Quaternary System

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Chronostratigraphy: Cenozoic Erathem

Primary source

Willman, H. B., Elwood Atherton, T. C. Buschbach, Charles Collinson, John C. Frye, M. E. Hopkins, Jerry A. Lineback, and Jack A. Simon, 1975, Handbook of Illinois Stratigraphy: Illinois State Geological Survey Bulletin 95, 261 p.

Contributing author(s)

John C. Frye and H. B. Willman

Name

Original description

Derivation

Other names

History/background

The Quaternary System was proposed in 1829 by Desnoyers (Wilmarth, 1925, p. 43), who recognized it as a unit distinct from the Tertiary System. Its definition depends on the placement of the end of Tertiary time. The Pleistocene Series also began at that time, and in Illinois classification the Quaternary System is equivalent to that one series. In 1925 the Pleistocene was classified as a system in Illinois, and the term "Quaternary" was not used until 1950 when the Pleistocene was reduced to a series and the Quaternary reinstated as a system. The Quaternary System includes the rocks being deposited at present.

Type section

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Reference section

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Stratigraphic relationships

Extent and thickness

Lithology

Core(s)

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Well log characteristics

Fossils

Age and correlation

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Economic importance

Remarks

References

WILMARTH, M. G., 1925, Geologic time classification of the United States Geological Survey compared with other classifications: United States Geological Survey Bulletin 769, 138 p.

ISGS Codes

Stratigraphic Code Geo Unit Designation
0015
Q