Quaternary studies have been important to our knowledge of the Chihuahuan Desert. Traditionally, the Quaternary geologic period encompassed the last 2 million years, give or take. The 63 million years before it comprised the Tertiary period. Now this is changing. The old Tertiary is now officially divided into the Palaeogene, 65.5 to 23.03 million years ago, and the Neogene period from then to now.
There is a slight problem: Quaternary scientists woke up to find the
subject of their studies had disappeared. The reactions were much as if medical doctors
suddenly found out that their field was now to be called nursing. With mutiny brewing,
a bit of backtracking ensued. OK, the Quaternary would be preserved. But not all is
over except the shouting; a task force is yet to determine just what the Quaternary
will be. A period? A subperiod? Or just an informal term. Now, science is supposed to
clarify things, not create chaos. But these are tumultuous years, and undoubtedly all
this fuss just has to do with the time we live in.
Contributor: Arthur H. Harris, Laboratory for Environmental Biology, Centennial Museum, University of Texas at El Paso.
Desert Diary is a joint production of the Centennial Museum and KTEP National Public Radio at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Since this was written, the Quaternary was established as a geologic period. Not all are happy, however, because the newly affirmed period takes a chunk out of the Neogene. As now constituted, it begins at about 2.6 million years ago instead of 1.8 million. Just no pleasing everyone!--ahh