UNIT

12 The history of the Earth

TYPES OF STRATIGRAPHIC
DISCONTINUITIES

Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

UNIT
UNIT
Types of stratigraphic discontinuities
12
3

Stratigraphic discontinuity is the absence of the

stratigraphic record for a specific period.

There is a geologic time interval in the Earth's history,

between two sequences separated by a discontinuity, that
is not represented by sediments.

There are many types of discontinuities:

Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

UNIT
UNIT
Types of stratigraphic discontinuities
12
3
ANGULAR UNCONFORMITY

Young horizontal
series

Old folded series

Discontinuity between an older stratigraphic series which

folded and eroded when the strata were exposed to the
weather and a more recent stratigraphic series.

Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

UNIT
UNIT
Types of stratigraphic discontinuities
12
3
DISCONFORMITY

Series deposited after the erosion of the previous series

Discontinuity between an old stratigraphic series which

underwent a period of erosion and the more recent
stratigraphic series which was deposited after that process.

Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

UNIT
UNIT
Types of stratigraphic discontinuities
12
3
NONCONFORMITY
Young sedimented series

Old eroded granite

Discontinuity between an old series consisting of eroded

rocks (e.g., granite) and the more recent sedimentary
strata.

Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education

UNIT
UNIT
Types of stratigraphic discontinuities
12
3
PARACONFORMITY

Recently
deposited Interruption in
young series sedimentation
over several
million years

Old series deposited

millions of years ago.

Discontinuity between an old series deposited many

millions of years ago, after which there was an interruption
in sedimentation over millions of years, and the more
recent stratigraphic series.

Biology and Geology 4. Secondary Education