Global

Stratotype
Section &
Point (GSSP)

Mubashir Khan
01-161122-019
Bs Geology-6
Submitted to:
Sir Mumtaz.A.Khan

Bahria University
(Islamabad Campus)

Department of Earth and

Environmental Sciences

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1.
INTRODUCTION
02-05

1.1 Global Stratotype Section & Point (GSSP)

1.1 Back ground
1.2 Definitions
Requirements for the
chronostratigraphic units:
1.3

selection

of

boundary

stratotypes

of

2. EXAMPLES.0509

2.1 The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the boundary
between the Capitanian and Wuchiapingian Stage (Permian).
2.2 The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Induan/Olenekian
Boundary (Early Triassic): (Nammal Nala (Salt Range, Pakistan).
2.3 The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Permian-Triassic
Boundary.

3.
References......................
...10

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Global Stratotype Section & Point (GSSP):

1.1Background:
For most of the nineteenth century and first two-third of the twentieth
century, the standard geologic time unit of the Phanerozoic Eons (periods,
epochs, and ages) was generally conceptualized in different ways. Many
workers have contributed to the present status of the GSSP concept, but
there can be little doubt that the efforts of hollis D. Hedberg were primarily
responsible for the eventual acceptance of stratotype based, permanent ,
internationally-accepted
definition
for
the
standard
global
geochronological /chronostraitatigraphic unit of the Phenerozoic time scale.
Nevertheless, Hedberg had predecessors, and Harland (1978, p. 22) and Vai
(2001) noted that embryonic concept of the GSSP can be found in some early
straitigraphic discussion. Some fairly modern general views on defining a
standard Global time scale were discussed in the text book of Grabau (1924,
pp. 1100-1101).

1.2 Definitions:
1.2.1 Standard definitions:
Named stratigraphic units must be defined or characterized at a specified
locality where they are well exposed and developed in order that there will
be a common, material standard of reference for their identification.

1.2.2 Reference to a specific rock section:

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The particular sequence of strata chosen as a standard of reference of a

layered stratigraphic unit is called a stratotype. In the case of non layered
rocks the standard of reference is a type locality. It may be an area of
exposure (or well or mine) and is an essential part of the establishment of a
formal stratigraphic unit. In cases where the written description and the
stratotype are not the same, the data from the stratotype take precedence.
For some stratigraphic units, such as biostratigraphic range zones, the
standard of the unit cannot be tied to a specific stratigraphic section or area
because the stratigraphic scope of the unit may vary with increasing
information. However, the characterization and description of these and
other biostratigraphic units can be enhanced by the designation of one or
more specific reference sections.

1.2.3 Stratotype (type section):

The designated exposure of a named layered stratigraphic unit or of a
stratigraphic boundary that serves as the standard of reference.
A
stratotype is the specific strata sequence used for the definition and/or
characterization of the stratigraphic unit or boundary being defined.

1.2.4 Unit stratotype:

The type section of a layered stratigraphic unit that serves as the
standard of reference for the definition and characterization of the unit .

1.2.5 Boundary Stratotype:

The specified sequence of strata that contains the specific point that defines
a boundary between two stratigraphic units.

1.2.6 Composite Stratotype:

A unit stratotype formed by the combination of several specified intervals of
strata combined to make a composite standard of reference.

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1.2.7 Type Locality:

The specific geographic locality was the stratotype of a layered stratigraphic
unit is situated. The name also refers to the locality where the unit was
originally described and/or named. In the case of units composed of non
layered igneous or metamorphic rocks, the type locality is the specific
geographic locality where the unit was originally defined.

1.2.8 Type Area or Type Region:

The geographic area or region that encompasses the stratotype or type
locality of a stratigraphic unit or boundary.

1.3 Requirements for the selection

stratotypes of chronostratigraphic units:

of

boundary

Chronostratigraphic units offer the best promise of being identified,

accepted, and used globally and of being, therefore, the basis for
international communication and understanding because they are
defined on the basis of their time of formation, a universal property.
Particularly important in this respect are the units of the Standard
Global Chronostratigraphic (Geochronologic) Scale. The term "Global
Boundary Stratotype Section and Point" (GSSP) has been proposed for
the standard boundary-stratotypes of the units of this scale.
In addition to the general requirements for the selection and
description of stratotypes, boundary stratotypes of chronostratigraphic
units should fulfill the following requirements:
1. The boundary stratotypes must be selected in sections
representing essentially continuous deposition. The worst
possible
choice
for
a
boundary-stratotype
of
a
chronostratigraphic unit is at an unconformity.

