The Neogene: Part 1

Summary The Neogene is taken to include the Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene and Holocene, and a well established sequence of marine stages now exists from the early Miocene Aquitanian to the Calabrian in the early Pleistocene. Up-to-date reviews are provided for the classification of continental Pleistocene deposits, oxygen and carbon isotope stratigraphy, organic geochemical stratigraphy and the letter classification of the East Indies Neogene. Major boundaries of the Miocene have been narrowed down to durations of about 1 Ma or less and to progressively shorter durations for the Pleistocene to Holocene boundaries. Future work will have to identify and date these boundaries in stratotype sections. Authors contributions are identified by initials at the end of each section.