The North American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature celebrated its 50th anniversary in December, 1996. Originally named the American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature, the Commission was later expanded to include representatives from the major geological organizations in Canada and Mexico, with the goal of promoting uniformity in stratigraphic nomenclature throughout North America.
The roots of the organization, however, go much deeper, and ultimately stem from the 1930s efforts of a relatively small group of geologists concerned with the lack of uniformity in stratigraphic terminology and in the application of stratigraphic principles throughout the nation. As a result of these concerns, a Committee on Stratigraphic Nomenclature was struck and began the task of formulating guidelines in stratigraphic practices. The resulting guidelines, called "Classification and Nomenclature of Rock Units," were published in the Bulletin of the Geological Society of America in 1933 (G.H. Ashley et al., Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, v. 44, pp.423-459).
In 1941, R.C. Moore proposed a gathering of representatives from the Association of American State Geologists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Geological Society of America, U.S. Geological Survey and Geological Survey of Canada to delve into the possibility of forming a permanent body concerned with stratigraphic practices. Following World War II, R.C. Moore again initiated discussions among the same groups. In 1946, the first official meeting of the American Commission on Stratigraphic Nomenclature was held - at which time the Commission became a permanent body. Moore was elected chairman and M.G. Cheney, vice-chairman.
Membership
The present-day Commission comprises three representatives each from of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Association of American State Geologists, Geological Society of America, United States Geological Survey, and the Geological Survey of Canada; two each from of the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists and Geological Association of Canada; and one each from the Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petróleros, Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, and Instituto de Geología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico. In addition, there are two Commissioners-at-Large. Representatives serve three years, with staggered terms. Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected from within the Commission membership, and each serves one year.
Most members of the Commission are representatives of the fields of paleontology, biostratigraphy and stratigraphy.
Purposes
The purposes of the Commission are to
Publications
The Commission has relatively few publications, but its chief publication, the North American Stratigraphic Code, (in PDF) the latest complete version of which was revised in 2005, serves as a guide to all stratigraphic practices throughout North America. The influence of the North American Stratigraphic Code on the nature, content, and stratigraphic philosophy of the recently-published International Stratigraphic Guide cannot be under-estimated. Although all changes to the Code are made by and through the Commission, any geoscientist may submit proposals at any time for suggested changes or additions to the Code.
The Commission is continually updating the Code, adding sections as new technologies develop, improving and clarifying language usage in the Code, and periodically revising entire sections. Recently, a project to correct errors in language, remove ambiguities in wording, and to make minor emendations to the entire Code, was completed. This included a complete revision of the "On Biostratigraphic Units" section. Discussions for amending the "Hydrostratigraphic Units" section is progressing; and extensive discussions are planned on the relationship between "Allostratigraphy" and "Sequence Stratigraphy" - including whether there should be a separate "Sequence Stratigraphy Units" section in the Code.
All Commission publications have been courtesy of the Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, including Notes submitted at irregular intervals - ranging from Note 1, "Articles of Organization and Procedure," to the most recent Note 65 (2005), "Records of the Stratigraphic Commission 1995-2002."
Usage of Stratigraphic Terminology in Papers, Illustrations, and Talks is an excellent summary of the Code and how to communicate stratigraphy.
Meetings
The Commission meets once a year in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 63rd Annual Meeting of the NACSN will be held in conjunction with the Geological Society of America National Meeting in Monday, October 2008, in Houston, Texs. Meetings are open to the public.
The current Commission consists of
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS (3)
Robert R. Jordan (term 2007-2009)
Donald E. Owen (2007-2009)
Art Donovan (2005-2008)
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN STATE GEOLOGISTS (3)
Ernest A. Mancini (2005-2008)
Robert H. Fakundiny (2004-2007)
Berry H. (Nick) Tew (2007-2009)
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA (3)
Matthew Saltzman (2004-2007)
Brett McLauren (2007-2009)
Ed Landing (2005-2008)
Lucy E. Edwards (2004-2007)
David Fullerton (2005-2008)
Randall Orndorff (2007-2009)
GEOLGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA (3)
A. P. (Tony) Hamblin (2007-2009)
Rob Rainbird (2005-2008)
R.G. Anderson (2004-2007)
CANADIAN SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGISTS (2)
Brian R. Pratt (2007-2009)
Octavian Catuneanu (2005-2008)
GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (2)
Robert Michael Easton (2005-2008)
Frank Brunton (2007-2009)
INSTITUTO DE GEOLOGIA DE LA UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTONOMA DE MEXICO (1)
Ricardo Barragán Manzo (2007-2010)
SOCIETY FOR SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY (2)
Vitor Abreu (2007-2009)
Peter Sadler (2007-2008)
ASOCIACION MEXICANA DE GEOLOGOS PETROLEROS (1)
vacant
SOCIEDAD GEOLOGICA MEXICANA (1)
vacant
SERVICIO GEOLOGICO MEXICANO (1)
vacant
COMMISSIONERS-AT-LARGE
Norm Lasca (2007-2009)
Walt Manger (2007-2009)
John van Couvering (2005-2007)
Ashton Embry (2005-2008)
Jared D. Morrow (2007-2009) Chairman (2007-2008)
This web site is maintained by Randall C. Orndorff
U.S. Geological Survey
MS 908 National Center
Reston, Virginia 20192
U.S.A.
rorndorf@usgs.gov
This page updated April 30, 2008.