Lithostratigraphy

Lithology
Is the study and description of the physical characteristics of rocks.

September 27, 2002

Also refers to these physical characteristics

Rock type the shale lithology Color the orange lithology Mineral Composition the zeolite-bearing litholgy Grain Size the gravel lithology
Geology 355, Sedimentology Geology 355, Sedimentology Copyright, 2002, Ron Parker Copyright, 2002, Ron Parker

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Marshak, 2002 Marshak, 2002

Stratigraphy
The study of large-scale horizontal and vertical relationships between units of sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary units may be defined variously
Lithology Fossil content Time and duration of formation Geometry Geophysical (sonic, radioactive) properties
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker

DIGIT, 2001

Stratigraphy
Lithostratigraphy Based on rock type. Biostratigraphy Based on fossils. Chronostratigraphy Based on time relations. Sequence stratigraphy Based on geometry of unconformities. Magnetostratigraphy Based upon magnetic properties. Seismic stratigraphy Based on sound propagation.
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker

Stratigraphy
Cyclostratigraphy Study of sedimentary cycles. Chemostratigraphy Based upon isotopic signatures. Basin analysis Stratigraphy and sedimentology are applied to study basins.
Formation Infilling Destruction

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Lithostratigraphic Units
Bodies of sedimentary, extrusive igneous, metasedimentary or metavolcanic rock distinguished on the basis of physical (lithologic) characteristics. Stratotype A designated ideal example.
Example: the type Richmondian is Richmond, Indiana

Lithosome Masses of rock that interfinger with adjacent yet different rocks.
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker

Formation
The fundamental lithostratigraphic unit. Defined as a lithologically distinctive stratigraphic unit that is large enough in scale to be mappable at the surface or traceable in the subsurface.
More simply A mappable unit.

Formation
Formations may be subdivided into:
Members smaller stratigraphic units, which may be subdivided into Beds

Formations may be combined into:

Groups, which may be combined into Supergroups

Always named for a location.

Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker

Stratigraphic Contacts
Plane or irregular surfaces between different types of rocks.
Conformable Formed by unbroken deposition. Unconformable Represent interrupted deposition with considerable missing time (known as a hiatus).

Conformable Contacts
Abrupt contacts Diastem Gradational
Progressive gradual contacts Intercalated contacts

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Conformable Contacts Conformable Contacts

Abrupt contacts Sharp boundary between differing lithologies; represents original changes in depositional conditions.

Diastem Minor depositional breaks without erosion.

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Conformable Contacts
Gradational Change between lithologies is gradual.
Progressive gradual contacts A uniform change one to another. Intercalated contacts Interdigitating transitions from one lithology to another

Conformable Contacts
Intercalated contacts Interdigitating transitions from one lithology to another

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Conformable Contacts
Pinch-outs Beds, members, foramtions that taper to zero thickness. Intertonguing Lateral splitting of units

Unconformable Contacts
Unconformity - An unconformity is a gap in the rock record produced by erosion and/or non-deposition. An unconformity is significant because it represents missing TIME.

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Geology 355, Sedimentology

, 2002, Ron Parker

Angular Unconformity Unconformable Contacts

Angular unconformity - Tilted rocks are overlain by flat-lying rocks. Disconformity Strata on either side of the unconformity are parallel, with an erosional surface. Paraconformity Parallel beds, same lithology, no obvious erosional surface. Nonconformity Metamorphic or igneous rocks in contact with sedimentary strata.
Geology 355, Sedimentology , 2002, Ron Parker

Represents a huge gulf in time.

Sediments deposited horizontally below sea-level. Sediments deformed by mountain-building event. Mountains eroded totally away. Mountain remnants flooded by the sea. Younger sediments deposited horizontally on the old deformed sediments.

Next Class:

Correlation

DIGIT, 2001 DIGIT, 2001

Geology 355, Sedimentology Geology 355, Sedimentology

Copyright, 2002, Ron Parker Copyright, 2002, Ron Parker