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From d’Orbigny to the Devonian: some thoughts on the history of the stratotype concept
D’Orbigny’s stratigraphic contributions were enormous, both practical and theoretical. In his practice, d’Orbigny realised the central importance of using fossil faunas to correlate strata across different countries. His ‘ succession chronologique des âges du monde’ (of 1852) recognised 5 periods an...
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| Published in: | Comptes rendus. Palevol 2002-12, Vol.1 (6), p.335-345 |
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| description | D’Orbigny’s stratigraphic contributions were enormous, both practical and theoretical. In his practice, d’Orbigny realised the central importance of using fossil faunas to correlate strata across different countries. His ‘
succession chronologique des âges du monde’ (of 1852) recognised 5 periods and 27 stages (ignoring his ‘
époque actuelle’). The great majority of the latter were from two Periods, Jurassic (stages 7 to 16) or Cretaceous (17 to 23). D’Orbigny described the palaeontological characteristics, and geographical extensions, of each. Some stages he based on countries he never visited and although he never specified ‘
stratotype’ localities, he referred to some as ‘
étalon’, ‘
le mieux’ or ‘
le plus beau’. These leads proved crucial when, in the mid 20th century, stratigraphers realised that
definitions of chrono-stratal units must be attempted. The first attempts at
typification simply followed zoology, where a
type specimen tries to define a central position within the morphological variation of a species. In 1962, an early attempt was made to define Jurassic stages by three
type horizons at different
type localities (or
stratotypes as they were now called) for each. A central horizon was chosen as ‘lectotype section’ and upper and lower boundaries for each were defined elsewhere. In France, it was preferred to investigate original intentions at named localities, through
unit-stratotypes. These allowed some nationalistic pride, since France was the home of so many d’Orbignyan stages. 1980 saw the publication
Les Étages français et leurs Stratotypes. However, British Silurian stratigraphers had realised that such zoologically based concepts would produce conflict, when any defined upper boundary stratotype conflicted with the defined lower boundary of a superjacent unit. They suggested, from 1962, to define only lower boundaries, via ‘golden spikes’, at
basal-boundary stratotypes. This was the method chosen for the basal Devonian stratotype at Klonk, Czech Republic, defined in 1972, and a method adopted globally from 1986. However, this was when correlations were still largely based on fossils. The explosion of so many other stratigraphies since, based on magnetic or chemical records, events etc, has produced a first reaction against the idea that such stratotypes should be so defined, while a second, potentially more major claim, is that any ‘golden spike’ concept may no longer ‘glitter’, as competing stratotype concepts may be holding back str |
| doi_str_mv | 10.1016/S1631-0683(02)00064-7 |
| format | article |
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succession chronologique des âges du monde’ (of 1852) recognised 5 periods and 27 stages (ignoring his ‘
époque actuelle’). The great majority of the latter were from two Periods, Jurassic (stages 7 to 16) or Cretaceous (17 to 23). D’Orbigny described the palaeontological characteristics, and geographical extensions, of each. Some stages he based on countries he never visited and although he never specified ‘
stratotype’ localities, he referred to some as ‘
étalon’, ‘
le mieux’ or ‘
le plus beau’. These leads proved crucial when, in the mid 20th century, stratigraphers realised that
definitions of chrono-stratal units must be attempted. The first attempts at
typification simply followed zoology, where a
type specimen tries to define a central position within the morphological variation of a species. In 1962, an early attempt was made to define Jurassic stages by three
type horizons at different
type localities (or
stratotypes as they were now called) for each. A central horizon was chosen as ‘lectotype section’ and upper and lower boundaries for each were defined elsewhere. In France, it was preferred to investigate original intentions at named localities, through
unit-stratotypes. These allowed some nationalistic pride, since France was the home of so many d’Orbignyan stages. 1980 saw the publication
Les Étages français et leurs Stratotypes. However, British Silurian stratigraphers had realised that such zoologically based concepts would produce conflict, when any defined upper boundary stratotype conflicted with the defined lower boundary of a superjacent unit. They suggested, from 1962, to define only lower boundaries, via ‘golden spikes’, at
basal-boundary stratotypes. This was the method chosen for the basal Devonian stratotype at Klonk, Czech Republic, defined in 1972, and a method adopted globally from 1986. However, this was when correlations were still largely based on fossils. The explosion of so many other stratigraphies since, based on magnetic or chemical records, events etc, has produced a first reaction against the idea that such stratotypes should be so defined, while a second, potentially more major claim, is that any ‘golden spike’ concept may no longer ‘glitter’, as competing stratotype concepts may be holding back stratigraphic progress.
