BY :

AHMAD HELMAN HAMDANI

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
GEOLOGY
UNIVERSITY PADJADJARAN

The study of strata (layers) of rock layers with respect

to the space (spatial position and orientation) and time
( temporal aspect) a sight toward
interpreting the
geologic history of the region
The stratigraphy also
involves a concept
geologists refer to as
Relative Dating

This phrase may conjure up odd jokes and images of kissing

cousins to some, but for geologist the phrase refers to
distinguishing the age relationship between contiguous rock
layers

Uses a variety of methods - fossils, stable isotopes,

paleomagnetics, sedimentary cycles - to correlate and
distinguish layers

Stratigraphic Laws
The basic principles that use of all geologists in
deciphering the spatial and temporal relationship of rock
layers is Stratigraphic Laws
The laws were developed in the 17th to 19th
centuries based upon the work of Niels Steno
(in the his Dissertation of Solid Naturally
Contained within a Solid, which called Three
Stratigraphic Laws); among others were
developed by James Hutton and William Smith

1) Original Horizontality ; orientation when beds

deposited
2) Lateral Continuity : spatial correlation of the
individual horizons and rock units
3) Superposition : relative age from sequence of
rock when deposited
4) Cross-Cutting relationship : Sequence of event
record in rock relationship
5) Law of Inclusion : rock fragment relationship
6) Law of Faunal Succession : sequence of fossils

Original Horizontality
Constraint on Original Orientation
a)All
sedimentary
rocks
are
originally
deposited
horizontally
b)Principle applies to sedimentary rocks formed in an
aqueous environment
c)Sedimentary rocks that are no longer horizontal have
been tilted from their original position
d)Strata either perpendicular to the horizons or inclined
to the horizons were at one time parallel to the horizons
Grand Canyon:
( Steno, 1669 )
horizontal strata

Original Horizontality
Evidence of Deformation
a)Non-horizontal sedimentary rocks
b)Modified
by
post-depositional
events, such as folding
folded
rock
units

Lateral Continuity
Spatial Relationship
a)Sediments forms as continous layers
b)Individual horizons or layers thin or end
only when the environment of deposition
changes
c)Enables correlation of beds with specific
characteristic
d)Sedimentary layers dont just stop
suddenly
e)They extend horizontally until they taper
out
f)Material forming any stratum were
continous over the surface of the earth
unless some other solid bodies stood in the
way (Steno, 1669 )

Superposition Law
Order of Layered Units
a)A rock unit is younger than the one below
and older than one above
b)Stratigraphic
Column
temporal
succession of rock units, deposition not
necessarily continous but sequential
c)At the time when any given stratum
formed, all the matter resting upon it was
fluid, and, therefore, at the time when the
lower stratum was being formed, none of
the upper strata existed (Steno, 1669 )

Cross-Cutting Relation
Event of Sequence
a)A younger units cross-cut older rock unit
1. erosion surface
2. intrusions
3. unconformities
b)
If a body or discountinuity across a
stratum, it must have formed after that
stratum (Steno, 1669 )

Recorded3 Sequence of Events

Deposition of fossiliferous sediments (A)
Folding deformation of A
Intrusions of igneous rock (B).
Erosion to create surface (C)
Deposition of fossilferous sediemnts (D)

Inclusion
Event of Sequence
a)A rock fragments (in another rock) must
be older than the rock containing the
fragment

Rock fragment

Parent rock

Faunal Succession
Spatial Relationship
a)Fossil groups were succeeded by other
fossil group through time
b)To developed fossil stratigraphy and
provided
means
to
correlate
rocks
throughout the world
c)Were developed by
William strata
Smith 1769-1839