Number 31 January 1998 Newsletter of the Subcommission on ...

International Conference on Pangea And The Paleozoic-Mesozoic
Transition (First Circular)
Organizer
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Yin Hongfu, Member <strong>of</strong> Academia Sinica, President
<strong>of</strong> China University <strong>of</strong> Geosciences (Wuhan)
Objective
The conference is designed to provide a forum to all kinds <strong>of</strong>
scientists who are interested in <strong>the</strong> special interval <strong>of</strong> Pangea
for discussing Pangea formation and dispersion; global
changes related to Pangea integration and break-up; biotic
crisis, extinction, recovery and evolution at <strong>the</strong> Paleozoic-Mesozoic
transition; and Tethys evolution during Pangea interval.
Date
Pre-Conference Field Excursion: 7-8 March, 1999
Conference: 9-11 March, 1999
Post-Conference Field Excursion: 12-16 March, 1999
Place
China University <strong>of</strong> Geoscience (Wuhan)
Language
English will be <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial language for all presentations.
Important Dates
1 April <strong>1998</strong>: Deadline for submission <strong>of</strong> response to first circular
1 October <strong>1998</strong>: Deadline for submission <strong>of</strong> abstracts
1 February 1999: Deadline for submission <strong>of</strong> pre-registration
Themes
1. Tectonics and dynamics <strong>of</strong> Gondwana break-up, Pangea
integration and Tethys evolution;
2. Paleogeography, paleoclimatology and paleoecology during
Pangea interval;
3. Stratigraphy, sea level changes, high-resolution events and
boundary;
4. Biotic crisis, mass extinction, recovery and evolution at <strong>the</strong>
Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition.
Field Excursion
Pre-conference Field Excursion-Huangsi, Sou<strong>the</strong>ast Hubei
Province (7-8 March, 1999). This two day field excursion will
visit some typical marine Carboniferous-Lower Triassic and
terrestrial Middle Triassic sections in Huangsi, sou<strong>the</strong>astern
Hubei Province. Some key boundaries will be examined <strong>the</strong>re
as well.
Post-conference Field Excursion-<strong>the</strong> Yangtze Gorges (12-16
March, 1999). The Yangtze Gorges areas are not only famous
for <strong>the</strong> attractive scenery and <strong>the</strong> Dam construction, but also
for <strong>the</strong> well-exposed Pre-Cambrian-Triassic stratigraphic sequences
and <strong>the</strong>ir special geological significance. The excursion
is planned mainly to examine <strong>the</strong> stratigraphic sequence
and it’s related geological aspects. As <strong>the</strong> Yangtze Gorges Dam
cut <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> river at <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> 1997, a search for new exposures
may be necessary.
Publications
We anticipate that refereed and accepted papers will be published
ei<strong>the</strong>r as a book or as a special issue <strong>of</strong> an international
journal series. Papers must be presented (ei<strong>the</strong>r orally or in
poster) before being considered for publication.
Registration and excursion
Registration should be made on <strong>the</strong> registration form attached
to <strong>the</strong> second circular, which will be sent to all who respond to
42
<strong>the</strong> first circular. Registration fee for <strong>the</strong> Conference (including
<strong>the</strong> proceedings, morning and afternoon teas and three lunches)
will be $150 US Dollars. Pre-conference field excursion fee (including
transportation, accommodation, field guidebook and
meals) will be $120 US Dollars. As <strong>the</strong> Yangtze Gorges Dam is
under construction and began daming <strong>the</strong> river late in 1997, <strong>the</strong>
post-conference field excursion fee is presently uncertain but
is estimated at about $500 US Dollars (refer to second circular
for details).
Transportation
Wuhan is <strong>the</strong> capital <strong>of</strong> Hubei Province, situated in <strong>the</strong> center
<strong>of</strong> China. The international airport has daily flights from Hong
Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and o<strong>the</strong>r major cities in
China. Wuhan is on <strong>the</strong> mid-way <strong>of</strong> Beijing-Guangzhou Railway
with more than 20 express and rapid trains daily from Beijing
and Guangzhou. Meanwhile, Wuhan is situated in <strong>the</strong> middle
part <strong>of</strong> Yangtze River with more than 10 scheduled boats from
Shanghai and Chongqing every day.
Send all Correspondence to:
Dr. Tong Jinnan (Secretariat)
Faculty <strong>of</strong> Earth Science
China University <strong>of</strong> Geosciences
Wuhan, Hubei 430074, P. R. CHINA
Tel: +86-27-74820<strong>31</strong>; Fax: +86-27-7801763; Email:
jntong@dns.cug.edu.cn
International Symposium
Upper Permian Stratotypes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Volga Region
(see lower figure, page 43)
Kazan State University and Tatar Republican Mineral Resources
Commission at <strong>the</strong> Ministers Cabinet <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Republic <strong>of</strong> Tatarstan,
Kazan, Russia, 28 July, <strong>1998</strong> - 3 August, <strong>1998</strong>
Dates to Remember
1 March <strong>1998</strong> - deadline for submission <strong>of</strong> abstracts;
25 June <strong>1998</strong> - deadline for submission <strong>of</strong> registration forms;
30 July <strong>1998</strong> - deadline for submission <strong>of</strong> Conference papers.
Since release <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> First Circular, <strong>the</strong> Organizing Committee has
received some 140 pre-registrations for <strong>the</strong> Symposium from Russia,
Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.
Symposium Objectives
The main objectives <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Symposium are to show to participants
<strong>the</strong> stratotypes <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ufimian, Kazanian and Tatarian; to
provide <strong>the</strong> opportunity to collect samples for different kinds <strong>of</strong>
analyses; to discuss <strong>the</strong> new data on <strong>the</strong> Upper Permian sections
in <strong>the</strong> Volga region as well as in o<strong>the</strong>r areas; and to identify <strong>the</strong>
prospects for future investigations.
Papers and Publications
The Organizing Committee now calls for titles, abstracts and
papers from intending participants. The abstract volume will be
published as a special issue <strong>of</strong> Kazan State University. Abstracts
may be up to two A4 pages in length (both reference and illustrations
inclusive). Posters are also welcome. Abstracts to be included
in <strong>the</strong> abstract volume will be required as photo-ready
copy and disk in any word processing program by 1st March
<strong>1998</strong>. They should contain: a brief title, <strong>the</strong> name, address, and
European titles <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> author(s). Illustrations may be no more
than 60mm x 120mm.
Symposium Schedule