State of the art in Regional Stratigraphy

Abstract

Stratigraphy analyzes and formalizes rock sequences. Analysis encompasses the description of matrix, mineral - and fossil content, with the aim of determining depositional processes, relative age, environmental and climatic conditions as well as paleogeography. Formalization involves the attribution of a rock sequence within litho-, bio- and/or time-stratigraphic units. While the extent of space in litho-stratigraphic units is forcibly restricted to a territory, often of tectonic nature, but also by national limits, bio-stratigraphy is limited by provinciality, climate and environment. The aim of Time-stratigraphy is thus more of a virtual nature, unit- boundaries being defined at type localities, the process of defining Global Standard Sections and Points (GSSP) having been taken over by the International Commission of Stratigraphy (Gradstein et al., 2004), not always reflecting the work of scientists in the field. STRATI-2013 will promote discussions and proposals. Keywords:Regional-, litho-, bio-, chrono-, sequence-stratigraphy, integration, standardization, international schemes, time-standard