Name __________________________________________________ Per.

_____
Lab - Stratigraphy and Lithologic Correlation
Geologists study sequences of sedimentary rocks on a bed-by-bed basis. They measure the
thickness of each bed, record the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the
rock, and note the nature of the contacts (or bedding planes bet!een beds. "sing these data,
the geologist dra!s up a stratigraphic section for a particular sequence of rock. A stratigraphic
section is a graphical or pictorial representation of the sequence of rock units. Standard
symbols (called lithologic symbols are used to refer to each rock type#
Geologists can dra! stratigraphic sections for se$eral outcrops (or cores in an area, and then
trace beds from one section to another. This is called lithologic correlation . %asically,
correlation demonstrates the equi$alency of rock units across an area. The sections being
correlated are commonly miles apart. %asically, a correlation is a hypothesis that units in t!o
!idely separated sequences are equi$alent. Clearly, the more unique characteristics that t!o
sections share, the greater the probability that the correlation is correct.
Lithologic correlation Unconformity causing beds to be missing from a sequence
Exercise
In this exercise, you will practice lithologic correlation and will construct stratigraphic sections from geologic
data. To correlate the sections, you will draw lines connecting correlative contacts as shown on page 1. Use a
ruler and e as neat as possile. !n the last "uestion where you construct and correlate two stratigraphic
sections, you will need to use graph paper, and you may also wish to use colored pencils. #e certain that the
thic$nesses of all of the units are to scale.
1.
a. %raw lines etween the three stratigraphic sections elow to connect the geologic contacts etween
similar lithologies. &ach column is a stratigraphic section. &ach unit can e regarded as a bed.
. 'ow many eds can e correlated across all three sections( _________
c. 'ow thic$ is the thic$est stratigraphic section )or column of roc$s*(
d. + ed of coal is present in sections # and ,. 'ow deep would you have to drill in section + )starting at
the top of the section, up near the letter +* to reach the uried coal seam( ________
-.
a. %raw lines to correlate the two sections elow.
. .hich section )+ or #* contains an unconformity( __________
c. .hich units are missing from that section ecause of the unconformity( )/ive roc$ types*.
_______________________________
d. 0ael the position of the unconformity with an arrow and the word 1unconformity1.
e. .hat type of unconformity is it( ________________________
2. Using the data elow from the western and eastern sections in the oxes elow, do the following3
%raw two stratigraphic sections on graph paper using the roc$ type and thic$ness data provided.
o %raw a hori4ontal line across the top of your paper to represent the ground surface. 5ou will
draw the sections elow this line.
o %raw the western section on the left and the eastern section on the right, aout 6 inches apart.
0ocate the positions of all unconformities in the two sections )loo$ for arupt or erosional contacts in
the section descriptions*. 7ar$ the positions of the unconformities on your sections y using a wavy
line, and then, correlate the unconformities y extending the wavy line etween the two sections. 0ael
your wavy lines 1UN,!N8!97IT51, for clarity.
,orrelate the two sections y drawing lines to connect the contacts etween e"uivalent units.
Western section : ;<= ft total )strata are listed top down*
1== ft >hale? dar$ gray, fissile? rare ammonoid fossils? lower contact arupt @ proaly erosional.
6= ft #asalt with vesicles. )0ava flow*.
2A ft ,onglomerate? red to rown? no fossils.
1== ft >andstone? white to pale red? dominantly "uart4 sandstone, very well sorted, rounded sand grains,
cross@edded? no fossils.
BA ft %olostone? tan to light gray? a few gastropod fossils present.
6= ft 0imestone? light gray? oolitic limestone.
-A ft 0imestone? medium gray? fossiliferous limestone? taulate corals, crinoids, and ryo4oans aundant.
0ower contact arupt.
A= ft ,onglomerate and reccia? rown to red matrix? no fossils.
BA ft >andstone, with some conglomerate eds? rown to red? plant fossils and rare ones present.
1== ft >iltstone )rown to green* with rare coal eds? plant fossils and some ivalves.
A= ft >hale? green to gray or rown? triloites and rachiopods present.
Eastern section : ;BA ft total )top down*
1== ft >hale? dar$ gray? fissile? rare ammonoid fossils present? lower contact arupt @ proaly erosional.
6= ft #asalt with vesicles. )0ava flow*.
BA ft >andstone? white? dominantly "uart4 sandstone, very well sorted, rounded sand grains? cross@edding
present? fossils asent.
1== ft %olostone? tan to gray? a few gastropod fossils present.
;= ft 0imestone? light gray? cross@edded, oolitic limestone.
-A ft 0imestone? medium gray? fossiliferous limestone with aundant taulate corals.
-= ft 0imestone? dar$ gray micrite limestone? lower contact arupt @ apparently erosional.
;A ft >andstone with local conglomerate eds? rown to red.
A= ft >iltstone )rown, green, and gray*, with rare coal eds? plant fossils present.
6= ft >hale? gray to rown? fissile? triloite fossils present.
1== ft 0imestone? gray? micrite limestone? rare rachiopods and ryo4oans.
>taple your graph to this la.