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STRATIGRAPHY
Introduction
As geologists gather information about the structure
and character of the rock formations, they arrange
it in graphic form. This not only helps them visualize
what they cannot see directly, but also provides a
way to communicate their findings to others. In
particular, it helps them visualize and display the
stratigraphy of the crustinformation that describes
the origin, composition, distribution, and succession
of rock layers.
Principles of Stratigraphy
Figure 37. Law of original horizontality: sedimentary layers are formed not as in A, but as in B
Figure 38. Block diagram showing relative ages of features: basement rock G is older than layers A, B, and
C, which are older than D, E, and F; angular unconformity H-H' is older than fault J-J'
curves toward the horizontal at depth, and total displacement at depth is greater than near the surface.
Curvature of the layers on the downthrown side often
creates a broad rollover anticline.
Unconformities
Figure 4 2 . Overthrust fault
slip occurred continuously, the San Andreas fault
would be merely a geologic curiosity. Instead, sections of the fault "lock up" for years, releasing the
strain all at once in a sudden, powerful earthquake.
metamorphic rock that has been buried beneath sediments (fig. 47). In the geology of petroleum exploration, the rock beneath a nonconformity is usually
referred to as basement rock.
Any unconformity is obviously younger than the
rocks beneath it and older than those above. It is thus
a useful tool in determining the relative ages of rocks and
the events that have affected them over geologic time.