Gelasian

The Gelasian is an age in the international geologic 2.1 Notes

timescale or a stage in chronostratigraphy, being the earli-
est or lowest subdivision of the Quaternary period/system [1] GeoWhen Database
and Pleistocene epoch/series. It spans the time be- [2] The Gelasian was first proposed by Rio et al. (1998)
tween 2.588 ± 0.005 Ma (million years ago) and 1.806
± 0.005 Ma.[1] It follows the Piacenzian stage (part of the [3] Gibbard, Philip L.; Head, Martin J.; Walker, Michael J.
Pliocene) and is followed by the Calabrian stage. C. (2009), “Formal ratification of the Quaternary Sys-
tem/Period and the Pleistocene Series/Epoch with a base
During the Gelasian the Red Crag of Butley and New- at 2.58 Ma”, Journal of Quaternary Science 25 (2): 96,
bourn and the Norwich and Weybourne Crags, all from doi:10.1002/jqs.1338
East Anglia (England) were deposited. The Gelasian is an
equivalent of the Praetiglian and Tiglian stages as defined [4] Gradstein et al. (2005), p. 28; Rio et al. (1998)
in the Netherlands, which are commonly used in north- [5] Gradstein et al. (2005); Rio et al. (1998)
western Europe.

2.2 Literature
1 Definition • Gradstein, Felix M.; Ogg, James G. & Smith, Alan
G. (eds.) (2005) A Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cam-
bridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, ISBN 0-
The Gelasian was introduced in the geologic timescale
521-78142-6
in 1998.[2] It is named after the Sicilian city of Gela in
the south of the island. In 2009 it was moved from the • Rio, Domenico; Sprovieri, Rodolfo; Castradori, Da-
Pliocene to the Pleistocene so that the geologic time scale vide; and Di Stefano, Enrico; 1998. The Gelasian
be more consistent with the key changes in Earth’s cli- Stage (Upper Pliocene): A new unit of the global
mate, oceans, and biota that occurred 2.588 million years standard chronostratigraphic scale. Episodes, 21(2):
ago.[3] 82-87
The base of the Gelasian is defined
magnetostratigraphically as the base of the Matuyama
(C2r) chronozone (at the Gauss-Matuyama magne-
tostratigraphic boundary), isotopic stage 103. Above
this line notable extinctions of the calcareous nanofossils
occur: Discoaster pentaradiatus and Discoaster surcu-
lus.[1][4] The GSSP for the Gelasian is located at the
Monte Sant Nicola near Gela.
The top of the Gelasian is defined magnetostratigraphi-
cally as the end of the Olduvai (C2n) chronozone, and
faunally as the extinction level of the calcareous nanofos-
sil Discoaster brouweri (base of biozone CN13). Above
the Gelasian as the first occurrences of the calcareous
nannofossil Gephyrocapsa sp. and the extinction level of
the planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides extremus.[1][5]
During the Gelasian the ice sheets in the Northern Hemi-
sphere began to grow, which is seen as the beginning of
the Quaternary ice age.

2 References

1
2 3 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

3 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

3.1 Text
• Gelasian Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelasian?oldid=699922291 Contributors: Charles Matthews, Jyril, Phe, Urhixidur, Vsmith,
Bender235, E2m, Vuong Ngan Ha, YurikBot, Dysmorodrepanis~enwiki, Deville, Sardanaphalus, Bejnar, Woudloper, Gyopi, Outriggr
(2006-2009), Alaibot, CieloEstrellado, Thijs!bot, Parsa, Chrisdab, Mikenorton, InnerJustice, Pterre, Bluetetrahedron, AlleborgoBot, Tom
Meijer, SieBot, Wilson44691, Escape Orbit, Eebahgum, Mild Bill Hiccup, Estirabot, Addbot, Leszek Jańczuk, Blue Square Thing, 37ophi-
uchi, Zorrobot, Vini 17bot5, AnomieBOT, Citation bot, Xqbot, Look2See1, Chermundy, Pseudofusulina, SamX, Lollipop and Anonymous:
7

3.2 Images
• File:Geological_time_spiral.png Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Geological_time_spiral.png License:
Public domain Contributors: Graham, Joseph, Newman, William, and Stacy, John, 2008, The geologic time spiral—A path to the past
(ver. 1.1): U.S. Geological Survey General Information Product 58, poster, 1 sheet. Available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2008/58/
Original artist: United States Geological Survey

3.3 Content license

• Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0