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2. The
boundary-stratotypes
of
Standard
Global
Chronostratigraphic Units should be in marine, fossiliferous
sections without major vertical lithofacies or biofacies
changes. Boundary stratotypes of chronostratigraphic units of
local application may need to be in a non marine section.
3. The fossil content should be abundant, distinctive, well
preserved, and represent a fauna and/or flora as cosmopolitan
and as diverse as possible.
4. The section should be well exposed and in an area of minimal
structural deformation or surficial disturbance, metamorphism
and diagenetic alteration, and with ample thickness of strata
below, above and laterally from the selected boundarystratotype.
5. Boundary stratotypes of the units of the Standard Global
Chronostratigraphic Scale should be selected in easily
accessible sections that offer reasonable assurance of free
study, collection, and long-range preservation. Permanent
field markers are desirable.
6. the selected section should be well studied and collected and
the results of the investigations published, and the fossils
collected from the section securely stored and easily
accessible for study in a permanent facility.
7. The selection of the boundary stratotype, where possible,
should take account of historical priority and usage and
should approximate traditional boundaries.
8. To insure its acceptance and use in the Earth sciences, a
boundary stratotype should be selected to contain as many
specific marker horizons or other attributes favorable for longdistance time correlation as possible.
The IUGS International Commission on Stratigraphy is the body
responsible for coordinating the selection and approval of GSSPs
of the units of the Standard Global Chronostratigraphic
(Geochronologic) Scale.

EXAMPLES:

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2.1 The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP)

for the boundary between the Capitanian and
Wuchiapingian
Stage
(Permian):
The Global Stratotype Section and Point
(GSSP) for the boundary between the
Capitanian and Wuchiapingian stages,
also
the
boundary
between
the
Guadalupian and Lopingian Series is
defined at the First Appearance
Datum (FAD) of the conodont Clarkina
postbitteri post- bitteri at the base of
Bed 6k in the Penglaitan Section along
the Hongshui River
in Guangxi
Province, South China. This point is
within a chronomorphocline
from
Clarkina postbitteri hongshuiensis to C.
dukouensis and nearly coincides with
the
Middle-Upper
Absaroka
Megasequence boundary and as such
is documented within a continuously
deposited
carbonate
lowstand
succession with deep-water facies of
the Maokou Formation below and deepwater facies of the Heshan For- mation
above. Furthermore, this point also coincides with a major extinction of
various Permian fossils including corals, fusulinaceans, ammonoids and
brachiopods. The proximity to an apparently global major sequence
boundary and extinction event will serve as a means of correlation of this
GSSP into other regions in which the defining taxon is not present because of
pro- found provincialism during the Middle and Upper Permian. Carbon
isotopic trends and magnetostratigraphic signatures are also provided to
help correlate this GSSP into other regions, including those with continental
facies successions. The Tieqiao Section near the county town of Laibin is also
described as a supplementary reference section.

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The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the basal boundary of
the Wuchiapingian Stage has been defined at the first occurrence of the
conodont Clarkina postbitteri postbitteri Mei and Wardlaw (in Mei et al.,
1994a) at the base of Bed 6k of the Penglaitan Section.

In Pakistan:
Capitanian-Wuchiapingian (C/W) boundary successions were also reported
from the Salt Range, Pakistan. Loping an strata is in part related to
recognizing a distinct post- Guadalupian depositional sequence because
the boundary level falls within an interval represented by one of the lowest
stands of sea-level in the Phanerozoic. Among the chemostratigraphic
fluctuations, a substantial negative shift of carbon isotopic values occurring
near the G/L boundary may serve as a distinct marker (Wang et al., 2004;
Kaiho etal, 2005). It has been traced around the boundary between Members
3 and 4a in the Salt Range, Pakistan (Baud et al., 1995), which is below the
Clarkina dukouensis Zone (Wardlaw and Mei, 1999).
. Since the upper part of the Wargal Formation is dominated by reversed
polarity in the Salt Range, Pakistan, it is reasonable to refer to this interval as
part of a reversed polarity zone (Haag et al., 1991). The lower boundary of
this polarity zone is below the occurrence of the conodont Clarkina
dukouensis and thus, it correlates with the Early Wuchiapingian (Wardlaw
and Mei, 1998). The GSSP for the C/W boundary is marked by excellent
exposures, continuous deposition, diverse and abundant fossils, favorable
open
marine
facies
for
long
distance
correlation,
and
chemostratigraphic signatures. It has not been subjected to major tectonic
disturbances or strong diagenetic alteration and it is free from vertical facies
changes and accessible. It meets all basic GSSP requirements.

