Welcome to the KGS Stratigraphic Nomenclature Website

This site is intended to be an up-to-date resource for information and issues affecting stratigraphy and stratigraphic nomenclature in Kansas. On this site you will find background information, completed and current KGS Stratigraphic Nomenclature Committee activities, guidelines for revisions to stratigraphic units, links to appropriate references, and a link to an online chart showing formally accepted nomenclature (including newly adopted revisions).

Stratigraphic Nomenclature in Kansas

Thirty-eight years have passed since the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) published a stratigraphic guide and chart for Kansas (see D.E. Zeller, ed., 1968, The Stratigraphic Succession in Kansas: Kansas Geological Survey, Bulletin 189, 81p.). Since then, several changes to the State's stratigraphic nomenclature have been suggested or proposed--both formally through the peer-reviewed literature, and informally in guidebooks, open-file reports, and other products. In addition, stratigraphy is now contemplated on a global scale, which necessitates consideration beyond the borders of Kansas.

The KGS has formed the Stratigraphic Nomenclature Committee to address stratigraphic issues and establish formally accepted stratigraphic nomenclature for Kansas. As the Committee works through the stratigraphic nomenclatural issues that have arisen since Zeller's 1968 publication, the progress, resulting publications, and pertinent references will be posted on this page. Ultimately, the product will be a new stratigraphic guide and chart for Kansas.

The Committee has established guidelines for revising Kansas' stratigraphic nomenclature (see the Committee Charter at http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/Strat/commit.html). Its work is based on three key principles:

Zeller (1968) is recognized as the most recent accepted stratigraphic guide and chart for Kansas.
Nomenclature changes will follow the North American Code of Stratigraphic Nomenclature (2005).
A global effort to standardize international stratigraphic nomenclature is being lead by the International Commission on Stratigraphy; these changes will be adopted as they apply to Kansas.

The Stratigraphic Succession in Kansas, edited by Doris Zeller, 1968
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/Bulletins/189/index.html
The most recent accepted stratigraphic guide and chart for Kansas.

North American Stratigraphic Code
http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/NACSN/Code2/code2.html
Requirements for formally named geologic units.

International Commission on Stratigraphy
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/Strat/internat.html
International stratigraphy overview.

Current Stratigraphic Nomenclature Committee Activities

The Stratigraphic Nomenclature Committee is prioritizing issues to be addressed in working towards the goal of producing a revised stratigraphic guide and chart. The Committee's first priority was to resolve the Carboniferous-Permian Boundary issue in Kansas. The Committee investigated this issue and published the results in 2006 (see below). The Committee has identified associated issues concerning Permian stratigraphy, and issues with Cenozoic stratigraphy as priorities that are currently under review (see below). Updates, results, and any revisions will be posted on this site and published by the Committee.

Published Revisions to Kansas Stratigraphy

Carboniferous-Permian Boundary

The Stratigraphic Nomenclature Committee reviewed the Carboniferous-Permian Boundary issue in Kansas and published the results as KGS Bulletin 252, part 2. The abstract, full reference, link to the publication, and revised stratigraphic chart highlighting the revision are included here.

Abstract

The placement of the Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian)-Permian boundary in Kansas has been debated since the rocks of this age were first described and named. With the ratification of the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Permian System in the southern Ural Mountains, the Carboniferous-Permian boundary in Kansas can now be confidently defined. Based on the identification of the first occurrence of the conodont Streptognathodus isolatus that definitively correlates the Kansas rock section to the basal Permian GSSP, the Carboniferous-Permian boundary in Kansas can be placed at the base of the Bennett Shale Member of the Red Eagle Limestone.

The Kansas Geological Survey proposes that the Tuttle Creek Lake Spillway section, located in northeast Kansas, be considered for the Carboniferous-Permian boundary stratotype in Kansas. It is further suggested that the stratigraphic position of the Carboniferous-Permian boundary in the Tuttle Creek Lake Spillway section be considered as a potential North American stratotype.

In addition to being a significant biostratigraphic boundary, the Carboniferous-Permian boundary and enclosing strata also have significance because they reflect important geologic events and changes that occurred on a regional and global scale.

Reference
Sawin, R.S., West, R.R., Franseen, E.K., Watney, W.L., and McCauley, J.R., 2006, Carboniferous-Permian Boundary in Kansas, Midcontinent, U.S.A.; in, Current Research in Earth Sciences: Kansas Geological Survey, Bulletin 252, part 2.
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Current/2006/sawin/index.html
Online chart highlighting changes

Stratigraphic Issues Under Review

Cenozoic Stratigraphy
Status and Rank of the Tertiary and Quaternary--Discussion

Permian Stratigraphy
Review of Permian Nomenclature
This review is necessitated by: 1) New placement of the Carboniferous-Permian boundary at the base of the Bennett Shale Member of the Red Eagle Limestone; 2) Changes at the Series/Epoch and Stage/Age ranks by the international community, and; 3) Outdated terminology used on Zeller's chart.