New
Zealand asking them to petition IUGS to ‘save the Quaternary’. The
draft text is below. I am sure that the arguments could be put more elegantly
and I invite feedback on content. I also offer this letter to you either to
sign on to, or to copy and modify for you to submit yourself to your own
Geological Society. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>“Dear Committee of the Geological Society of </span></font><st1:country-region><st1:place><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>New
Zealand</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><font size=2
face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I/we note with dismay that the </span></font><st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>International</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) of the </span></font><st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>International</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) plans do discontinue the formal stratigraphic
use of the Quaternary Period/System.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The term ‘Quaternary’ has been in use
since the 19<sup>th</sup> century and is widely understood by Geologists and
non-Geologists to cover the last roughly two million years, a period which is marked
by both rapid fluctuations in the climate and the noticeable impact of hominids
on the planet.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The term Quaternary has
a very wide currency. There are numerous national and international journals
(Quaternary Research, J. Quaternary Science and Quaternary </span></font><st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>International</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
to name just three)<span class=GramE>,</span> several departments of Quaternary
science and these include biology and anthropology, as well as Earth Science.
In fact, one of the defining aspects of the science of the <span class=GramE>Quaternary,</span>
is its multidisciplinary nature.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The abolition of the Quaternary as a formal
stratigraphic unit by the ICS is unworkable because the Quaternary is MORE than
simply another time/stratigraphic division – the term Quaternary defines
a body of scientists and work that includes many geologists but extends far
beyond the boundaries of traditional Geology. The abolition is inequitable
because it has been proposed against the wishes of the vast majority of
scientists who work in the Quaternary, including the peak body for <span
class=GramE>those scientist</span> who work in the Quaternary, INQUA.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The abolition will cause massive confusion in the
literature as there is an enormous volume of published material which uses the
Quaternary as a stratigraphic system/period. We note that for radiocarbon we
still use Libby half-lives specifically because of the confusion that would
have been caused if the half-life had been changed after a few decades of
usage. Furthermore, the new terminology will simply not be followed by
non-geologically based <span class=SpellE>Quaternarists</span> and indeed, I/we
have no intention of recognising the abolition of the term and will continue to
use it both as a formal stratigraphic term and most importantly as the
definition of my/our science.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>While most of us would prefer for the usage of the
Quaternary to continue without modification, we are amenable to a compromise
proposal developed <span class=GramE>by<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Dr</span> Brad Pillans (</span></font><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>INQUA
Stratigraphy & Chronology Commission)</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> to convert the
Quaternary to a sub-system/sub-period under the <span class=SpellE>Neogene</span>.
This proposal is appended.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>We call on the New Zealand Geological Society to
strongly represent our views to IUGS. I/we call on NZGS to support Dr Bradley
Pillans compromise on a Quaternary sub-System/sub-Period to ICS and IUGS.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Yours sincerely,”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Jamie Shulmeister<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Associate Professor (Quaternary Geology)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Department of Geological Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>University</span></font></st1:PlaceType><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'> of </span><st1:PlaceName><span style='mso-no-proof:
yes'>Canterbury</span></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><span style='mso-no-proof:
yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:City><st1:place><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Christchurch</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Private Bag 4800<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:country-region><st1:place><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>New
Zealand</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style='mso-no-proof:
yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>fax +64-3-364 2769<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>work phone +64-3-364 2762<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Home phone +64-3-351 1244<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-NZ
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>APOLOGIES FOR CROSS-POSTING<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Colleagues -<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The </span></font><st1:PersonName><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>International</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS), under the auspices
of IUGS and ICSU, is revising the Geological Time Scale. A proposed revision of
great consequence to the Quaternary community is an extension of the <span
class=SpellE>Neogene</span> System to the present. The Pleistocene and Holocene
would be retained as Series, but the Quaternary would be eliminated as a
System. An argument made by ICS is that the "Quaternary" and
"Tertiary" are archaic terms. Elimination of Quaternary as a System
is clearly a highly charged issue, but ICS seems determined to make the change,
whether or not <span class=SpellE>Quaternarists</span> agree.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>INQUA does not accept the elimination of the word
"Quaternary" from the Geological Time Scale. Accordingly, <span
class=GramE>its</span> Commission on Stratigraphy and Geochronology has
suggested a compromise to the INQUA Executive Committee that may or may not be
acceptable to both the larger Quaternary community and ICS (see following
letter and proposal from Brad Pillans). The gist of the proposal is to define a
Quaternary Subsystem that encompasses the present Pleistocene and Holocene
Series, as well as the <span class=SpellE>Gelasian</span> Stage (2.6-1.8 Ma).
