Guidelines and procedures for naming bedrock units in Finland. (2nd and revised 2024 edition)

Abstract

The Stratigraphic Commission of Finland (SCF) was established in 2006 and the first edition of Guidelines and Procedures for Naming Precambrian Geological Units in Finland was published in 2010. The Precambrian Subcommission of the SCF and the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) have jointly developed the bedrock geological nomenclature in Finland, and this revised edition provides a summary of the current practices and recommendations. This guide presents the principles of the classification of geological units, the procedure for the naming of formal and informal units and advice for the application of the different classifications. Special emphasis has been placed on: (1) the combined use of lithostratigraphic and lithodemic units and (2) the classification of tectonic/structural bedrock units of Finland.

Effective communication in geosciences requires accurate and internationally consistent terminology and nomenclature. The emergence of networked and interoperable data systems and information services has underlined the need for hierarchical classification systems and globally harmonized vocabularies. On the national level, the best practices can be obeyed by creating internationally compliant information infrastructures and by enforcing appropriate scientific procedures. The principles and recommendations presented in this guide provide one practical step towards structured geological data and unambiguous nomenclature of geological units.