Sequence and Parasequences

SEQUENCE
A stratigraphic unit composed of a relatively conformable
succession of genetically related strata bounded at its top
and base by unconformities or their correlative
conformities.

Thus sequences are units bounded by significant subaerial

erosion surfaces.

A complete SEQUENCE forms during a cycle of relative

change of sea level & is composed of SYSTEMS TRACTS.
Parasequences
• ‘A relatively conformable succession of genetically related
beds or bedsets bounded by marine flooding surfaces or
their correlative surfaces’(Van Wagoner et al. 1990)

• Marine Flooding Surface: a surface across which there is an

abrupt increase in water depth
Marine Flooding Surfaces
Indicate an abrupt increase in relative sea level
Characteristics:
• Abrupt change in bed thickness and lithology
(shallower water rocks overlain by deeper water rocks)
• Generally planar surface – may be some truncation
• Evidence of non-depositional
• Log profile commonly shows a ‘kick’ to higher gamma
Sedimentary trend:
•Coarsening upwards: increase in sand content and grain size of
sand upwards
•Sandstone bed thickness increases upwards
•Identified as a PARASEQUENCE
•Parasequence boundary – Change in lithology, bed thickness and
depositional environment
•Increase in water depth (abrupt deepening) – Marine Flooding
Surface
 •Sedimentary trend:
•Fining upwards: decrease in sand
content and grain size of sand upwards
•Sandstone bed thickness decreases
upwards
•Shallowing upwards – progradational
from marine sandstones into non-marine
muds
•Identified as a PARASEQUENCE
•Parasequence boundary – Change in
lithology, bed thickness and depositional
environment
•Increase in water depth (abrupt
deepening) – Marine Flooding Surface

Fining upwards parasequence: from

non-marine muds into shoreface sands
Bounding surfaces & their definition

Marine Flooding Surface

Marine Flooding Surface

Marine Flooding Surface

“Sequence Stratigraphy – Basics”

C. G. St. C. Kendall
Parasequence Sets or Cycle sets
•A succession of genetically related parasequences or cycles
forming a stacking pattern, bounded by major marine flooding
surfaces and their correlative conformities.
•Characteristic stacking patterns:
• Progradational
• Retrogradational
• Aggradational
•Identified in cores and well logs by examining the vertical stacking
of facies between parasequences
•Transgression – landwards migration of the coastline
•Retrogradation – overall deepening
•In seismic terms it is an upwards shift in coastal onlap

• Sediment Supply < Accommodation = Retrogradation

•Regression – basinwards migration of coastline
•Progradation – overall shallowing
•In seismic terms it is a downwards shift in coastal onlap

• Sediment Supply > Accommodation = Progradation

 •Aggradation – stationary coastline

• Sediment Supply = Accommodation = Aggradation

•Coastal onlap – where coastal sediments onlap the ‘basement’ or depositional
surface– seismic term

Transgression
=
Retrogradation

Regression
=
Progradation

Stationary
Shore
=
Aggradation

From Vail et al, (1977)