Correlation Stratigraphy

• Correlation:
– The concept of correlation is fundamental
– Without the correlation, these could be no
synthesis of stratigraphic deposits
– Little more than the description of bodies
of rocks
– No apparent relationship to one another
– NOTE that Stratigraphy is a study of
strata of rocks bodies in the time and
space relationship
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• The International Stratigraphic Guide
(Hedberg, 1976) states that:
– “to correlate, in a stratigraphic sense, is
to show correspondece in character and in
stratigraphic position
• NACSN (1983)
– Correlation is a procedure for
demontrating correspondence between
geographically separated parts of a
geologic unit
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• International Stratigraphic Guide (1976)
– Three major types of correlation:
• (1)– Lithologic Correlation (Lithocorrelation),
based on the similatity or correspondence of
lithology and lithostratigraphic position
• (2)- Biostratigraphic Correlation
(Biocorrelation), based on similarity of fossil
content and biostratigraphic position
• (3)- Chronostratigraphic Correlation
(Chronocorrelation), based on correspondence in
age and chronostratigraphic position
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• Stratigraphic Correlation is the
demonstration of equivalency stratigraphic
units (Krumbein and Sloss, 1963)
• Correlation is the proces to determine the
mutual time relation of local section
• Correlation in stratigraphy should always
imply time-significance (Storey and
Patterson, 1959)
• The proces of correlation is the
determination of geomatric relationships
between rocks, fossils, or sequence of
geologic data for interpretation and inclusion
in facies models, paleogeographic
reconstruction, or structural models (Shaw,
1982)
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• Hisrory of Correlation
– Word “Correlation” have been used early
by Murchison (1849)
– In the 1880‟s, it appears to have been
uncommon
– Late 1880‟s – early 1890‟s, this word used
by Powel
• Correlation is refered to the time relation of
formation
– 1890‟s – 1910‟s, the term correlation
commontly used, and had the connotation
of time correlation (Rodgers, 1959)
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• Hisrory of Correlation
– 1920‟s, rapidly expanded in large part as
a result of the needs of the petroleum
industri
– 1930‟s-1940‟s, stratigraphic units based
primarily on lithologies and stratigraphic
units based on time (Rodgers, 1959)
• Correlation: -to determination of lithologic
correspondence stratigraphic units to one
another
• Correlation: -to determination of temporal
correspondence stratigraphic units to anideal
time scale
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• Hisrory of Correlation
– Late 1940‟s, the fossils have been
considered as the best indicator of
temporal correlation (Wheler, 1959)
– Rodgers (1959), correlation is refered to
as chronocorrelation
• Chronocorrelation demontrates correspondence
in age and chronostratigraphic position
(Hedberg, 1976)
– Shaw (1964), fauna content can be used
to prove contemporaneity, but it cannot
be used to prove lithic continuity
• Lithic continuity can be prove only lateral
tracing of the rock bodies
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• Hisrory of Correlation
– Shaw (1982), two basic qualification must
be fulfilled: “the used of stratigraphic
units, and the ability to demonstrate
correspondence of these units
• Formal (=direct) correlation must be
represented physically, tracing a body of rock
• Informal (=indirect) correlation is indirect
tracing of units trough projections of atributes
• Correlations are more or less subject to
interpretation
Hard Correlations are made
when the same units occur both
above and below a contact.

Soft Correlations (dashed lines)

when one unit pinches out or
occurs intermittently.

Direct Correlations are made

by physically tracing a contact
in outcrop

Most regional mapping relies

upon some Indirect Correlations
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• Procedure for demonstrating temporal
correspondence between geographically
separated parts of a geologic unit.
NACOSN, p. 473
• Correspondence in stratigraphic
position, and
• “Some defined property"
– lithocorrelation links by similar lithology
– biocorrelation links by similar fossil
content
– chronocorrelation
 Correlation Stratigraphy

 LITHOLOGIC CORRELATION
 SAND TO SAND CORRELATION
 LAYER-CAKES CORR.
 PARASEQUENCE CORR.
 HIRES CORRELATION

TIME RELATIONSHIP
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
Correlation Stratigraphy

SAND TO SAND CORRELATION

BASED ON SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
 Correlation Stratigraphy

CHANNEL SANDSTONES AND BAR SANDSTONE

CORRELATION BASED ON GENETIC UNITS
Strata may "match" but not correlate
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy

TIME RELATIONSHIP/MARKER
 LITHOLOGIC MARKER
 BIOMARKER
 HORIZON SEISMIC
 STRATIGRAPHIC EVENT

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
Correlation Stratigraphy

LITHOLOGIC MARKER/KEY-BED
 TUFF LAYER
 BENTONITE LAYER
 COAL SEAM
 CONDENSED SECTION/CS

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy

BIOMARKERS
 LAST APPEARANCE
 FIRST APPEARENCE
 BIO-EVENT
 MAX. ABUNDANCE & DEVERSITY
 ASSEMBLAGE ZONE

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
Correlation Stratigraphy

SEISMIC HORIZON
 BLUE HORIZON
 RED HORIZON
 GREEN HORIZON
 YELLOW HORIZON
 OLIVE HORIZON
 Z-16/H-16
 Z-14/H-14

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy

STRATIGRAPHIC EVENT
AINSLEY, et. al. (1991): Event and Cycle Stratigraphy

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
 Correlation Stratigraphy
• EVENT STRATIGRAPHY
• Ager (1973, 1981) applied the term Event
Stratigrapgy to „the uses of inferred geologic
event for correlation:
– Annual Varves
– Storm beds
– Asteroid impacts, global catastrophes (Silver and
Schultz, 1982)
– Volcanic eruption
– Earthquakes, flood
– Turbidites, climatic fluctuation (seilacher, 1984)
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Event Stratigraphy
Volcanic Eruption-Cycle??
Correlation Stratigraphy

HIRES CORRELATION
 PARASEQUENCE CORRELATION
 FS to FS
 CS to CS
 MFS to MFS
SEISMIC/SEQUENCE BASED

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
For correlation and mapping of the Gulf of Mexico
offshore, MFS uses the genetic sequence [DS (Vail
model)] as well as the depositional sequence [GS
(Galloway model)].

Armentrout (2002)
Correlation Stratigraphy
 Correlation Stratigraphy
PRINCIPLES OF SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY, THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC AND SQS CORRELATION
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy
Correlation Stratigraphy