[paleosol] Re: Quaternary comment summaries and status

Posted by Phil Gibbard 15 Jul 2004 23:22:23

Dear Jim,

Many thanks for your summary and details of the 'Quaternary System'
debate as you see it. I'm pleased that there will be an open
discussion of the issues at Florence. Although your summary raises a
number of interesting issues, If you'll allow me to, I would like to
clarify one point you make concerning the last ICS vote on the position
of the Plio-Pleistocene boundary in 1998. You say:

"It should be noted that the definition of the Pleistocene Epoch was
re-confirmed by ICS/IUGS in 1998, during a voting process that also
involved equal participation of INQUA".

When I was Secretary of the INQUA Strat Commission it became clear that
the voting procedure adopted was rather unequal and undemocratic - the
Neogene group outnumbering the Quaternary voting members. I was not
present at these deliberations but those who were strongly suggest that
the 'dice were loaded' in favour of the status quo. In the words of
the immortal Pete Townsend - "we won't get fooled again!".

See you in Florence!

Cheers,

Phil

On 15 Jul 2004, at 13:33, jogg@purdue.edu wrote:

> Dear Quaternary stratigraphers, ICS officers, and others,
> Thank you for the numerous e-mails on the Quaternary situation.
> Attached is
> an edited composite from these, a copy of Brad Pillans proposal,
> summary of the
> Quaternary status that had resulted from 1983-1998 decisions, and other
> relevant items. We will see many of you at the meetings at the
> Florence IGC,
> where this topic will be an important one.
> Sincerely submitted -- Jim Ogg (ICS
> secretary)> _Forum_Pillans.pdf>> df>
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Philip Gibbard
Godwin Institute of Quaternary Research
Department of Geography
University of Cambridge
Downing Street
CAMBRIDGE CB2 3EN
England

Tel: +44 (0)1223 333924
Fax: +44 (0)1223 333392
e-mail: plg1@cam.ac.uk
web: http://www-qpg.geog.cam.ac.uk/people/gibbard/