ROCK LAYERS:

Formation of Rocks
Brent Justin A. Lacopia & Aimerhen Arca
11-ABM A (Ambitious)
 Rock Layers
Rocks form layers due to sediments deposited on rocks
or some forces that act on it which causes their
deformation.
 Rock Layers
Rock layers are also called strata (the plural form of
the Latin word stratum), and stratigraphy is the science
of strata. Stratigraphy deals with all the characteristics
of layered rocks; it includes the study of how these
rocks relate to time.
Principle of Uniformitarianism

“The current geologic processes, such as

volcanism, erosion, and weathering are the
same processes that were at work in the past”

— James Hutton
 Let’s Define
These Terms
 Define These Terms:
01
Stratigraphy
- a branch of geology
- deals with the description, correlation, and
interpretation of stratified sediments and stratified
rocks on and within the Earth.
- in short study of rock layers
Define These Terms:
02
Stratified Rocks
-also known as derivatives rock
- the product of sedimentary
processes that formed layers.
 Define These Terms:
03
Stratification
- also known as bedding
- the layering that happens in sedimentary and
igneous rocks formed at the surface of the
Earth that comes from lava flows or other
volcanic activity.
Define These Terms:
04
Stratigraphic Laws
- Used by geologists in conducting
relationship of rocks or rock layers
- We have 6 Stratigraphic Laws
6 Stratigraphic Laws
These are the different Stratigraphic Laws
 01
Law of Original
Horizontality
.
 Law of Original Horizontality
- sediments are deposited in
flat layers

- if not yet disturbed they

maintain original
horizontality

- oldest at the bottom layer

and youngest at the top
layer
 02
Law of Superposition
.
 Law of Superposition
- Largest and heaviest rock layer that
settled first at the bottom is the oldest
rock layer.

- Heaviest – deepest – oldest

- Lightest – settled on top – youngest

- Like the first law, the oldest rocks are

at the bottom and the youngest rocks
are at the top
 03
Law of Cross-Cutting
Relationship
.
 Law of Cross-Cutting Relationship
- a fault or dike-a slab rock cuts
through another rock.

- magma intrudes to a rock

- fault is younger than the rock.

- the oldest is at the first or bottom

layer and the youngest is the
slanted layer.
 04
Law of Inclusions
.
 Law of Inclusions
- Rock mass that contains pieces
of rocks called inclusions are
younger than the other rock
masses.

- rock fragments in other

rock/layers must be existing
before being part of the rock
 05
Law of Faunal
Succession
.
 Law of Faunal Succession

- different strata contain a

particular assemblage of
fossils by which rocks
may be identified and
correlated over long
distances.
 06
Law of Unconformities
.
 Law of Unconformities
- rock layers that are formed
without interruptions are
comfortable

- describes a layer of rock that has

been deformed or eroded before
another layer is deposited,
resulting in rock layer
mismatching

- There are three types of

unconformities: Disconformity,
Angular Unconformity, and
Non-conformity
 Law Of Unconformities
- originates from horizontal
sedimentary rock layers that are
lifted and the top layers eroded.
- new sediments are deposited
when they are submerged beneath
freshwater or saltwater.
Disconformity
- originates from horizontally
parallel strata of sedimentary
rock that are deposited on tilted
and eroded layers.
- produced an angular discordance
with underlying horizontal layers.
Angular Unconformity
Law Of Unconformities

- originates between sedimentary

rocks, metamorphic or igneous
rock, when sedimentary rock lies
above and was deposited on the
pre-existing and eroded
metamorphic or igneous rock.

Non-Conformity
THANK
YOU!