Geol 307: Sedimentation and

Stratigraphy
Semester 071
2007

Lecture 19
Sequence Stratigraphy
 Problems with Lithostratigraphy
Different facies represent different depositional
environments
As laterally adjacent environments shift with time, facies
boundaries shift so that the facies of one environment lie
above those of another environment
 Official Birth of Sequence Stratigraphy
1977 Peter Vail and Robert Mitchum co-ordinated the publishing
of AAPG Memoir #26 based on the assumption that a seismic
reflection surface represents a time line
 Introduction
Sedimentary basins are regions where sediment is accumulating.
Accommodation is the space available for sediment to accumulate at any
point in time (Jervey, 1988)
Sediment supply is the total bedload, suspended load and dissolved
material brought to a particular point, plus in situ biogenic productivity.
 Introduction
Sequence stratigraphy is a type of stratigraphy, which is
simply defined as the subdivision of sedimentary basins into
genetically related strata bounded by unconformities and their
correlative conformities (Mitchum, 1977).
Sequence stratigraphy is powerful tool especially for
petroleum geology where by it can predict the spatial and
temporal (space and time) relationships of facies that lie away
from areas of data control.
 Accommodation and Sediment Supply
An increase of accommodation is necessary to build and preserve a thick
stratigraphic succession; this requires eustatic sea-level rise and/or basin
subsidence (i.e., relative sea-level rise), as well as sufficient sediment
supply.
A relative sea level rise can be achieved either by the sea level itself rising
or by the sea bed subsiding.
The causes of sea level rise, such as melting of ice caps to raise the level
of the seas world-wide, may be different from the causes of subsidence.
Sediment supply depends on sources of sediment. Relative sea level rise
adds accommodation space whereas sealevel fall takes space away.
Lateral changes in accommodation vary from place to place influenced
by physiography
 Thesequencestratigraphicapproach
Verticalandlateraldistributionofdepositionalfacies,positionofthe
shoreline,andformationofkeysequencestratigraphicsurfaces

sedimentsupplyvs. accommodation(relativesealevel)
sedimentsupply= accommodation=aggradation
Shorelinestillstand andfaciesfixedinpositionupthroughthestratigraphicsection
sedimentsupply> accommodation=progradation
Shoreline(andfacies)migratesbasinwards(i.e.regression)
Forced Regression occurs due to relative sea level fall and formation of
erosion surfaces, i.e. unconformity (surface of subaerial exposure)
sedimentsupply< accommodation=retrogradation
Shoreline(andfacies)migrateslandwards(i.e.transgression)
 SEQUENCE
Sediment package deposited between two episodes of relative sea
level fall (i.e. sequence boundaries; SB). Hence, SB is subaerial
erosion surface (unconformities on the shelf) or its correlative
conformity (e.g., on continental slope and basin floor)

Curve of changes in relative sea level

high
SB SB

low
Sequence
Depositional sequence is a stratigraphic unit bounded at its top and base by
unconformities or their correlative conformities

A relative sea-level fall on the order of

tens of meters or more will lead to a
basinward shift of the shoreline and an
associated basinward shift of depositional
environments; this will be accompanied
by subaerial exposure, erosion, and
formation of a widespread unconformity
known as a sequence boundary.
Systems tracts are the building blocks
of sequences, and different types of
systems tracts represent different limbs of
a relative sea-level curve:
Falling-stage (forced regressive)
systems tract
Lowstand systems tract
Transgressive systems tract
Highstand systems tract
 In a gently sloping down into deeper
water, a fall in relative sea level will
form the falling stage systems tract
(Plint, 1996) or forced regressive wedge
systems tract (Hunt and Tucker, 1992).
The deposits will consist of a
progradational succession of shallow
marine deposits.
 Parasequence
Parasequence is defined as a succession of genetically related beds bounded
by marine flooding surfaces and their correlative surfaces.
Siliciclastic parasequences are generally progradational and coarsening
upward depositional units.
The surfaces of flooding that bound the parasequences are called marine
flooding surfaces. Marine Flooding
Surface

Parasequence
Marine Flooding
Surface

Silt sand
 Parasequence

Parasequence

Parasequences (coarsening and thickening upward) within transgressive systems tract in

Carboniferous deltaic sediments from Northern Ireland
A curve of short-term sea level fluctuation superimposed on a longer-term sea level
cycle results in a complex pattern o relative sea level rise and fall.
The various systems tracts are characterized by their position within a
sequence, by shallowing or deepening upward facies successions, or by
parasequence stacking patterns
Carbonate environments
Relative sea-level fall in carbonate environments can lead to the development of karstic
surfaces (dissolution of limestones) or evaporites (e.g., sabkhas), depending on the climate
Highstands generally expand the area of the carbonate factory (drowning of shelves) and
vertical construction of reefs, as well as accumulation of other carbonates is enhanced
 Presentaion
Slides should not include

small text; the audience cant read them.

too much text; the audience dont have time

to read them & listen to you at the same time.
 Delivery

Clarity; audially and optically.

Time

Discussion; questions and feedback.

 MUST DO during the presentation!

Keep eye contact with ALL the audience!

Move around!

Point at what you describe on the screen!

Keep time!