Annual Report 2012: FY July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012
North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature
The North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature (NACSN) has four main purposes: (1) develop statements of stratigraphic principles, (2) recommend procedures applicable to classification and nomenclature of stratigraphic and related units, (3) review problems in classifying and naming stratigraphic and related units, and (4) formulate expressions of judgement on these matters. NACSN website: www.agiweb.org/nacsn/.
The 2011 NACSN meeting was held October 10 at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Agenda items included the following.
- The task Group on Impact of New Definition of the Pleistocene lead by Howard Harper, SEPM, and Robert Scott, The University of Tulsa, conducted a survey, including AAPG members, regarding the change in the definition of the Quaternary. A majority of the 222, who completed the survey, work with Quaternary and Pleistocene strata, and indicated that the new definitions will not alter how they work or prepare reports. However, at the Annual Meeting, it was decided that the survey needed to include some additional groups and the survey will be accessible until March 31, 2012. After that time, a second report on the results will be prepared and circulated to the commission.
- The Canadian Stratigraphy Commission was formed and is operational.
- An amendment to the Code of Stratigraphic Nomenclature is under consideration on how to formalize unit names of intrusive complexes.
- The International Commission on Stratigraphy rejected a proposal to drop the distinction between System and Period and between Stage and Age. The Commission also favored flexibility in use of Ma for both age and duration. Although a GSSP has been selected for the Paleogene Stage, dissenting comments have arisen.
- The Spanish translation of the North American Stratigraphic Code is completed and available from Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autonóma de México, Boletin 117.
- A motion was approved “to vote in favor, when asked, for inclusion of the International Medical Geology Association and the National Cave and Kart Research Institute within AGI.”
Commission chair for 2011-12 is Michael Easton, Ontario Geological Survey, and vice-chair is Robert Scott, The University of Tulsa.