2 General rules for naming and defining geological units
2.1 Formal and informal units and names: definition
The Code distinguishes between formal and informal geological units. These have formal and informal names, respectively. Formally defined units are given protected status, affording priority to the specific proper or characterizing names used for them. Names of informal units do not have such protection, but can be protected following evaluation by NSK. Protection can be lifted if names are not in practical use. Formal and informal names can be distinguished in various ways in writing and orally (see Sections 2.2 and 2.3).
The following demands have to be fulfilled before geological units occurring on Norwegian territory, i.e. the Norwegian mainland, the Norwegian continental shelf, Svalbard, Jan Mayen and Norwegian claims in the Antarctic, can be given or have formal status and thereby a formal, protected name: (a) the unit has to be defined, erected and named in accordance with the requirements of this Code (Section 2.4); (b) the erection of the unit has to be reported to, and the proposed names approved by, NSK prior to publication; (c) old-established names of geological units can be approved by NSK as formal names when the units are unambiguously understood; if necessary, they can be defined in accordance with the Code at a future date; (d) any changes in the definition, rank, category and name of an established geological unit are to be reported to NSK along with applications for approval of a new name.
Informal names are names given to geological units that have not been erected in accordance with the rules given in this Code for definition of formal units (Section 2.4), and which have not been approved as formal names by NSK. Informal names also include trivial names (popular names), i.e. traditionally-used descriptive names of the sort that do not conform with the rules for formal nomenclature. After examining individual cases, NSK may also give protection and priority to geographical names used in long-established trivial names. Both formal and informal names are registered by NSK. Lists of those filed in this register of stratigraphical names are obtainable.