14.8: Book Content Mapped to ASBOG's Domain C - Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Paleontology
- Page ID
- 38114
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The information provided below maps the content of this book, and selected other open access resources, to ASBOG's Domain C - Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Paleontology.
C-1. Stratigraphic principles
C-1.1 Naming conventions
Ex: beds, units, members, formations, contacts, etc.
C-1.2 Rules
Ex: Superposition, original horizontality, cross-cutting relationships
C-1.3 Unconformities
Ex: Nonconformities, disconformities, paraconformities, angular unconformities
C-1.4 Using and interpreting stratigraphic columns, cross sections, fence diagrams
These are concepts that we typically cover in labs. Rather than writing a comprehensive explanation or "how to" section for each, we provide concise summaries and links to several examples below. The West Virginia Geologic Handbook provides a fuller explanation and examples of each of these ways of portraying geologic information.
Stratigraphic columns
A stratigraphic column (or measured section) is a one-dimensional vertical diagram used to represent the layers of rock at a specific location. It shows things like lithology, grain size, sedimentary structures, fossils, thickness, and other physical characteristics of the layers using colors, symbols, fill patterns, and varying the width of units.. These columns are built to obey Superposition and have the oldest unit at the bottom and the youngest unit at the top. Given all of that, they can have interpretive annotations that show depositional environments, stratigraphic terminology, and age. These location-specific diagrams can be combined the make geologic cross sections and fence diagrams.
Geologic cross sections
A geologic cross section is a two-dimensional diagram that shows the relationship between rock layers as observed in two or more stratigraphic columns (from outcrop, subsurface, etc.). They can be used to show lateral facies changes, pinch outs, unconformities, and other spatial/temporal changes. They represent a midpoint between the simplicity of one-dimensional stratigraphic columns and the three-dimensional complexity of fence diagrams, they are one of the most common tools used to show the geometry of structurally deformed areas.
- Geologic Cross Section D–D’ Through the Appalachian Basin from the Findlay Arch, Sandusky County, Ohio, to the Valley and Ridge Province, Hardy County, West Virginia
- Cambro-Ordovician through Cretaceous units across North Dakota
- Geologic Cross Sections A-A', B-B' and C-C' for Mapped Sedimentary Facies on the Lucama and Kenly East 7.5-minute Quadrangles, North Carolina
Fence Diagrams
Fence diagrams are three dimensional geological diagrams made by linking together a series of two-dimensional geologic cross sections in such a way that they resemble a fence that shows how rocks correlate in multiple directions. They are constructed using series of stratigraphic columns (from outcrop, subsurface, etc.) that are strategically correlated to illustrate lateral facies changes, pinch outs, unconformities, and other spatial/temporal changes. They are commonly used to show the migration of depositional environments through time and changes in lateral continuity of units.
- Stratigraphic fence diagram of the Chinle & Moenkopi Formations (Triassic)
- Stratigraphic fence diagrams spanning Cambrian–Permian strata
- Fence diagram of “Clinton” sands and related stratigraphic units (Ohio)
- 3D perspective fence diagram of the Mahomet Bedrock Valley fill
- Ordovician Stratigraphy of the Trenton Group
- USGS MF 169, Plate 1
- Oregon DOGAMI — Southern Tyee Basin Fence Diagram
- Geology, structure, and uranium deposits of the Gallup 1 degree x 2 degrees quadrangle, New Mexico and Arizona
- And there are some complicated ones at The Hidden Territory: USGS’s 1950’s to 1970’s Isometric Geological Diagrams
C-1.5 Geochronology
Ex: Geologic timescale, geochronologic methods
C-1.6 Correlation
Ex: geomagnetic polarity reversals, rock types, index fossils
C-2. Sedimentary structures
C-2.1 Primary
Ex: Cross-bedding, ripples, flute and tool marks
C-2.2 Secondary
Ex: concretions, stylolites, Liesegang banding
C-3. Diagenesis
C-3.1 Post depositional changes
Ex: compaction, recrystallization, dissolution, replacement, cementation, lithification, reduction-oxidation reactions
C-4. Facies analysis
C-4.1 Fabric
Ex: porosity, permeability, packing, isotropic vs. anisotropic
C-4.2 Facies changes
Ex: movements of shorelines, shallowing or deepening upwards successions
C-4.3 Facies-depositional environment relationships
C-5. Depositional environments
C-5.1 Clastic environments
C-5.1.2 Non-Marine
Ex: glacial, eolian, alluvial, fluvial, lacustrine
C-5.1.3 Transitional
Ex: deltaic, tidal, beach, lagoon, barrier island
C-5.2 Carbonate environments
C-5.2.1 Platform and bank
C-5.2.2 Ramp
C-5.2.3 Pelagic
C-6. Fossil record and evolution
C-6.1 Connections to structure of geologic time scale
C-6.2 Index fossils
C-7. Basin analysis
C-7.1 Sequence stratigraphy
C-7.2 Seismic stratigraphy
C-7.3 Depositional systems
We are not sure what they mean by this, but presumably this content is covered in one of the following sections:
C-7.4 Global cycles
Ex: Milankovitch cycles of eccentricity, obliquity, precession
C-7.5 Facies architecture
C-7.6 Provenance
- 5.1: Sandstones
- There is a great summary at Provenance and Plate Tectonics on the Geological Digressions webpage