Lab No.
To correlate the stratigraphic Columns by using different techniques
Objective
At the end, student should be able to correlate the boreholes on the basis of lithology, rock
properties and fossil content.
What is correlation?
Comparison of layers of sedimentary and igneous rock of the same age and relating
them to subdivisions on a single stratigraphic scale. The comparison may cover
sections taken from different boreholes in single oil-bearing areas or sections from
boreholes in separate deposits (coals, salts), as well as large areas and even several
continents (tele correlation and intercontinental correlation). Correlation uses all
possible methods of comparison—logging data, tracing of marker beds and their
particular layering, biostratigraphic methods, and isotope determinations of the age of
rocks. As a result of correlation a stratigraphic chart is compiled. In the left part of the
chart subdivisions of a single stratigraphic scale are drawn and, in the right part, a
stratigraphic scheme of deposits encountered in the region being studied.
Basics of Correlation
The following are the basis of correlation
1. trace lateral continuity
2. lithology
3. rock properties
4. stratigraphic successions
5. fossil content
6. chemical, magnetic, or geophysical properties
Figure 8 Correlation: Lateral Continuity
Figure 2.1 Correlation: On the basis of Lithology
Figure 2.2 Correlation: On the basis of rock properties
Figure 2.3 Correlation: On the basis of stratigraphic Succession
Figure 2.4 Correlation: On the basis of fossil content
Figure 2.5 Correlation: On the basis of magnetic & Physical properties
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EXERCISE 1
1. Draw lithostratigraphic correlation lines between the rock units A, B, and C in
Figure 2 . 6 . Use solid lines for correlations you are confident about and dashed lines
for ones that are tentative.
2. Draw lines to correlate any unconformities and label them with their type.
3. Answer the questions on the next page.
Figure 2.6: Stratigraphic columns for Exercise 1.
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a. Were units A, B and C deposited in terrestrial or marine environments?
b. Locate the unconformity at the bottom of units B and C and draw a dark wiggly
line at its location. Name the type of unconformity at the bottom of units B
and C.
c. What happens to the conglomerate from east to west?
d. In which direction was the source of sediments for the conglomerate?
e. What happens to the middle sandstone unit between B and C?
f. What depositional environment created the middle sandstone and siltstone sequence?
g. What type of regional scale unconformity could occur below the debris flow deposit?
h. The debris flow deposit could also be just a local process where a coarse-grained
alluvial fan advanced over the sedimentary environment you identified in (g).
What other information would you need to decide which of these two options
(regional erosion, local erosion) is correct?
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EXERCISE 2
1. Draw lithologic correlation lines to connect equivalent rock units (shown
using Roman numerals) in Figure 2.7.
2. The numbers beside the rock units correspond to time intervals. Using a
different colour, draw lines connecting equivalent time-stratigraphic units.
3. Answer the questions on the following page.
Figure 2.7: Stratigraphic columns for Exercise 2.
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a. Identify the depositional environment of the following facies descriptions.
Transcribe these environments onto Figure 2.7.
(i) The bedrock is granite gneiss. (No depositional environment.)
(ii)
(iii) Mature white quartz sandstone with crossbeds and Skolithos trace fossils.
(iv) Tan coloured shale and siltstone, some hummocky beds and Cruziana traces.
(v) Light grey biomicrite with thinly laminated and hummocky beds.
(vi) Black, thinly laminated shale with Zoophycus traces.
(vii) Dark grey shale and sandstone showing graded beds, and sole marks in cyclic
bedding.
(viii) Greenish siltstones at base becoming tan medium sans with metre-scale crossbeds,
rare shells.
(ix) Reddish brown, clast supported conglomerate interbedded with Crossbedded
brown, immature coarse sandstone and mud-cracked siltstone.
b. What is happening to relative sea level between time intervals 1 and 4?
c. In which direction was the source for the sediment that forms unit (ii)?
d. Where would the deepest part of the sedimentary basin have been at time 1? Where
would the shoreline have been?