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succession chronologique des âges du monde’ (of 1852) recognised 5 periods and 27 stages (ignoring his ‘
époque actuelle’). The great majority of the latter were from two Periods, Jurassic (stages 7 to 16) or Cretaceous (17 to 23). D’Orbigny described the palaeontological characteristics, and geographical extensions, of each. Some stages he based on countries he never visited and although he never specified ‘
stratotype’ localities, he referred to some as ‘
étalon’, ‘
le mieux’ or ‘
le plus beau’. These leads proved crucial when, in the mid 20th century, stratigraphers realised that
definitions of chrono-stratal units must be attempted. The first attempts at
typification simply followed zoology, where a
type specimen tries to define a central position within the morphological variation of a species. In 1962, an early attempt was made to define Jurassic stages by three
type horizons at different
type localities (or
stratotypes as they were now called) for each. A central horizon was chosen as ‘lectotype section’ and upper and lower boundaries for each were defined elsewhere. In France, it was preferred to investigate original intentions at named localities, through
unit-stratotypes. These allowed some nationalistic pride, since France was the home of so many d’Orbignyan stages. 1980 saw the publication
Les Étages français et leurs Stratotypes. However, British Silurian stratigraphers had realised that such zoologically based concepts would produce conflict, when any defined upper boundary stratotype conflicted with the defined lower boundary of a superjacent unit. They suggested, from 1962, to define only lower boundaries, via ‘golden spikes’, at
basal-boundary stratotypes. This was the method chosen for the basal Devonian stratotype at Klonk, Czech Republic, defined in 1972, and a method adopted globally from 1986. However, this was when correlations were still largely based on fossils. The explosion of so many other stratigraphies since, based on magnetic or chemical records, events etc, has produced a first reaction against the idea that such stratotypes should be so defined, while a second, potentially more major claim, is that any ‘golden spike’ concept may no longer ‘glitter’, as competing stratotype concepts may be holding back stratigraphic progress.
Les nombreuses et importantes contributions de d’Orbigny à la stratigraphie sont rappelées ici et les méthodes qu’il utilisait, ainsi que ses théories, discutées. L’auteur souligne la part cruciale prise par d’Orbigny dans l’histoire de la stratigraphie – et tout particulièrement à propos des roches jurassiques – par l’utilisation des fossiles pour déterminer l’âge des couches et corréler ces dernières d’une région à l’autre.</description><subject>basal boundary definitions</subject><subject>Devonian</subject><subject>définitions de base des limites</subject><subject>Dévonien</subject><subject>Earth sciences</subject><subject>Earth, ocean, space</subject><subject>Exact sciences and technology</subject><subject>Histoire</subject><subject>History</subject><subject>Stratigraphy</subject><subject>stratotype</subject><issn>1631-0683</issn><issn>1777-571X</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>2002</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><recordid>eNqFkE9LwzAYh4soOKcfQehF0UM1adKm9SIynQqDHVTYLWTp2y3SNjXJBr35Nfx6fhKzbuLRU_49v_dHniA4xegKI5xev-CU4AilGblA8SVCKKUR2wsGmDEWJQzP9v3-FzkMjqx9Rz6XZ3gQzMZG12Hx_fk1NXO1aLrQ6dAtIbyHtW6UaG5Cq2vwV3q1WDob6qZ_XirrtOlCXfZH64xw2nUthFI3Elp3HByUorJwsluHwdv44XX0FE2mj8-ju0kkSExcVBQIx4BlypKixChnMRZzmhGWMEIRSQDPEwllQjKKUikhL4o4LkshhWAZxZIMg_Pt3NbojxVYx2tlJVSVaECvLPctaY4I8mCyBaXR1hooeWtULUzHMeIbj7z3yDeSOIp575EznzvbFQgrRVUa0Uhl_8KU0jzPqedutxz4364VGG6lAu-iUAak44VW_zT9AJ6UiIU</recordid><startdate>20021201</startdate><enddate>20021201</enddate><creator>Torrens, Hugh S</creator><general>Elsevier SAS</general><general>Elsevier</general><scope>IQODW</scope><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>7U5</scope><scope>8FD</scope><scope>L7M</scope></search><sort><creationdate>20021201</creationdate><title>From d’Orbigny to the Devonian: some thoughts on the history of the stratotype concept</title><author>Torrens, Hugh S</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-a323t-dd012e1c675df109721ab48375734035e1b5cef538406cce9dd22ffacaa7841c3</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng ; fre</language><creationdate>2002</creationdate><topic>basal boundary definitions</topic><topic>Devonian</topic><topic>définitions de base des limites</topic><topic>Dévonien</topic><topic>Earth sciences</topic><topic>Earth, ocean, space</topic><topic>Exact sciences and