SECOND CIRCULAR
14TH INTERNATIONAL FIELD CONFERENCE
OF THE CAMBRIAN STAGE SUBDIVISION WORKING GROUP
Malyi Karatau Range, Southern Kazakhstan
Almaty – Karatau
24 August – 2 September, 2009
PREAMBLE
The Karatau mountain ranges in the north-western Tien Shan region of southern
Kazakhstan, central Asia expose numerous laterally and vertically extensive sections of
upper Precambrian, Cambrian and lower Ordovician fossiliferous rocks. All 4 basal Stage
Boundary levels for the Cambrian that have been ratified so far (including that at the base
of the System) are incorporated in the sequences, including the type succession for the
base of the proposed Suzakian Stage at the FAD of the trilobite Agnostotes orientalis,
which is currently under consideration for ratification.
This circular constitutes an invitation to you to participate in the fieldwork programme
to study these sequences, including a one-day introductory workshop/conference in
Almaty.
COSTS
The estimated cost for the complete programme outlined below is $920 U.S. [920 U.S.
Dollars], to include all accommodation in Almaty on Day 1 (see below), plus costs for
the Introductory Conference/Workshop, plus transport to and from and within the field
areas, together with food and accommodation in the field programme.
The fee of $920 will be required before or on arrival in Almaty, in cash. Participants
can either bring the cash with them, or draw the funds (e.g. by card) from a local Almaty
bank. The reason for this is somewhat complex, but in simple terms it is because the local
government would impose a 30% tax on payments made from outside the country.
Precise details as to how to avoid this can be provided after initial registration.
A cash deposit of $100 will be required in advance from all who register for attendance
at the meeting (see also page 3 of this circular).
PROGRAMME
Day 1. 24 August. Arrive Almaty. If participants do not have direct flights, Almaty is
well served daily from a number of European centres (e.g. London, Amsterdam,
Frankfurt; apart from Russian citizens, probably avoid Moscow and St Petersburg
because of potential restrictions related to shipping samples, etc; we can provide further
advice if necessary). Transport from the airport in Almaty will be provided.
Accommodation overnight at the hotel.
Day 2. 25 August. Morning – early afternoon, Introductory Conference on Cambrian
stratigraphy and progress of Cambrian Stage Boundary programme.
Evening, depart by train to Taraz, formerly Dzhambul (overnight).
Day 3. 26 August. Arrive at Taraz early morning – transfer to accommodation.
Afternoon, Fieldwork, Aktugai River section, Ediacarian to lower Cambrian.
Day 4. 27 August. Fieldwork, Kyrshabakty Section, middle to upper Cambrian,
including the proposed Basal Boundary Stratotype and GSSP of the Suzakian Stage
(Agnostotes orientalis FAD).
Day 5. 28 August. Fieldwork, Kyrshabakty Section.
Day 6. 29 August. Batyrbai and Shabakty sections, middle Cambrian to lower
Ordovician.
Day 7. 30 August. Fieldwork, Arpaozen Section in Bolshoi Karatau, middle Cambrian
to lower Ordovician.
Day 8, 31 August. Morning, fieldwork, Koksu and Geres sections, fossiliferous lower
Cambrian. Afternoon, depart from accommodation to Taraz. Depart from Taraz by train
to Almaty.
Day 9. 1 September. Arrive Almaty mid morning, transport to hotel. Afternoon,
Geological Institute (packing specimens, etc), and cultural tour.
Day 10. 2 September. Depart from Almaty. Transport to the airport will be provided.
On behalf of the Organising Committee
Almaty:
Dr Gappar Kh. Ergaliev
Dr Bulat M. Rakishev (Director, Institute of Geological Sciences)
Dr V. (Slava) G. Zhemchuzhnikov
Cardiff (UK), consulting group:
Prof. Michael G. Bassett
Dr Leonid E. Popov
Application/Registration Form
1. Full name and Title –
2. Postal Address –
3. E-mail Address –
4. Male or Female –
5. Please tick one of the following options:
A. I will definitely attend –
B. I will definitely not attend –
C. At present I am uncertain whether I can/will attend or not: (if you choose
this option initially, then please see Item 6, below) –
PLEASE ANSWER EITHER A, B, or C HERE ______________________
6. Please note that the closing date for ALL APPLICATIONS to attend the meeting
will be 30 JUNE, 2009.
7. For those who will definitely attend we will require a deposit of $100 in advance of
the meeting.
At the same time we will require details of your passport etc in order to organise
internal travel within Kazakhstan.
Please note that you will also require a Visa to enter Kazakhstan.
DETAILS OF THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE SENT TO YOU WHEN
YOUR REGISTRATION OF ATTENDANCE IS RECEIVED.
8. A Third Circular will be sent to all registered participants in the meeting at least one
month before it starts.
REGISTRATION/REPLIES
In submitting your Application/Registration as a response to this form, please send it by
e-mail to all three of the following addresses:
svenax@bk.ru
vgzhem@geostan.kz
mike.bassett@museumwales.ac.uk