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2.2 The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP)

of the Induan/Olenekian Boundary (Early Triassic):
(Nammal Nala (Salt Range, Pakistan) :
Here we present detailed biostratigraphical results based on new collections
of ammonoids and conodonts from Nammal Nala (Salt Range, Pakistan), a
classical locality for Early Triassic ammonoids, which had never been studied
in detail. Our results show that this section provides by far the most
complete profile for the definition of the Induan-Olenekian boundary (IOB).
The GSSPs golden spike for the base of the Olenekian could be located at
the first occurrence of Flemingitidae (a typical Smithian ammonoid family)
and of the conodont genus Novispathodus. It also coincides with a positive
shift of 13 Corg of ca. 6, with a sequence boundary and with a
palynofacies change (Hermann et al., 2011). In this expanded stratigraphical
series the IOB falls within the Ceratite Marls without any significant facies
change, an ideal configuration for the definition of a boundary. The same
sequence of faunal associations had previously been recognized in Mud (Spiti
Valley, India; Brhwiler et al. 2010), another GSSP candidate for this
boundary proposed by Krystyn et al. (2007a, b). Here, the faunal turnover
occurs 1 m below the previously proposed IOB (in bed 10 instead of bed 13
of Krystyn et al. 2007a, b; Brhwiler et al. 2010), and is associated with a
facies change (from dark shales with early diagenetic calcareous concretions
to massive, bioturbated limestone beds) in a much more condensed section.
Moreover, it has undergone strong diagenetic alteration, so no palyno- logical
record is available. Conodonts also allow detailed correlation with the section
of Chaohu (SE China).

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2.3 The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP)

of the Permian-Triassic Boundary:
The Permian-Triassic Boundary Working
Group (PTBWG) was established in 1981 by
the
International
Commission
on
Stratigraphy (ICS) under the leadership of
T. Tozer. Until 1984, the ammonoid
Otoceras was considered as the index fossil
of the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB). In
1986, Hindeodus parvus was proposed to
substitute Otoceras as the boundary
marker (Yin et al., 1986), which later
obtained the majority approval of PTBWG.
The Chinese Working Group on PTB suggested the base of Hindeodus parvus
horizon, Bed 27c of Meishan section,
Changxing County in Zhejiang Province of South China as the GSSP of PTB.
During a workshop at Calgary meeting (1993), the PTBWG pro- posed four
candidates for the stratotype of this boundary, i.e., Meishan of Zhejiang,
Guryul Ravine of Kash- mir, Shangsi of Sichuan, and Selong of Tibet. In the
later years search for adequate index fossils at the Shangsi section has not
led to valuable discovery. Fruitful teamwork in Selong (Jin et al., 1996;

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Orchard et al, 1994) revealed, however, the conspicuous hiatus right below
the boundary and the uncertainty of the existence of Changhsingian Stage of
this section. Work at Guryul Ravine was blocked by the unstable political
condition in Kashmir. Although important achievements have been made in
other sections of the world, at Gartnerkofel of the Alps, in Arctic Canada and
Spiti region of the Himalayas, generally they are still below the standard
required by the ICS Guidelines, and no substitute proposal for GSSP of PTB
have been made. Meanwhile, works on the Meishan section have been
vigorously carried out to satisfy the GSSP require- ments. Naturally Meishan
became the sole candidate for the GSSP of PTB. In 1996 nine members of
PTBWG published a formal recommendation to set the Permian-Triassic
boundary at the first appearance of Hindeodus parvus, Bed 27c of Meishan
(Yin et al., 1996). This paper later served as the draft for a formal submission
of the PTBWG for ballot. On September 18, 1999, the official Chinese Xinhua
Daily Dispatch declared a list of localities, including Changxing County, that
were ratified to be opened to foreigners by the State Council of China, and
quoted: "The spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security announced that
according to the 'Foreigner entry and exit law of the People's Republic of
China', no travel permits are required for foreigners with valid visas or
residential identifications to travel in the above areas." Thus the Meishan
section meets the ICS requirement of authorized accessibility for a GSSP.
From 1999 to 2000, the proposal for Meishan as the GSSP of PTB passed
three runs of ballot. The results are as follows: (1) Vote by PTBWG (October
1999 to January 2000): voting members, 26; votes received, 23 (88%); yes,
20 (87%); no, 3; (2) Vote by the Sub commission on Triassic Stratigraphy
(April to June, 2000): voting mem- bers, 31; votes received, 27 (87%); yes,
22 (81%); no, 2; abstention, 2; yes for Meishan as GSS, but at different Point,
1; (3) Vote by ICS (September to November, 2000): voting members, 18;
votes received, 17 (94.4%); yes, 17 (100%). The proposal was finally ratified
by the IUGS Executive Committee in March, 2001. Thus, the GSSP of the
Permian-Triassic Boundary is defined at the base of Bed 27c, Meishan Section
D, Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, China, at the horizon where the
conodont Hindeodus parvus first appeared.

