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A short history of the Ordovician System: from overlapping unit stratotypes to global stratotype sections and points

Harper, David A.T.; Meidla, Tõnu; Servais, Thomas

A short history of the Ordovician System: from overlapping unit stratotypes to global stratotype sections and points Thumbnail


Authors

Tõnu Meidla

Thomas Servais



Abstract

The Ordovician System was introduced by Charles Lapworth as a solution to the overlapping unit stratotypes loosely defined by Adam Sedgwick, for the Cambrian, and Roderick Murchison, for the Silurian. The Ordovician has emerged as one of the longest and most significant of the geological periods. Following an interval of intensive research of all the key regions of the globe, unit stratotypes in the type areas of England and Wales have been replaced by seven global stages and three series based on Global Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSPs), enhancing the definition of these chronostratigraphic units and facilitating global correlation. As a consequence, the biological and geological events during the period can be recognized and the magnitude and significance of biotic originations and extinctions understood with some confidence.

Citation

Harper, D. A., Meidla, T., & Servais, T. (2023). A short history of the Ordovician System: from overlapping unit stratotypes to global stratotype sections and points. Geological Society Special Publications, 532(1), https://doi.org/10.1144/sp532-2022-285

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 3, 2022
Online Publication Date Jan 24, 2023
Publication Date 2023
Deposit Date Feb 8, 2023
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Geological Society Special Publications
Print ISSN 0305-8719
Electronic ISSN 2041-4927
Publisher The Geological Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 532
Issue 1
DOI https://doi.org/10.1144/sp532-2022-285

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