Lithostratigraphy Lecture #9
LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY• Subdivision of rock successions into units on the basis
of lithology or rock type
• Lithostratigraphical standard units:
• Supergroup
• Group
• Formation
• Member
• Bed
• Lithostratigraphic classification is the subdivision, classification, and organization of rock strata on the basis of their lithologiccharacters
• Lithostratigraphic unit :
• based on the type of rock,
• may consist of sedimentary, igneous-, or metamorphic rocks, or of an association of two or more of these
• defined and distinguished solely by lithologic feature (primarily rock composition) suplemented by stratification/succession
note : such features should normally be of such-a nature that they can be readily recognized in the field by a knowledgeable geologist
• Boundaries of lithostratigraphic unit, or boundaries
between adjacent (either laterally or vertically)
lithostratigraphic units:
• are placed at points of lithologic change
• will be placed at naturally occurring sharp or
distinct contact between differing lithologies,
• may be fixed arbitrarily within zones of lithologic
gradation
Boundaries of
Lithostratigraphic Unit
• …placed at points of
lithologic change
• placed at naturally
occurring sharp or
distinct contact between
differing lithologies
Sandstone unit
Claystone unit
Boundaries of Lithostratigraphic Unit
Sandstone unit
Claystone unit
..this interval can be consider as
another lithostratigraphic unit
and known as … claystone -
sandstone unit…
…or boundary of claystone
unit and sandstone unit
“fixed arbitrarily” (red line)
in the gradation boundary
…fixed arbitrarily
within zones of
lithologic gradation
• Basic hierarchy of ranks of formal lithostratigraphic units (from highest to lowest) are: supergroup, group, and member
Basic Hierarchy of
Lithostratigraphic Unit