[2] Its base is defined by the first appearance datum of the trace fossil Treptichnus pedum around 538.8 million years ago.

Its top is defined as the first appearance of trilobites in the stratigraphic record around 521 million years ago.

[5] The name Terreneuvian is derived from Terre Neuve, the French name for the island of Newfoundland, Canada, where many rocks of this age are found, including the type section.

[2][4] The type locality (GSSP) of the Terreneuvian is in Fortune Head, at the northern edge of the Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada (47°04′34″N 55°49′52″W / 47.0762°N 55.8310°W / 47.0762; -55.8310).

The Precambrian-Cambrian boundary lies 2.4 m above the base of the second member, which is the lowest occurrence of Treptichnus pedum.