In Pakistan:
Yan and Li (1987) noticed an unstable clay between the Chhidru formation
and the lower unit of the Katwai Member at Nammal section of Salt
Range.there is first appearance of H.Parvus at the base of the Mittiwali
Member about 4m away from the base of the Middle Kathwai member(Baud
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et al 1985).it is based on Eventostratigraphy and chemostratigraphy Besides

the earlier 13C curves provided by Xu and Yan (1993) and other authors,
new curves have been presented in Jinet al Bowling et al. (1998) and Hansen
et al.(1999a). The latter two show a similar profile to previous works since in
other sections of the world there is usually only one depletion, and at
Nammal section of Salt Range where two depletions occur, the lower one is
considered to be due to diagenetic cement (Yin, ed., 1996).
The marker of the boundry stratotype point is the appearance of Hindeodus
parvus; Auxiliary marker is 13C excursion.

References:
1. Baud, A., Atudorei, V. and Zachary, S., 1995, The Upper Permian of the
Salt Range revisited: New stable isotope dat: Permophiles, no.29,
pp.3942.
2. Pakistani-Japanese Research Group, 1985, Permian and Triassic
Systems in the Salt Range and Surghar Range, Pakistan, in Nakazawa,
K. and Dick-ins, J. M., eds, The Tethys, her paleogeography and
paleobiogeography from Paleozoic to Mesozoic: Takai University Press,
Tokyo, pp.221312.

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3. https://engineering.purdue.edu/Stratigraphy/gssp/index.php?
parentid=all
4. https://engineering.purdue.edu/Stratigraphy/references/Induan.pdf
5. Brhwiler, T., Ware, D., Bucher, H., Krystyn, L. And Goudemand, N.
2010.
New
Early
Triassic
ammonoid
faunas
from
the
Dienerian/Smithian boundary beds at the Induan/Olenekian GSSP
candidate at Mud (Spiti, Northern India). Journal of Asian Earth
Sciences, 39, 724-739.
6. Chinese Triassic Working Group 2007. Final report of the GSSP
candidate for the I/O boundary at West Pingdingshan Section in
Chaohu, Southeastern China. Albertiana, 36, 10-21.
7. Hermann, E., Hochuli, P. A., Mhay, S., Bucher, H., Brhwiler, T., Ware,
D., Hautmann, M., Roohi, G., Ur-Rehman, K. And Yaseen, A. 2011.
Organic matter and palaeoenvironmental signals during the Early
Triassic biotic recovery: The Salt Range and Surghar Range records.
Sedimentary Geology 234:19-41.
8. Krystyn, L., Bhargava, O. N. And Richoz, S. 2007a. A candidate GSSP
for the base of the Olenekian Stage: Mud at Pin Valley; district Lahul &
Spiti, Himachal Pradesh (Western Himalaya), India. Albertiana, 35, 529.
9. Krystyn, L., Richoz, S. And Bhargava, O. N. 2007b. The InduanOlenekian Boundary (IOB) in Mud an update of the candidate GSSP
section M04. Albertiana, 36, 33-45.
10. Yin, H., Wu, S., Ding,M., Zhang, K., Tong, J., Yang, F. and Dulong, L.,
1996b, The Meishan section. Candidate of the global stratotype
and point (GSSP) of the Permian-Triassic boundary (PTB), in H. Yin,
(eds.), The Paleozoic-Mesozoic Boundary. Candidates of the Global
Stratotype Section and Point of the Permian-Triassic Boundary:
Wuhan, China University of Geosciences Press, p. 31-47.

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