Unit-4

Unit IV: Fundamentals of Sequence
Stratigraphy
1- Eustasy,
2- Sea level,
3- Subsidence and Upliftment,
4- System tract and Sequence
boundary,
5- Seismic facies and Sequence
analysis.
Grand Canyon Stratigraphy - The Great Unconformity
Stratigraphic correlations
Stratigraphic correlations can be based on:
 physical changes – lithostratigraphy
fossil assemblage – biostratigraphy
 changes in age – chronostratigraphy
changes in magnetism – magnetostratigraphy
changes in position relative to unconformities – allostratigraphy
 relationships to worldwide unconformities – sequence stratigraphy

SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY
Definition of a Sequence -A relatively conformable, genetically related succession of

strata, bounded by unconformities or their correlative conformities.
• Relatively Conformable”
A succession of strata that has only short breaks in time, diatoms. The duration of diatoms
within the succession of strata is much less than bounding unconformities.
• “Genetically Related Succession of Strata”

Deposited in response to similar overall regional depositional drivers.
“Bounded by Unconformities or their Correlative Conformities”

Unconformities – surface of non‐deposition or erosion • Generally indicates missing rock
record of a interval of time • Forms a time line or chronostratigraphically significant
surface with which to correlatebetween stratigraphic sections. • Sequence boundary
unconformities must be of regional extent, not local.
Unconformity
Angular conformity: younger sediments rest

upon the eroded surface of tilted or folded older
rocks.
Disconformity: contact between younger and

older beds is marked by a visible, irregular or
uneven erosional surface.
Paraconformity: beds above and below the

unconformity are parallel and no erosional
surface is evident; but can be recognized based
on the gap in the rock record.
Nonconformity: develops between sedimentary

rock and older igneous or metamorphic rock
that has been exposed to erosion.
Angular conformity& Disconformity
BASE LEVEL
Sequence Stratigraphy – Base Level
Relative Sea Level
Position of of sea surface relative to a fixed datum near the sea floor which takes into
account two components: eustasy and vertical movement of the sea floor (tectonism
and/or sediment compaction).
Relative Sea Level Rise
Relative Sea Level Fall
A relative sea level fall tracks the falling position of of sea surface relative to a fixed datum
near the sea floor
Accommodation - Physical
Accommodation is defined by Jervey (1998) as "the space available for potential

sediment accumulation". This space is the combined product of movement of:
The sea surface (eustasy: global sea level measured from a datum such as the center
of earth)
The sea floor (tectonics)
Changes in rates of sediment accumulation.

Lithology Correlation
Sequence Boundaries…….
Cont……….
If the relative sea level rises and there is a zero or low sediment flux, then
transgression results.
If relative sea level rises and there is a low rate of sediment flux, then
retrogradation of the coastal parasequence results.
If relative sea level rises and the rate of sediment flux matches the sea level rise,
then aggradation of the coastal parasequence results.
If relative sea level rises and the rate of sediment flux exceeds the sea level rise,
then progradation of the coastal parasequence results.
System Tracts
A systems tract is a linkage of contemporaneous depositional systems,

forming the subdivision of a sequence (Brown and Fisher, 1977).
Systems tracts are interpreted on the basis of stratal stacking patterns,
stratigraphic relations, and types of bounding surfaces.
The central elements in defining sequence stratigraphic
concepts are the Transgressive-Regressive and base level
curves.
Transgression: driven by base level rise, where the rates of

base level rise outpace sedimentation rates
Regression:
1. Normal regression: driven by sediment supply, where
the rates of base level rise are outpaced by the
sedimentation rate
2. Forced regression: driven by base level fall
Reefs, Platforms, and Carbonate Systems
Rocks containing calcium carbonate (CaCO3) are common and generally associated
with marine depositional environments influenced by biological processes.
Limestones and dolostones occur from the accumulation of muds that contain
organisms, which use calcium carbonate to build shells and exoskeletons.
Temperature, water chemistry, and water depth all influence the buildup of
carbonates, but carbonates can form in a variety of settings so long as water is
available and clastics are in low supply (Nicholas, 2009).
Climate conditions, tectonic subsidence, and sea-level changes can all affect the
pattern of depositional sequences that occur in a carbonate system. Typically,
carbonates are associated with deposition in relatively shallow seas. As such,
carbonates are often highly fossiliferous and preserve the remains of marine life.
They are extremely important for understanding marine organisms and sea-level
changes in the geologic past and have become increasingly significant sites of
hydrocarbon exploration.
Carbonate Platforms…..
Platforms
• Carbonate platforms are areas of shallow submarine accumulation of
carbonate sediment that vary based on several factors: sediment production,
sediment supply/proximity to a continental landmass, existing topography, sea
level oscillations, and ramp morphology/slope (Harris, 1986; Fig. 1).
• Carbonate ramps are very low angle slopes. Today, they occur in areas where
reefs are absent: cooler water, high salinity, or contribution of clastics.
• Ramps are commonly divided into depth-related zones to better describe their
sedimentation: shallow inner ramps, below fair weather wave base mid-ramps,
and below storm wave base outer-ramps. Carbonate shelves are flat-topped
areas of carbonate accumulation that sometimes have a barrier to absorb
wave energy (rimmed carbonate shelves).
• The main types are carbonate platforms are (1) ramps, (2) non-rimmed
shelves, (3) rimmed shelves, (4) epeiric platforms, and (5) isolated platfroms
Sequence Boundaries
Termination of strata or
seismic reflections
interpreted as strata along
an unconformity surface
due to post-depositional
erosional or structural
effects.
Sequence boundaries
EXXON TERMINOLOGY
Sequence stratigraphy & Lithostratigraphy
A B C
Organic Remains on Carbonate rocks
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Unit IV: Fundamentals of Sequence

Stratigraphic correlations can be based on:

 physical changes – lithostratigraphy

fossil assemblage – biostratigraphy

 changes in age – chronostratigraphy

changes in magnetism – magnetostratigraphy

changes in position relative to unconformities – allostratigraphy

 relationships to worldwide unconformities – sequence stratigraphy

Definition of a Sequence -A relatively conformable, genetically related succession of

• “Genetically Related Succession of Strata”

“Bounded by Unconformities or their Correlative Conformities”

Angular conformity: younger sediments rest

Disconformity: contact between younger and

Paraconformity: beds above and below the

Nonconformity: develops between sedimentary

Accommodation is defined by Jervey (1998) as "the space available for potential

The sea floor (tectonics)

Changes in rates of sediment accumulation.

A systems tract is a linkage of contemporaneous depositional systems,

Transgression: driven by base level rise, where the rates of

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