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Society UpdateStratigraphic ColumnTraditional names and other exceptions –sometimes confusingThe International Stratigraphic Guide (ISG) has severalclauses that allow the retention of lithostratigraphic unitnames that do not meet the current guidelines. Findingthese non-compliant names in the Australian Stratigraphic UnitsDatabase can sometimes create confusion about what iscurrently permitted, so I thought it would be worth discussingsome of these exceptions.One clause that was mainly applied when we first adopted theISG in 1978 was the provision to ‘preserve traditional and wellestablishednames’ (3.B.3.g.). This allowed the retention of namesthat did not include a geographic component, such as the Olderand Newer Volcanics of Victoria (now being replaced) and theSpirifer yassensis Limestone Member, New South Wales. This clausealso gave rise to some uncertainty about whether Tasmania’s‘Jurassic dolerite’ should be capitalised and considered a formalname or continue as an informal reference to all dolerite of thatage in Tasmania. Tasmanian Dolerite is the agreed name used inthe Surface Geology of Australia 1:1 000 000-scale datasets,although we are still lacking a formal definition.Other kinds of well-established names that were allowedto continue under this clause were those that did not use a lithologicalor other accepted term. The Widgiemooltha Dyke Suite isin this category because is uses a ‘form’ term — dyke — rather thana lithological term such as dolerite or gabbro. The Crystal BrookVolcanic Neck and the Bagstowe Ring Dyke Complex are otherexamples of unit names that use ‘form’ terms, and would not beaccepted as new names now.The more recent adoption of the International Union ofGeological Sciences (IUGS) ‘Classification of Igneous Rocks’, inconjunction with the ISG, is gradually seeing the replacement of‘Adamellite’ units, mostly with ‘Monzogranite’ units. However, insome areas the ‘traditional’ name has been retained until someonehas time to review the original name and unit definition.Another clause to do with the geographic component of unitnames is 3.B.3.a. This allows a stratigraphic unit to retain its namewhen a place name changes its spelling; for example KosciuskoGranite (place name now Kosciuszko) and the KombolgieSandstone (place name now Kambolgie). This also holds if the placename changes altogether; for example Violet Town, NSW changedto Tingira Heights in 1960s. In this case the decision to go aheadand change the Violet Town Conglomerate Member allowed theuse of Violet Town Volcanics in Victoria later on.Accepted indexing practice for the Australian StratigraphicUnits Database (ASUD) may also be a source of some confusion.All new names should be checked for suitability prior topublication. A simple way of doing this is to send an email tostratnames@ga.gov.au, which circulates proposed names toappropriate State and Territory representatives on the AustralianStratigraphy Commission. Nevertheless, some unsuitable namesslip through the cracks and get into print. The ASUD indexersrecord what is published, but do try to indicate if they know a nameis misspelt or does not meet the guidelines in other ways. Indexersdo this by recording the name as informal. Sadly some authors andreviewers fail to check the status or currency of units they readand write about.Regrettably there is also a backlog of published material awaitingindexing, so the database is not always as up-to-date as wewould like. However, the priority system aims to ensure that newmaps and significant State and Territory Survey publications areindexed as soon as possible after publication. The reservationprocess for new names also assists in getting approved names intothe database promptly. Although names are established bydefinition and publication, there can often be useful notes attachedto reserved name entries too.I hope this review of some of the exceptions to the namingconventions of the ISG helps in understanding some of the entriesin the ASUD, but questions are always welcome, as is advice onany updates that need to be made.CATHY BROWNNational Convener, Australian Stratigraphy Commissionc/- Geoscience AustraliaGPO Box 378, Canberra ACT 2601cathy.brown@ga.gov.au or cathyeb@netspeed.com.auOther Stratigraphy Commission contacts are available at:http://www.gsa.org.au/management/standing_committee.htmlor throughhttp://www.ga.gov.au/products-services/data-applications/reference-databases/stratigraphic-units.htmlTAG September 2012| 17
