Upper Pliocene Diatom Complexes and its Significance for Establishing the Lower Boundary of Quarter (South of the Far East)

Pushkar V.S.

International Journal on Algae, 2021, 23(3): 305–312

ABSTRACT: Establishing the lower boundary of the Quarter at the level of 2.58 million years was proposed by the International Union of Geological Sciences (Norway, 2009), and adopted on the proposal of the International Commission on Stratigraphy. This decision has caused heated discussion, requiring a serious substantiation of the new position of the stratigraphic boundary, and the inclusion of the Gelasian stage of the Pliocene in the Quarter. This position could significantly affect the development of the structure and hierarchy of stratigraphic units of the Quarter. The issue of the criteria for drawing a new border, its unification in various geographic regions, and regional geological stratotypes is especially considered. This paper considers both the criteria and eligibility of a new Neogene-Quaternary boundary in the Upper Cenozoic continental sediments of the Primorye by utilizing diatoms. 

KEY WORDS: Quarter, Pliocene, Gelazian stage, Shufansky Horizon, paleoclimate, Primorye