CONTENT

 INTRODUCTION.
 DEFINITION.
 FORMATION.
 CLASSIFICATION.
 RECOGNITION OF UNCONFORMITY
IN FIELD.
 IMPORTANT EVIDENCE OF
UNCONFORMITY.
 USE OF UNCONFORMITY IN GEOLOGY.
 INTRODUCTION
 UNCONFORMITIES ARE STRUCTURAL FEATURES
ALTHOUGH THERE ORIGIN INVOLVES
ERROSIONAL & DEPOSITIONAL AS WELL AS
TECTONIC PROCESS.
AN UNCONFORMITY IS THE PLANE OF
DISCONTINUITY THAT SEPARATES TWO ROCKS,
WHICH DIFFER NOTABLY IN AGE.
THE YOUNGER OF THESE ROCKS ARE NEARLY
ALWAYS OF SEDIMENTARY ORIGIN & MUST HAVE
BEEN DEPOSITED ON THE SURFACE OF THE
OLDER ROCK WHICH IS TH SURFACE OF
EROSION.
 DEFINITION

 UNCONFORMITY = Gap or interval of

time.
An unconformity is a surface of erosion
or non-deposition-usually the former that
separates younger strata from older
rocks.
 DEFINITION
 An unconformity is a surface of erosion
or non-deposition occurring within a
sequence of rocks. It show a gap or a
interval of time in the geological history
of the area, during which the normal
process of deposition was interrupted it
is a structure feature that lying above
and below of rock formation.
FORMATION OF UNCONFORMITY

An unconformity is developed due to a

change in the process of deposition of
rocks. If the process proceeds
uninterruptedly for considerable time, layer
after layer will be deposited one above
another in which the oldest beds are those
that occupy a position at the base of
sequence an every upper layer will be
younger in geological age in ascending
order, the youngest being at the top.
Unconformity form when upper layers of
older rocks are removed by erosion
It form when a period of time passes
without any new deposition to produce
new layer of rocks.
It also formed when layer of rocks are
uplifted and become tilted eroded and
new sediments are deposited on top.
 CLASSIFICATION
There are various kinds of unconformities
the distinction depend upon the rocks.
The most important kinds of unconformity
are:-
1.Angular unconformity
2.Disconformity
3.Non-conformity
4.Local unconformity
5.Regional unconformity
Angular Unconformity
 Underlying beds
make angle with
unconformity.
 Above lying beds are
parallel.
 Underlying & above
lying beds both are
sedimentary.
Angular Unconformity
 Disconformity
 There is no angular variation, no folding,
no faulting or tilting of the strata.
 It is also known as “Parallel
unconformity”.
 Underlying & above lying beds both are
parallel.
 Both beds are of sedimentary origin.
 Non-Conformity
The Non-conformity is the surface of
contact between the rocks having
different mode of formation
 Underlying beds are igneous rock.
 Above lying beds are sedimentary.
 “Hetero lithic unconformity”.
Non-Conformity
 Local Unconformity
When an unconformity is traceable only
in a small area or in a few rock formation
of an area then it is called local
unconformity.
It is due to changes in the condition of
sedimentation in a very limited area,
such as gravel, sand and clays.
 Regional Unconformity
When an unconformity is traceable over
a large area, extending for 100 of k. m. it
is called regional unconformity.it is an
type of angular unconformity.
In Indian geology three regional
unconformities are recognized :-
1.The Eparchean unconformity
2.The Post-vindhyan unconformity
3.The Palaeozoic unconformity
 Recognition of Unconformity in Field

Unconformities may be recognized in various

ways of which observation in a single
outcrop is the most satisfactory.

The outcrop may be small and only a few feet

across, it may be an artificial.

In the identification of an unconformable

relation, in general, increases in proportion
to:-
Important Evidence of Unconformity

 Basal conglomerates
 Evidence of unrecorded interval.
I) Gap in paleontological record.
ii) Gap in stratigraphic record.
 A large difference in the ages of beds.

 Structural discordance.
 Residual Soil
 Angular relations.
 Evidence of old-land surface.
 Basal Conglomerates
New deposits in basins is generally indicated by the
presence of a layer of conglomerate made up
rounded, semi-rounded, pebble & gravel.
This are indicative of shallow water conditions,
such as when during the field study of a sequence
of rocks a layer of conglomerates of any thickness
is observed, it indicates an unconformity at the
base of the layer of overlying rock.
 Evidence of Unrecorded Interval.

i) Gap in palaentological record:-

If rocks with upper triasic fossils
is directly overlying by rocks with lower
cretaceous fossils, it is said to be an
unconformity.
ii) Gap in stratigraphic record:-
Good evidence of unconformity may
be provided by the local absence of distinctive
strata characterised by either lithologic or
palaentologic peculiarities or both.
 Structural-Discordance
The truncation of sedimentary layers at a
stratigraphic contact is an unmistakable
evidence of discontinuity.
 Evidence of Old Land Surface
I) Weathering may aid in the recognition of fold
land surface and the unconformities that mark
their position in the stratigraphic section.
II) Remnants of old soil profile are more likely to
be preserved in the accumulations of
terrestrial sediments. Their presence within a
strata suggests the existence of an
unconformity.
 Angular Relation
when the layers of a sequence of either
side of a contact are not parallel
unconformity is indicated. When
pronounced tilting or folding & faulting is
easily observed in the rocks or one side
of the contact the presence of angular
unconformity is conformed.
 Residual Soil
Presence of a layer of residual soil
(which is always a product of
weathering) within a sequence of rock is
also indicative of erosion having taken
place during the deposition period of the
particular sequence so position of soil
layer within a sequence of rock is a
likely location of the unconformity.
 Uses of Unconformity in Geology
 Most important use of unconformities in
dating orgenic & epirogenic movements.
 Unconformity are also important for
students of Stratigraphic, sedimentation
& historical geology. sometimes valuable
deposits of petroleum & minerals are
associated with unconformities.
 Some times oil and gas field are found
beneath the unconformity.
 REFRENCE
 M.P.BILLINGS
 G.B.MAHAPATRA
 E.S.HILL’S
 PARBIN SINGH
 GOOGLE
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