Under this proposal, the boundaries of the Pleistocene and Holocene would
remain unchanged.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The INQUA Executive Committee <span class=GramE>ask</span>
for your feedback on this important issue. Please send your comments to John <span
class=SpellE>Clague</span> (</span></font><st1:PersonName><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>jclague@sfu.ca</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>) and Brad Pillans (</span></font><st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>brad.pillans@anu.edu.au</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>INQUA Executive Committee:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>John J. <span class=SpellE>Clague</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Nicholas <span class=SpellE>Shackleton</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Peter <span class=SpellE>Coxon</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Margaret Avery<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Allan <span class=SpellE>Chivas</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Jan <span class=SpellE>Piotrowski</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Denis-Didier Rousseau<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><span class=GramE><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>An</span></font></span><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> <span
class=SpellE>Zhiseng</span><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>___________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The Geological Time Scale (GTS) is one of the great
achievements in Earth Sciences. Recent revisions, and proposed revisions, are
part of the ongoing mandate of the </span></font><st1:PersonName><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>International</span></font></st1:PersonName><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> Commission on Stratigraphy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>(ICS) - see <<a href="http://www.stratigraphy.org/">http://www.stratigraphy.org/</a>>www.stratigraphy.org.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>One of the proposed revisions of the GTS is to extend
the <span class=SpellE>Neogene</span> System (Period*) up to the present,
thereby subsuming what is currently the Quaternary System (Period). While some
may see this as a threat to the Quaternary, I see it as a wonderful opportunity
to redefine the Quaternary in the way that we have wanted for some time, namely
to extend the base downwards from 1.81 Ma (<span class=SpellE>Plio</span>/Pleistocene<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><span class=GramE><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>boundary</span></font></span><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>) to 2.6 Ma (base of Pliocene <span class=SpellE>Gelasian</span>
Stage).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Let me speak plainly when I say that we (INQUA) have
little hope of retaining the Quaternary System, above the <span class=SpellE>Neogene</span>
System, as it is at present. The weight of support is too great, from within
ICS, for extending the <span class=SpellE>Neogene</span> up to the present.
Furthermore we have no hope of changing the <span class=SpellE>Plio</span>/Pleistocene
boundary; we tried that in 1997-98, resulting in a most acrimonious debate
between INQUA and ICS.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>I believe that our best, and only reasonable course of
action, is to grasp the opportunity presented to us, and redefine the
Quaternary as a Subsystem within the extended <span class=SpellE>Neogene</span>
System, with base at 2.6 Ma. Indeed, I have been asked to submit such a
proposal to ICS. The proposal below is a draft for comment/discussion and,
perhaps, for endorsement by INQUA. As recommended by ICS, I have tried to keep
the document short and to-the-point.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>A strength of the proposal, I think, is that it
decouples the base of the Quaternary from the "blood sweat and tears"
of the <span class=SpellE>Plio</span>/Pleistocene boundary.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>The views expressed are my own, but I sense that they
will be widely supported by Quaternary scientists. After all, this is a chance
to extend our time domain by 800,000 years!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>To reiterate, this may be <span class=GramE>a</span>
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - we are unlikely to get another opportunity to
define the Quaternary the way we want it.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Brad Pillans, President INQUA Stratigraphy &
Chronology Commission<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>_____________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>* "Period" is the <span class=SpellE>geochronologic</span>
unit equivalent of the <span class=SpellE>chronostratigraphic</span> unit
"System".<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>PROPOSAL TO REDEFINE THE QUATERNARY<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>In the revised geological time scale (GTS2004) <span
class=SpellE>Lourens</span> et al. propose to extend the <span class=SpellE>Neogene</span>
System (Period) up to the present, thereby making the Quaternary System (=
Pleistocene + Holocene Series) redundant. See Figure 1.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Here I propose that the Quaternary be redefined as a
Subsystem<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>(<span class=SpellE>Subperiod</span>) of the <span
class=SpellE>Neogene</span>, and that its base be defined at the base of the
Pliocene <span class=SpellE>Gelasian</span> Stage at 2.6 Ma (GSSP ratified -
Rio et al. 1998. <span class=GramE>Episodes 21, 82.).</span> After recent
discussions by the ICS executive, in consultation with the IUGS executive, they