Society UpdateHeritage MattersThe past month has been an eventful time with ongoingwork by the Geotourism Subcommittee establishing linkswith the Australian National Landscapes programmanagers. The subcommittee also organised GSA-facilitated talksby José Brilha in Sydney and Adelaide, and worked on asubmission by GSA following the release of the AustralianHeritage Strategy public consultation paper.GSA NSW and SA Division talksby José BrilhaOn 13 and 19 July, in Sydney and Adelaide, respectively, ProfessorJosé Brilha, University of Minho (Portugal), and Editor-in-Chiefof Geoheritage, gave GSA-sponsored talks entitled ‘Challenges inGeoconservation — towards Science, Education and Geotourism’.In his talks, José outlined the aims of geoconservation in theidentification, protection and management of sites of geologicalheritage significance (ie, those exceptional occurrences ofgeodiversity with particular importance for science, educationand geotourism). José outlined how, during the last two decades,geoconservation has been developing as a new discipline in thegeosciences. Today, geoconservation is researched and developedin different institutions (universities, geological surveys andscientific associations) involving an increasing number of people.The study and characterisation of geosites now uses the samescientific approach taken in other geosciences, as the researchresults are published in journals and the subject matter ispresented in congresses all over the world.The first international journal fully dedicated to geoconservation— Geoheritage — was first published by Springer in2009 under the umbrella of the European Association forthe Conservation of the Geological Heritage (ProGEO). Theformalisation of geoheritage as a scientific discipline is alsoachieved through the publication of Master and PhD theses.Geological heritage involves multidisciplinary links in science, andwith society. The geopark concept based on the conservation ofgeological heritage is just one example of the latter. By promotinggeotourism activities, geoparks promote the sustainable developmentof local populations, taking into account also the biologicaland cultural resources of the territory. Under the auspices of theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO), the Global Geoparks Network (GGN), created in 2004,today includes almost 80 geoparks around the world.Globally, progress in geoconservation is occurring on anumber of fronts including:n strengthening geoconservation initiatives in international institutions— International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN), International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS),International Geophysical Union (IGU) and UNESCOn consolidating a global inventory of geosites withinternational scientific relevancen developing adequate legislation to protect geositesn reinforcing science-orientated decisions and science researchn growing sustainable global geopark networksn increasing the involvement of young peoplen promoting jobs creation.Following José’s talk to the SA Division, Bob Major (Chair GSASA Division Heritage Subcommittee) and Roma Schneider (FieldGeology Club of South Australia) kindly arranged an excursion toHallett Cove and Maslin Bay for José to view some superb sitesof geoheritage significance in South Australia.Australian Heritage Strategypublic consultation paperA public consultation paper was developed by the Department ofSustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communitiesfollowing consultation with various stakeholders. Discussionpoints and questions were provided for the community torespond to. GSA was consulted after the call for public commentwas made, after the Department commissioned Dr GraemeWorboys to write an essay entitled ‘Conserving Australia’sGeoheritage’.In his essay, Graeme concluded that “Australia’s geoheritageis part of our national heritage and part of what makes our countryspecial. It needs to be officially recognised, listed, adequatelyprotected and effectively managed and it needs to be celebratedas an integral part of the richness of being Australian.” The essaysummarised his findings as follows in the next paragraphs.The conservation of Australia’s geoheritage, an often nonrenewableresource and part of our national heritage, should beimproved through new collaborative whole-of-Australia partnerships,new research investments, the generation of newinformation, the generation of a National Geoheritage List andthe implementation of improved training, site protection andactive conservation management guided by a NationalGeoheritage Conservation Strategy. These improvements include:For gaps in geodiversity information1. The mapping of Australia’s geomorphology/landforms2. The development of a taxonomically correct and peerreviewedAustralian mineral species list and potentially a‘virtual’ e-National minerals collection3. The development of a taxonomically correct and peerreviewedAustralian fossil species list and potentially a ‘virtual’e-National fossil collection18 |TAG September 2012
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Page 3 and 4: From the PresidentHello — let me
Page 5 and 6: Society UpdateBusiness ReportThe Se
Page 7: Society UpdateTowards a GSA Climate
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Page 13 and 14: Society UpdateFrom the AJES Hon Edi
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Page 21 and 22: Newsfrom the DivisionsJoint GSA Vic
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Page 25 and 26: NRG updateThe news is all good for
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Page 29 and 30: Feature 2The Square Kilometre Array
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Page 37 and 38: AwardsGSA MEDALSThe Geological Soci
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Page 47 and 48: Calendar201215-17 OctoberMines and
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