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e. Where is the deepest part of the basin (the lowest elevation) at time 4?
f. What was happening to relative sea level between time intervals 4 and 8?
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g. Where was the shoreline at time 7? How did you come to this conclusion?
h. What does the appearance of (viii) directly on top of (vii) tell you about the
sedimentary history of this region?
i. Could this whole sedimentary sequence be created by global sea level rise and fall
only? What other processes could have occurred?
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EXERCISE 3.
1. Draw lithologic correlation lines to connect equivalent rock units in Figure 2.8.
2. The numbers beside the rock units correspond to time intervals. Using a
different colour, draw lines connecting equivalent time-stratigraphic units.
3. Answer the questions on the following page.
Figure 2.8: Stratigraphic columns for Exercise 3 .
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a. Not all the conglomerates are the same age. How could this occur?
b. In what direction is the sourceland for the lower sandstone layer?
c. What happens to the thickness of the shale layer from east to west? Considering your answer from
(b) above, how do you explain this?
d. Why is stratigraphic log A thinner than log G even though it represents a longer stratigraphic
time interval?
e. In log A, between which two time periods was the rate of sedimentation the greatest?
f. In which log (A-H) was the rate of sedimentation the greatest?
g. What is happening to water depth from time interval 1 to 6?
h. What geologic processes or events do you think may have created the sedimentary patterns seen
in this cross section?
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EXERCISE 4.
Look at Figure 2.10 It shows three stacks of rock layers, two from outcrops more than 1,500 miles apart and
one drill core strata taken from the depth of the earth between the two outcrops. Your job is to determine: a.
Which layers (strata) correlate with one another AND which geologic times can be associated and traced
throughout these layers.
STEP 1: Use the geochemical data from the analysis of unit u, v, w, x, y, z presented in Table 1 to
calculate the absolute times for each of these units. Transfer your calculated times to Figure 2.10.
STEP 2: Identify the fossils depicted in Figure 2.10 by comparing them to the Index Fossil Chart shown
in figure 7.2. Write down the fossil name AND appropriate relative geologic time and absolute time span
next to the fossils depicted in the rock columns (Figure 2.10).
STEP 3: Using the geochronological results, the index fossil evidence, the
short lithologic descriptors and visual appearance of the strata, connect the
layers that appear to be the same using your blue pencil. If there is a facies
change or change in lithology over distance, indicate this by a jagged line
separating the two strata types in transition as in the example to the right.
Also, mark each suspected UNCONFORMITY in your correlation effort
with a squiggly line between the strata (see drawing on the right). Use the
red pencil to show the changes in time periods across your correlated,
stratigraphic sections.
STEP 4: Provide a short geologic narrative explaining how these
stratigraphic columns came to be and in which particular time sequence.
Deduct the environment of deposition if
you can. Start with the oldest and move your way upward to the youngest or most recent event.
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Figure 2.9 - Index Fossils for geologic time periods (Courtesy of United States Geological Survey)
Table 1 - Isotopic geochemical results for various igneous samples associated with Exercise 4
Unit Description Method Parent Isotope Daughter Isotope Half-Life
(mmoles) (mmoles)
U rounded basalt pebbles 87
Rb → 87Sr 13.75 0.10 48.8 ∙ 109 years
V rhyolitic ash layer 235
U → 207Pb 0.86 0.15 0.703 ∙ 109 years
W rhyolitic ash layer 235
U → 207Pb 2.24 0.39 0.703 ∙ 109 years
X volcanic breccia ash layer 235
U → 207Pb 3.99 1.10 0.703 ∙ 109 years
Y rhyolite ash with obsidian 40
K → 40Ar 44.6 1.6 1.25 ∙ 109 years
Z porphyritic rhyolite ash 238
U → 206Pb 6.34 0.32 4.47 ∙ 109 years
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Figure 2.10: Stratigraphic columns for Exercise 4
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