have requested that the various formal stratigraphic groups of ICS and INQUA be
asked to consider the proposal.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>In support of the proposal for a Quaternary Subsystem
(<span class=SpellE>Subperiod</span>), I note the following:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>1.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>There is
overwhelming support from INQUA members, who I have<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><span class=GramE><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>talked</span></font></span><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> with, to retain the Quaternary as a formal <span
class=SpellE>chronostratigraphic</span> unit.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>2.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>There is
precedence for naming Subsystems in the GTS,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><span class=GramE><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>specifically</span></font></span><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian Subsystems of the
Carboniferous.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>3.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Redefinition of the Quaternary will make use of an existing<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>GSSP (<span class=SpellE>Gelasian</span> Stage).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>4.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
</span>Decoupling the base of the Quaternary from the<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><span class=SpellE><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Plio</span></font></span><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>-Pleistocene boundary (1.8 Ma) would, I believe, bring
an end to the long-running arguments over the position of the <span
class=SpellE>Plio</span>/Pleistocene boundary.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>5.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>A
majority of INQUA members appear to <span class=SpellE>favour</span> a
"long"<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><span class=GramE><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Quaternary (2.6 Ma) over a "short"
Quaternary (1.8 Ma).</span></font></span><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> In
essence, the preference for a "long" Quaternary reflects perceived
continuity of character over that time. For example, around 2.6 Ma, Chinese
loess deposition becomes widespread and is substantially different in character
to the underlying Red Clay (e.g. Ding et al. 1997. <span class=GramE>Quaternary
</span></span></font><st1:PersonName><span class=GramE><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>International</span></font></span></st1:PersonName><span
class=GramE><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> 40, 53).</span></font></span><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>6.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Around
2.6 Ma, deep sea oxygen isotope records show the<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><span class=GramE><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>culmination</span></font></span><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'> of a series of cycles of increasing glacial
intensity, also associated with the first major inputs of ice rafted debris to
the </span></font><st1:place><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>North
Atlantic</span></font></st1:place><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>.
For many this marks the beginning of the "Quaternary ice ages". It
also marks a change from precession-dominated to obliquity-dominated climate
forcing.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>In summary, the extension of the <span class=SpellE>Neogene</span>
System (Period) upwards provides an ideal opportunity to redefine the
Quaternary, as a Subsystem (<span class=SpellE>Subperiod</span>) of the <span
class=SpellE>Neogene</span>. The proposal for a Quaternary Subsystem is
consistent with popular usage, does not require a new GSSP, and will end the
arguments about the <span class=SpellE>Plio</span>/Pleistocene boundary.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-layout-grid-align:none'><font size=2
face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=EN-NZ
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span lang=EN-NZ style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:PersonName><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Jamie Shulmeister</span></font></st1:PersonName><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Associate Professor (Quaternary Geology)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Department of Geological Sciences<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>University</span></font></st1:PlaceType><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'> of </span><st1:PlaceName><span style='mso-no-proof:
yes'>Canterbury</span></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><span style='mso-no-proof:
yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:City><st1:place><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Christchurch</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><span
style='mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>Private Bag 4800<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><st1:country-region><st1:place><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>New
Zealand</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style='mso-no-proof:
yes'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>fax +64-3-364 2769<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoAutoSig><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes'>work phone +64-3-364 2762<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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