A complete standard chronostratigraphic scale: How to turn a dream into reality?

Abstract

The way toward a complete standard chronostratigraphic scale is paved with endless discussions on the principles lying behind the definition of chronostratigraphic units. I will briefly review the two most important and diverging approaches to the problem, with the aim at illustrating how in practice they can both contribute toward our common final goal, that of giving the next generations of geologists an invaluable tool for their every-day job.