technology</topic><topic>Histoire</topic><topic>History</topic><topic>Stratigraphy</topic><topic>stratotype</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>Torrens, Hugh S</creatorcontrib><collection>Pascal-Francis</collection><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>Solid State and Superconductivity Abstracts</collection><collection>Technology Research Database</collection><collection>Advanced Technologies Database with Aerospace</collection><jtitle>Comptes rendus. Palevol</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>Torrens, Hugh S</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>From d’Orbigny to the Devonian: some thoughts on the history of the stratotype concept</atitle><jtitle>Comptes rendus. Palevol</jtitle><date>2002-12-01</date><risdate>2002</risdate><volume>1</volume><issue>6</issue><spage>335</spage><epage>345</epage><pages>335-345</pages><issn>1631-0683</issn><eissn>1777-571X</eissn><notes>ObjectType-Article-2</notes><notes>SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1</notes><notes>ObjectType-Feature-1</notes><notes>content type line 23</notes><abstract>D’Orbigny’s stratigraphic contributions were enormous, both practical and theoretical. In his practice, d’Orbigny realised the central importance of using fossil faunas to correlate strata across different countries. His ‘
succession chronologique des âges du monde’ (of 1852) recognised 5 periods and 27 stages (ignoring his ‘
époque actuelle’). The great majority of the latter were from two Periods, Jurassic (stages 7 to 16) or Cretaceous (17 to 23). D’Orbigny described the palaeontological characteristics, and geographical extensions, of each. Some stages he based on countries he never visited and although he never specified ‘
stratotype’ localities, he referred to some as ‘
étalon’, ‘
le mieux’ or ‘
le plus beau’. These leads proved crucial when, in the mid 20th century, stratigraphers realised that
definitions of chrono-stratal units must be attempted. The first attempts at
typification simply followed zoology, where a
type specimen tries to define a central position within the morphological variation of a species. In 1962, an early attempt was made to define Jurassic stages by three
type horizons at different
type localities (or
stratotypes as they were now called) for each. A central horizon was chosen as ‘lectotype section’ and upper and lower boundaries for each were defined elsewhere. In France, it was preferred to investigate original intentions at named localities, through
unit-stratotypes. These allowed some nationalistic pride, since France was the home of so many d’Orbignyan stages. 1980 saw the publication
Les Étages français et leurs Stratotypes. However, British Silurian stratigraphers had realised that such zoologically based concepts would produce conflict, when any defined upper boundary stratotype conflicted with the defined lower boundary of a superjacent unit. They suggested, from 1962, to define only lower boundaries, via ‘golden spikes’, at
basal-boundary stratotypes. This was the method chosen for the basal Devonian stratotype at Klonk, Czech Republic, defined in 1972, and a method adopted globally from 1986. However, this was when correlations were still largely based on fossils. The explosion of so many other stratigraphies since, based on magnetic or chemical records, events etc, has produced a first reaction against the idea that such stratotypes should be so defined, while a second, potentially more major claim, is that any ‘golden spike’ concept may no longer ‘glitter’, as competing stratotype concepts may be holding back stratigraphic progress.
Les nombreuses et importantes contributions de d’Orbigny à la stratigraphie sont rappelées ici et les méthodes qu’il utilisait, ainsi que ses théories, discutées. L’auteur souligne la part cruciale prise par d’Orbigny dans l’histoire de la stratigraphie – et tout particulièrement à propos des roches jurassiques – par l’utilisation des fossiles pour déterminer l’âge des couches et corréler ces dernières d’une région à l’autre.</abstract><cop>Paris</cop><pub>Elsevier SAS</pub><doi>10.1016/S1631-0683(02)00064-7</doi><tpages>11</tpages></addata></record> |
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| ispartof | Comptes rendus. Palevol, 2002-12, Vol.1 (6), p.335-345 |
| issn | 1631-0683 1777-571X |
| language | eng ; fre |
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| source | ScienceDirect |
| subjects | basal boundary definitions Devonian définitions de base des limites Dévonien Earth sciences Earth, ocean, space Exact sciences and technology Histoire History Stratigraphy stratotype |
| title | From d’Orbigny to the Devonian: some thoughts on the history of the stratotype concept |
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