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# Stability and precision in chronostratigraphic definition: The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) is the solution

## Details

**Authors** David A.T. Harper, Lucia Angiolini, Charles M. Henderson, Thomas Servais

**Year** 2026

**Publisher** Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

**Kind of work** article

**Discipline** Geology

**Applied** false

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113515) 
10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113515

## In authors' words

### Abstract

The concept of the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) to define the bases of chronostratigraphic units has persisted for over fifty years. Each boundary consists of a specific point in rock succession, accompanied by biological and/or other markers, representing a unique temporal reference for worldwide correlation. These geological standards provide precision and stability to geological time definition, establishing a universal framework for Earth science communication. This represents the geoscience community's largest collaborative undertaking. Recently, criticisms challenging the GSSP methodology have emerged, making it timely to address misconceptions and reaffirm the necessity and demonstrated success of this approach.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

To defend the GSSP system for defining chronostratigraphic boundaries against recent methodological criticism.

### How they did it (methods)

Conceptual and methodological analysis of the GSSP framework, contrasting the function of boundary-defining points with that of correlative markers.

### What they found (results)

The authors argue that a specific point in a rock section defines each chronostratigraphic boundary, while separate biological and physical markers only correlate that boundary across distant sites worldwide, and that conflating these two roles is the source of most criticism of the GSSP system.

## Commentary

### In short

A study of how geologists sustain a single, precisely located distinction (the boundary point) as distinct from the correlative markers used to relate far-flung rock sections to it.

**Patterns it shows** D, R

**Added** 2026-09-20

**How to cite this** David A.T. Harper, Lucia Angiolini, Charles M. Henderson, Thomas Servais (2026). Stability and precision in chronostratigraphic definition: The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) is the solution. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.