Quaternary as a proper name

Posted by Leon Follmer 14 Jul 2004 22:01:32

I agree and can support either proposal. Perhaps the proposal to best serve most interests would be to adopt Brad Pillans' proposal that the Quaternary be a formal Subsystem of the Neogene, extending from the beginning of the Gelasian Stage of the Pliocene to the present.

The main support for retaining Quaternary as a name is not in the fact that it is important but that it has evolved in meaning to what it means to Quaternary geologists today. As a name it has acquired a new meaning that is not encumbered by its origin. Many words in language evolve to new meanings, which then take precedence over the original meanings. Because the word is widely understood in its modern context, is the primary reason to retain it for formal usage.

The beginning of the Quaternary does not matter much to most people but it needs to be defined for completeness. Those who work with this issue should choose the point that best fits the circumstances and nomenclatural needs.

Leon Follmer
Champaign, IL, USA