International Commission on Stratigraphy （ICS）

The International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) of IUGS is a body of expert stratigraphers founded for the purpose of promoting and coordinating long-term international cooperation and of establishing standards in stratigraphy. The ICS has five main objectives.     

The International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences （INHIGEO） Symposium on the historical relationship between geology and religion

The 32nd INHIGEO Symposium was held between 28 July and 5 August 2007 in Eichstatt, northeast Bavaria. This part of Bavaria is celebrated for many things, not least its diverse Jurassic fossils. Amongst the latter, the most famous is one of the great ＂missing links＂ in paleontology, the feathered Archaeopteryx with its reptilian teeth. Equally renowned is the lithographic limestone from Solnhofen that was used to produce the early illustrations of Archaeopteryx along with other countless maps and figures in publications well known to historians of geology. It was fitting that the symposium theme was ＂The Historical Relationship of Geology and Religion＂.     

9th International Symposium on the Ordovician System, 7th International Graptolite Conference ＆ Field Meeting of the International Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy

The “9th International Symposium on the Ordovician System, 7th International Graptolite Conference & Field Meeting of the International Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy” commenced on August 12,2003, by receiving in San Juan City to all participants of the pre-symposia field trip through the Precordillera of Mendoza and San Juan provinces, western Argentina. On August 13, the field trip began with the purpose to show significant Lower Paleozoic outcrops from diverse settings of the Precordillera geological province. This fivedays excursion was led by Drs. S. H. Peralta.     

INHIGEO： The International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences

INHIGEO is a long-standing Commission of the International Union of Geological Sciences (lUGS) and an Affiliate of the International Union for the History and Philosophy of Science (Division of History of Science) (IUHPS (DHS)). Of late, its activities are funded by these two bodies in a ratio of about 4:1.     

A study on the environmental conditions of the microsparite （Molar-tooth） carbonates

Along with the progress in research on the Precambrian, Molar-tooth carbonates (simplified as MT, or microsparite carbonates or MT structure) which were formed in the Middle-Late Proterozoic have become a hot subject recently. The Proterozoic Molar-tooth (MT) carbonate rocks refer to those Meso- to Neoproterozoic (1600-650 Ma) carbonates with MT structure, i.e., a series of peculiar, ptygmatically folded and spar-filled cracks in fine-grained carbonates of Precambrian age, located in the environment of mid- to inner ramp and shallow platform. MTS, like a bridge connecting the inorganic world with the organic one, are closely related to the evolution of paleo-oceans, atmosphere and biosphere. Their development and/or recession are/is related to the origin of life and the abruption of sedimentary geochemistry events of marine carbonates. By using modern instruments and testing methods adequately, the contents of oxides in sandstones were measured and the REE distribution pattern curves were established; an accurate value of isotopic ratio of 87Sr/86Sr was obtained, that is, the age of MT formation is about 750-900 Ma; C and O isotopes of some fresh micrite limestone samples were analyzed; the energy spectrum analysis revealed that the MT consists mainly of microspar calcite, while as for its chemical composition, the matrix shows outstanding peaks of Ca, Mg, Al, Si, and K. The geochemical indicators proved that Neoproterozoic MT carbonates in the Jilin-Liaoning region were developed at the margin of a stable continent, in the torrid zone where the paleo-temperature was about 50℃, the seawater had normal salinity when MT was formed during the Wanlong period in southern Jilin and during the Yingchengzi and Xingmincun periods in eastern Liaoning. The sedimentary environment was located in the inner ramp. In summary, it is of great importance to understand the origin of MT, ascertain the paleo-climate and paleo-environment characteristics, constrain the age and the stratigraphic division and comparison of the Proterozoic so as to study the geochemical characteristics of MT carbonates and their formation environment.     

Three sessions of the International Geological Congress held in Russia and the USSR （1897,1937, 1984）

Editorial note--The International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences has undertaken to organize a series of short articles for Episodes on the history of the different Sessions of the International Geological Congress. These were held as follows:France (1878), Italy (1881), Germany (1885), UK (1888), USA(1891), Switzerland (1894), Russia (1897), France (1900), Austria(1903), Mexico (1906), Sweden (1910), Canada (1913), Belgium(1922), Spain (1926), South Africa (1929), USA (1933), USSR(1937), UK (1948), Algeria (1952), Mexico (1956), Denmark/Finland/Norway/Sweden/Iceland (1960), India (1964), Czechoslovakia(1968), Canada (1972), Australia (1976), France (1980), USSR(1984), USA (1989), Japan (1992), China (1996), Brazil (2000). Any authors wishing to offer contributions on the meetings in Mexico(1906), Canada (1913), Belgium, Denmark, India, Canada (1972),and Brazil are invited to contact the INHIGEO Secretary-General at: doldroyd@optushome.com.au. The papers will not appear inchronological order.     

International Geological Correlation Programme （IGCP） ／International Geoscience Programme （IGCP）

Although many countries, especially from the developing world, share the most exciting geological features, geological structures and natural resources, research activities at various institutions are undertaken in isolation. The IGCP is unique as an international Programme that brings together several thousands of scientists from different disciplines, to stimulate dialogue and facilitate communication among     

The Working Group on International Borders——Geoenvironmental Concerns （IBC）

The Working Group on International Borders---Geoenvironmental Concerns (IBC) was established in late 2003 and operates under the auspices of The IUGS Commission on Geological Sciences for Environmental Planning (COGEOENVIRONMENT). The following is a brief report of the first year‘s activities of the IBC during 2003.     

International Symposium on Geoscience of the Northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau──Marking the 20~(th) Anniversary of the Sino-French Cooperative Research on Geoscience

Sponsored by the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People*s Republic of China, China Seismological Bureau, Ministere de Ia Recherche de Ia France and Ministere des Affaires etrangres de Ia France, the international symposium on Geoscience of the northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was held in Beijing on October 8-15, 2000. After the meeting in Beijing a field-work trip began from Dunhuang (Gansu province), Aksay, Dacaidan (Qinghai province), Golmud to Xidatang (near the Kunlun Shan…