This book represents the final report of Project 272 of the International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP-272), a five year study from 1988 to 1992 which investigated Permian and Triassic fossil bioevents, biostratigraphic correlations and tectonism of the circum-Pacific. It is the tenth in a series edited by M.R.A. Thomson and J. A. Reinemund which covers the broad subject of "World and Regional Geology". This book is comprised of 25 separate reports, or chapters, written by 44 contributors from around the world, and as might be expected, chapters fill both ends of the information spectrum with respect to content and quality of results.
James M. Dickins of the Australian Geological Survey Organization, is the driver and senior editor for this volume. He, along with project coleaders Yang Zunyi and Yin Hongfu, do a very credible job of addressing thematic links and providing the "spin" in Chapter 1, which glues the remaining 24 chapters into one cohesive report. Even within his preface, though, Dickins prepares the reader for trouble in Permo-Triassic paradise when he states: "... not all of these authors are in agreement regarding either their theoretical approaches or their conclusions...."
In addition to preparing the reader with this warning, Dickins could have made this book much easier to read by mandating that each of his contributing authors abstract their chapter (there are no abstracts), that they provide summaries (nine chapters lack summary comments) and that each chapter contain a locality map pertinent to discussed geographic localities (eight chapters lack locality maps). It is extremely frustrating to follow discussions on emplacement and variation of the Sitsa flora by Vera Zimina (Chapter 9), bimodal volcanism by Alexander Vrzhosek (Chapter 10) and syngenetic mineral deposits by Lev Khetchikov and others (Chapter 11) in the Primorye region without the inclusion of one map or reference to latitude/longitude.
The main goal of this book (and I assume of Project 272, though not specifically stated) is to study Permian and Triassic circum-Pacific events and when possible, search for global links and correlation. One major success spotlighted by Dickins within this volume is the recognition of tectonic events associated with the Midian-Dzhulfian boundary which will allow correlation near the Middle and Upper Permian boundary elsewhere in the Tethyan region. All of the chapters focus on Permian through Triassic events, and most authors deal with global correlation by discussing their regional, and sometimes local paleontological contributions to better elucidate age/stage definition. Seven of the chapters deal with Russian stratigraphic localities, four discuss geographic settings within the Americas, two focus on correlation within the Southern Alps and one chapter apiece focuses on China, Vietnam, Japan and New Zealand localities.
Remaining chapters deal with Permian and Triassic correlation either globally or along the Pacific margin of Southeast Asia.
The specifics of data collection and research methodology are not stressed in this book. Instead, most chapters are built around the synthesis of previously published data, and in some cases, innovative interpretation of available data. Chapters which utilize innovation include those written by Yang Zunyi and others in Chapter 7 who present compelling evidence for a detailed threefold, instead of twofold, subdivision of the Permian in China. Maria Conti and others cleverly argue in Chapter 6 that the use of selected bioevents composed of tetrapod footprints and palynoflora will improve Permian correlation of continental strata in the Southern Alps, while Rachel Paull and Richard Paull in Chapter 18 tie conodont faunas to early Triassic sea level transgression episodes to enhance correlation provided by Scythian ammonoid genera. Finally, Spencer Lucas in Chapter 23 proposes a global solution for subdividing nonmarine late Triassic strata by proposing that the lithostratigraphy and biochronology of the Chinle Group of the western United States meets the criteria for a standard section for late Triassic time.
A bonus in most chapters is the inclusion of detailed bibliographies, often with reference to obscure and poorly known Russian and Chinese scientific literature. It is these cited articles, which deal with outcrop localities and species morphology, that will help corroborate the stage correlations proposed by many authors. Unfortunately, many of these articles will be difficult to obtain by westerners.
In short, this volume of papers, though uneven in presentation and readability, provides what the title promises and discusses global correlation of circum-Pacific, late Palaeozoic and early Mesozoic tectonism and bioevents. I would caution the casual reader who is not intimate with Permian and Triassic stage and species nomenclature, and doesn't wish to be, to spend his money and time elsewhere. Instead, I would recommend this volume for the library of any professional who is seriously involved with the details and debate of Permian and Triassic correlation.
MARK FILEWICZ
Unocal--New Ventures
Sugar Land, Texas
Source
http://archives.datapages.com/data/sepm/journals/v66-67/data/068/068002/0362.HTM