Principles of Historical Geology Principles of Historical Geology

Geology 331
Principles
Principle of Superposition
Principle of Original Horizontality Principle of Original Horizontality
Principle of Original Lateral Continuity
P i i l f I t i R l ti hi Principle of Intrusive Relationships
Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships
Principle of Fossil Succession will
discuss in Biostratigraphy Section g p y
Principle of Superposition
In any undeformed sequence of
di t k h b d i sedimentary rocks, each bed is
younger than the one below it and
ld th th b it older than the one above it.
This is the basis of relative ages
of all strata and their contained
fossils.
Original Horizontality - Sediments usually
formflat lying deposits on the earths surface form flat-lying deposits on the earths surface.
Original Horizontality - Sedimentary
rocks are horizontal because the
original sediments were horizontal original sediments were horizontal.
Original Lateral Continuity
Geology Field Camp in the gy p
Badlands of South Dakota
Whi h i Which way is
up? How can p
we tell the
older beds from older beds from
the younger
beds?
Can you interpret the sequence of geologic
events using superposition, intrusive events using superposition, intrusive
relationships, and cross-cutting relationships?
a
What is the sequence of events?
Dike and Sill
What is the sequence of events?
TheMeaningof Unconformities The Meaning of Unconformities
8_9
(a)
Layered
sedimentary
rocks
Nonconformity Nonconformity
Metamorphic
rock
Igneous
i i k
(b)
intrusive rock
Younger
sedimentary
rocks
Angular
unconformity
Older, folded
sedimentary
(c)
rocks
Disconformity
Brachiopod
(290 million years old)
Trilobite
(490 million years old)
J ames Hutton, 18
th
Century founder of Geology
Siccar Point, Scotland, where Hutton
discovered the meaning of unconformities. g
Siccar Point, Scotland, J une 2004
Angular Unconformity in the Grand
C b t P t i d Canyon between Proterozoic and
Cambrian Rocks
Nonconformity between metamorphic and
sedimentary rocks in the Grand Canyon y y
Disconformity within Pennsylvanian age y y g
rocks, West Virginia. The disconformity
shows an older topography shows an older topography.
Application of the Principles of Historical
Geology Examples for finding petroleum Geology. Examples for finding petroleum.
Example of a
contact between
geologic
formations.
H d b Harrodsburg
Limestone (white)
overlies Borden overlies Borden
Siltstone (brown).
William Smith,
the first 19
th
the first 19
th
Century
geologist to
understand
stratigraphy and
make make
correlations.
WilliamSmiths William Smiths
Geologic Map of
England and Wales England and Wales
William Smiths Geologic Map of part of England