'Gelasian' is a
stage of the
Pliocene Epoch. It spans the time between 2.588 ± 0.005
mya (million years ago) and 1.806 ± 0.005 mya.
[1]. The Gelasian correlates with the period covering the deposition of the
Red Crag of Butley and Newbourn and the
Norwich and
Weybourn Crags, all from
East Anglia (England). Likewise the Gelasian is an equivalent of the
Praetiglian and
Tiglian stages as defined in the
Netherlands.
The
International Union for Quaternary Research (INQUA) has proposed that the Gelasian be moved from the
Pliocene to the
Pleistocene in order that the
geologic time scale be more consistent with the key changes in Earth's climate, oceans, and biota that occurred then (2.588 mya) and corresponding to the
Gauss-Matuyama magnetostratigraphic boundary.
[2]
References
1. GeoWhen Database - Gelasian
2. Clague, John ''et al.'' (2006) "Open Letter by INQUA Executive Committee" ''Quaternary Perspective, the INQUA Newsletter'' International Union for Quaternary Research 16(1):