201.nature Sed Record

THE SEDIMENTARY RECORD
What is the most conspicuous feature of sedimentary rocks?

layers; stratification or bedding
Each stratum = episode of deposition

successive strata separated by bedding planes
• laminae = layers <1 cm thick
• beds = strata >1 cm thick
Destruction of bedding planes:

• bioturbation
• dolomitization of limestones
• recrystallization due to metamorphism
Why do layers/strata form?

sediments accumulate under the influence of gravity
Stratigraphy
the study of stratified rock; geometric form and distribution, composition, origin, and age
relations
Stratified rocks can be classified and described by different attributes:

1. rock type (lithostratigraphy)
basic unit = Formation
2. fossil content (biostratigraphy)
basic unit = Biozone
3. magnetic polarity (magnetostratigraphy)
basic unit = Magnetochron
4. other attributes
• relative age (chronostratigraphy)
• stable isotopes (chemostratigraphy)
• seismic velocity
the Stratigraphic Section is key to interpreting the geologic history of stratified rocks
the process:
1. distinguish individual rock units
• lithology = rock type(s)
2. interpret depositional environment of each unit
• geometries of rock units
• characteristics of beds including sedimentary structures
• fossils (relative age and environment)
• contacts
3. if possible, organize rocks units into time-rock units
• units based on fossils and relative time
4. establish correspondence (correlation) with other sections
• correlate rock units on local scale
• correlate time-rock units on regional or global scale
Rock units are based on lithology only
primary lithostratigraphic unit = Formation
Formations are distinctive because each is produced in a particular depositional

environment
However, many environments shift laterally with time,
Therefore, boundaries of rock units commonly do not coincide with time units
Formations are commonly diachronous (i.e., time-transgressive), by contrast a volcanic ash bed is
isochronous (i.e., time-parallel)
Examples of laterally migrating depositional systems:

1. advance (=transgression) and retreat (=regression) of the sea
• coastal environments (e.g., barrier island complexes, beaches)
• carbonate platforms and barrier reefs
2. progradational systems
• alluvial fans
• river deltas
• deep-sea fans
3. other examples
• fluvial environments (braided and meandering streams and rivers)
• glacial environments
• playa lakes
Two attributes of all formations:

1. distinct lithologic characteristics*
*does not have to be uniform lithology
2. must be a mappable unit
Formation name has 2 parts:

1. geographic locality
where the unit is well-exposed and typical characteristics can be observed
2. rock name, or 'Formation' (for units with mixed lithologies)
Sugarloaf Arkose, Mancos Shale,

Turners Falls Sandstone, Mt. Toby Conglomerate, Redwall Limestone
Morrison Formation, Spearfish Formation
formal Lithostratigraphic Units:

Group
Formation
Member
Bed
Facies
lateral changes* in sedimentary rock units resulting from deposition in adjacent and related
sedimentary environments
*often observe intertonguing and lateral gradation of adjacent sedimentary environments
Walther's Law
only those facies can be superposed in a conformable stratigraphic sequence which were deposited
in adjacent sedimentary environments
Breaks (Gaps) in the Sedimentary Record:

Unconformity
surface of discontinuity representing a long period of geologic time with no sedimentary record
preserved; typically caused by erosion
Nonconformity
stratified rocks overlying unstratified igneous or
metamorphic rocks
Angular Unconformity
stratified rocks overlying tilted or folded strata
Disconformity
stratified rocks separated by other parallel strata
by an erosional break
Baselevel controls erosion vs. accumulation
above: sediments can't accumulate permanently, therefore, net erosion
below: potential area of net accumulation
exceptions:
• non-deposition (e.g., sediment supply)
• erosion by currents
• displacement (e.g., mass wasting)
Baselevel is the hypothetical level that separates net erosion and weathering of the Earth's surface
from net accumulation of sediments that have the potential to become sedimentary rocks. Itis
influenced by the following factors:
Factors:
• sediment supply
climate, tectonics
• basin subsidence
tectonics, load from sediment, water, or ice; "accommodation space"
• hydraulic energy
storms, waves, currents
• sea level*
Baselevel is not stationary!
*Sedimentation in many depositional environments is discontinuous (episodic)

partly a function of shifting baselevel
Diastems
breaks in sedimentary record of "short" duration
Diastem Unconformity
typically no overall change in depositional typically, but not always, significant change in
environment depositional environment
baseline fluctuations, but net accumulation baselevel moves down (=deep and persistent
erosion), much later baselevel moves up (=return
to net accumulation)
Do bedding planes represent more time than the beds themselves?
More breaks (gaps) than preserved sedimentary record in many depositional systems!
Sediments typically accumulate in areas of net subsidence

Where do you predict to find areas of net subsidence?
The thickest accumulations of sedimentary rock occur along great belts parallel to the margins of
the continents*
*transition from continental crust to oceanic crust
• Mesozoic-Cenozoic Gulf and East Coast coastal plains and continental margins
wide shelf-slope-continental rise: "passive margins"
• Cenozoic West Coast
narrow shelf-slope-forearc basin: "active margin"
• Mesozoic margin of California
deformed & accreted margin
• Paleozoic Cordilleran and Appalachian provinces
deformed & accreted margins
Also, basins formed on continental crust*

*formed by tectonic forces
• intracratonic basins (compression and loading)
• foreland basins (compression and loading)
• rift basins (tension and crustal thinning)
Sea level change
Impact on the sedimentary record
• transgressive-regressive facies are very common in the rock record; lateral migration of facies
with rising and falling sea level
• changing water table and base-level
• sedimentary architecture to reconstruct sea level, (sequence stratigraphy: transgressive,
highstand, and lowstand systems tracks, maximum flooding surface, sequence boundary;
seismic stratigraphy: onlap, downlap of seismic reflectors)
Other consequences
• sea level impact on climate (albedo; climate is warmer when global sea level is high)
• ocean circulation (distribution of heat)
• evolution (availability of shallow water environments; epicontinental seas when sea level is
high)
• paleobiogeography (distribution of organisms)
What drives sea level change? eustasy = global sea level

• glacioeustasy (large continental ice sheets draw their water from the ocean: lower sea level
during glaciations, higher sea level during deglaciations or interglacials)
• continental break-up (new ocean basins, greater length of spreading centers, young hot
oceanic crust, thinned continental crust at the margins: higher sea level)
• continental aggregation (continental collisions, vertical tectonics, thicker continental crust, old
cold oceanic crust: lower sea level)

201.nature Sed Record

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

201.nature Sed Record

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

201.nature Sed Record

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

THE SEDIMENTARY RECORD

What is the most conspicuous feature of sedimentary rocks?

Each stratum = episode of deposition

Destruction of bedding planes:

Why do layers/strata form?

Stratified rocks can be classified and described by different attributes:

Formations are distinctive because each is produced in a particular depositional

Examples of laterally migrating depositional systems:

Two attributes of all formations:

Formation name has 2 parts:

Sugarloaf Arkose, Mancos Shale,

formal Lithostratigraphic Units:

Breaks (Gaps) in the Sedimentary Record:

Baselevel is not stationary!

*Sedimentation in many depositional environments is discontinuous (episodic)

Do bedding planes represent more time than the beds themselves?

Sediments typically accumulate in areas of net subsidence

Also, basins formed on continental crust*

What drives sea level change? eustasy = global sea level

You might also like

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.