Regional committee on Pacific Paleogene Stratigraphy

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Cross-posted to Paleonet, Micropal, Vrtpaleo, and emailed/regular mailed to
various individuals.  Please circulate further as seems appropriate.

The late D. Graham Jenkins (former Chair, International Subcommission on
Paleogene Stratigraphy, IUGS Commission on Stratigraphy) proposed that a
"Regional Committee on Pacific Paleogene Stratigraphy" (RCPPS) be formed
to:
1, foster research into Paleogene stratigraphy,
2, arrange periodic meetings,
3, provide the subcommission with an annual report and a list of publications.

The RCPPS should involve a small group of active scientists who share a
common interest in broader issues of Pacific Paleogene stratigraphy.
Participants would apply their specialist knowledge to key issues of the
Pacific Paleogene.  Such issues might include (no particular order):
1, what was the Pacific during the Paleogene?,
2, changing "gateways" to the Pacific (Panama, south of Australia, Drake
Passage etc),
3, post K/T boundary recovery of biotas,
4, climate signals from Pacific biotas,
5, climate signals from Pacific strata (e.g. ice signals from Antarctic
margin),
6, isotope history,
7, current status of biostratigraphic correlation over longer distances
both north-south and east-west,
8, patterns of evolution, extinction and geographic change in particular
fossil groups (presumably mostly marine organisms but could address
terrestrial biotas).

If the idea of RCPPS generates sufficient interest, and it can be shown
that there are issues, as above) which warrant some sort of coordinated
research, events may lead to a formal IGCP on the Pacific Paleogene.  It is
unlikely that an IGCP would generate major research funding, but IGCP
support could provide money towards travel costs of attending relevant
meetings and perhaps costs of publishing.

Interested in participating?  Have some ideas about possible directions?
Please respond  by email to: ewan.fordyce@stonebow.otago.ac.nz,  preferably
by Monday 25 September 1995, so that I can (belatedly) get the RCPPS under
way.

R. Ewan Fordyce, Associate Professor, Dept of Geology,
University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, NZ
fax 64-3-479-7527, ph. 64-3-479-7510