Lopingian
The epoch of the Permian interval (Permian), approximately 259.857–251.902 Ma according to the ICS June 2026 chart.
Language and route: Chinese place-name (historical romanisation). Chinese place-name (historical romanisation) → international English. Named after Loping (modern Leping), Jiangxi, South China.
Literal gloss: from Loping / Leping
The name and its history
Grabau (1923, Loping unit); Huang (1932, expanded series); global standard approved 1990s · See attributed dates and cited original / standardisation works; first-use priority qualified where noted
- What does the word literally mean?
- From loping / leping. Immediate scientific language-route: Chinese place-name (historical romanisation) → international English. This is a locality-based or geographical term, not a description of a universal geological event.
- What did the original author mean?
- A lithostratigraphic South China late Permian unit subsequently broadened as a time-series covering late Permian marine successions.
- Why was the name needed?
- South China had a fossil-rich late Permian marine succession that provided an alternative to other regional divisions, including the largely continental Russian Tatarian.
- What evidence supported the original concept?
- Late Permian marine fossils (including fusulinids, conodonts and ammonoids) enabled comparisons with other continents and helped establish a usable international reference.
- How has geology changed the concept?
- Modern upper Permian series comprises Wuchiapingian and Changhsingian; Grabau’s original lithostratigraphic usage and today’s globally bounded interval are not identical.
Further historical context
*Naming and context.* South China had a fossil-rich late Permian marine succession that provided an alternative to other regional divisions, including the largely continental Russian Tatarian.
*Evidence and later scope.* Late Permian marine fossils (including fusulinids, conodonts and ammonoids) enabled comparisons with other continents and helped establish a usable international reference. Modern upper Permian series comprises Wuchiapingian and Changhsingian; Grabau’s original lithostratigraphic usage and today’s globally bounded interval are not identical.
Editorial qualification
Loping and Leping represent historical versus modern transliterations; deeper place-name translation unverified.
Related names
Permian · Cisuralian · Guadalupian · Asselian · Sakmarian · Artinskian · Kungurian · Roadian · Wordian · Capitanian · Wuchiapingian · Changhsingian · Fossil · Conodont · Ammonoid · Lithostratigraphy
Sources
- ICS International Chronostratigraphic Chart (June 2026) — Current formal unit, order, rank and numerical age
- Jin et al. (2006), Capitanian–Wuchiapingian GSSP — History of Grabau, Huang and choice of Lopingian
- Jin et al. (1997), Permian chronostratigraphic subdivisions, Episodes — International decision to adopt Urals, Texas and South China tripartition