Floian
The Floian Age/Stage within the Early Ordovician (ICS 2026/06); about 477.1–471.3 Ma.
Language and route: Swedish geographical name → international English. Swedish geographical name → international English. Name-source: Flo, near Hunneberg in Västergötland, Sweden.
Literal gloss: named after Flo, near Hunneberg in Västergötland, Sweden
The name and its history
Bergström, Finney, Chen, Goldman and Leslie (2006), alongside other new global stage names · Bergström, Finney, Chen, Goldman and Leslie (2006), alongside other new global stage names
- What does the word literally mean?
- Named from Flo, near Hunneberg in Västergötland, Sweden.
- What did the original author mean?
- A newly proposed stage name attached to a globally correlatable Early Ordovician interval; it did not describe a new biological or climatic event.
- Why was the name needed?
- Older British regional stages were not globally equivalent; an internationally agreed stage needed a name independent of local British rock packages.
- What evidence supported the original concept?
- The first appearance of graptolite Tetragraptus approximatus is identified at the Diabasbrottet section near Hunneberg, Sweden; basal GSSP ratified 2002.
- How has geology changed the concept?
- The global Floian stage took its name from a Swedish locality after the global reference level had been defined; ratification of the GSSP preceded publication of the name.
Further historical context
*Original use.* A newly proposed stage name attached to a globally correlatable Early Ordovician interval; it did not describe a new biological or climatic event.
*Historical problem.* Older British regional stages were not globally equivalent; an internationally agreed stage needed a name independent of local British rock packages.
*Evolution.* The global Floian stage took its name from a Swedish locality after the global reference level had been defined; ratification of the GSSP preceded publication of the name.
Editorial qualification
The lexical derivation of Flo as a Swedish place-name is not separately established; the 2006 stage name must not be backdated to the 2002 GSSP vote.
Related names
Sources
- ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart, 2026/06 — Current nomenclature, rank and numerical age
- ICS official Floian GSSP — International boundary stratotype and correlation evidence
- Bergström et al. (2006), three global Ordovician stage names — Historical naming, original claim or scholarly review; see confidence note
- ICS Ordovician Subcommission, full sequence — Cross-check order and stage nomenclature