Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons

Sequence Stratigraphy Basics, Concepts & Applications

07.-09.03.2016

Dr. Hartmut Jäger Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Introduction

Books Posamener , H.W. & Weimer, P . (eds), 1994: Siliciclasc Sequence Stragraphy: Recent Developments and Applicaons. (AAPG Memoir) Loucks, R.G. & Sarg, J.F., 1994: Carbonate Sequence Stragraphy: Recent Developments and Applicaons. (AAPG Memoir) Emery, D. & Myers, K., 1996: Sequence Stragraphy. Blackwell Science Catuneanu, O., 2006: Principles of Sequence Stragraphy (Developments in Sedimentology). Elsevier Haq, B.U., 2013: Sequence Stragraphy and Deposional Response to Eustac, Tectonic and Climac Forcing. (Coastal Systems and Connental Margins). Springer Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Introduction

Stragraphy “the science of strafied (layered) rocks in terms of me and space” (Oxford Diconary of Earth Sciences, 2003)

Sequence "A chronologic succession of sedimentary rocks from older below to younger above, essenally without interrupon, bounded by unconformies.” (Glossary of Geology, 1987)

Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Introduction

Sequence stratigraphy is one type of lithostratigraphy • used for subdivision of the sedimentary basin fll by a framework of major depositional and erosional surfaces • creates units of contemporaneous accumulated strata bounded by these surfaces (=sequences) • developed for clastic and carbonate sediments from continental, marginal marine, basin margins and down-slope settings of basins. The • surfaces often generated during changes in relative sea level and formed during associated deposition and erosion. Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Introduction - basic principles

Sequence Stratigraphy is based on Steno's principles of sediment accumulation

Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Introduction - basic principles

Sequence Stratigraphy is based on Walther's Facies Law – vertical and lateral equivalence of sediments

Only those facies types and lithologies can be deposited on top of each other, which can be observed beside each other at one time level

fluvial sands

silty clay coastal plain

terrigeneous muds coal swamp brackish muds shallow marine marine Limestones carbonates brackish mudstone

coal

lacustrine lagoon mudstone lacustrine limestone silty claystone

sandstone Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Introduction - Lithostratigraphy

Lithostratigraphic units recognized and defned by lithic characteristics only, not by age. Hierarchy: Supergroup – Group – Formation – Member - Bed/Bed sets

2 types of contacts between units: conformable and unconformable.

Conformable: continuous deposition, no break or hiatus (surface = conformity) Unconformable: period of erosion/non-deposition (surface = unconformity) Lithostratigraphical correlation based on lithofacies (using key beds or sequences) based on lithology, color, structure, thickness… Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Lithostratigraphy

Different types of lithostratigraphical frameworks conficting with sequence stratigraphy:

• Lithostratigraphy (sensu strictu)

• Allostratigraphy

• Trangression-Regression Cycles

• Stratigraphic Sequences

• Seismo-Stratigraphy

• Sequence Stratigraphy

Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Lithostratigraphy - Allostratigraphy

Time dependent stragraphic framework Subdivision by me equivalent surfaces/ layers: Transgressive/ regressive surfaces (erosional & marine flooding surfaces) also tuffites, tempestes, turbidites .... (marker beds) Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Lithostratigraphy vs. Allostratigraphy

Lithostratigraphic correlation – correlation of similar lithologies

Allostratigraphic correlation – correlation of timelines but different lithologies (facies) Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Lithostratigraphy - Transgressive-Regressive Cycles

Time dependent stratigraphic framework organized by transgressive / regressive surfaces Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Lithostratigraphy - Stratigraphic sequences

Stratigraphic Sequences - assemblage of strata and formations bounded by prominent interregional unconformities Sloss et al. 1949

Subdivision of the Phanerozoic succession (blue) of N-America into six sequences (blue), limited by mes of non-deposion or erosion (yellow) Sloss 1963

Stragraphic sequences are based on transgressive / regressive cycles Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles

Lithostragraphical correlaons are based on sedimentary cycles Several orders of sedimentary cycles – 0.01 to >100 my

1st-order cycles: Connental sequence

2nd-order cycles: Transgressive/regressive cycle

3rd-order cycles: Sequence cycle

4/5th order cycles: Parasequence cycle Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles Continental break-up Sea-floor spreading and Rifting

(melting ice caps) developments Eustatic Orogenesis cyclicity

tectonical Local Milankovich Climatic cycle Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 1st order cycles

Connental-Cycle > 100 My Controlled by connental break up and formaon Phanerozoic 1st order eustac cycle linked to Precambrian (Rodinia or Proto-Pangea) and Permo-Triassic (Pangea) superconnents. 1st order eustac cycles are directly related to the volume of oceanic basins

Cambrian Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 2nd order cycles

Transgressive – regressive Cycle 10-100 My Mainly controlled by sea-floor spreading Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 3rd order cycles Sequence Cycle 1-10 My Regression

Based on eustac sea-level changes Local to regional volcanic and tectonic

events – riing, orogenesis, freezing/ melng of ice caps Changes to earth's shape, producing

Transgression "bulges" or "sags" = ocean level fluctuaons. Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 4-5th order cycles

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M Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 4-5th order cycles Parasequences

Parasequence: A relavely conformable succession of genecally related beds or bedsets (within a parasequence set) bounded by marine flooding surfaces (Van Wagoner 1985). Paerns of the stacking of parasequence sets are used in conjuncon with bounding surfaces and their posion within a sequence to define systems tracts (Van Wagoner et al. 1988). Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 4-5th order cycles Parasequences Sand-rich shoreline (deltaic systems): Muddy coastline:

coarsening-upward succession, mud/sand cross-bedded subdal sands to mixed sediments (offshore) to sand mudstone/rippled sands alternaons dominated lower shoreface to pure sands (interdal) to enrely bioturbated (coaly) of upper shoreface/foreshore mudstones (supradal). Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 4-5th order cycles

shallowing upward cycle

shallowing upward cycle

shallowing upward cycle Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 4-5th order cycles

shallowing upwards

flooding surface

shallowing upwards Camarillas, Maestrat Basin Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons An Online Guide to Sequence Stratigraphy Sedimentary Cycles - 4-5th order cycleshttp://strata.uga.edu/sequence/parasequences.html Parasequences

figure adapted from Van Wagoner et al. (1990)

- faciesBecause within a shallowparasequences water facies changes laterally, therefore a single within a parasequence will pinchparasequence out laterally will in a not be composed of the same downdip direction and deeperfacies water everywhere facies within a parasequence will pinch - composed of deeper water out in an updip direction,facies the facies downdip composition and shallower water of a single faciesparasequence updip - parasequencechanges predictably boundaries may become obscure in coastal plain sengs and in deep updip and downdip. Thus, a single parasequence will not marine sengs due to the lack of be composed of the same faciesfacies everywhere, contrast indicang flooding surfaces but will be composed of deeper water facies downdip and shallower water facies updip, as would be expected. Because parasequence boundaries represent a primary depositional surface, that is, topography at the time of deposition, flooding surfaces will tend to be relatively flat but dip slightly seaward at angles typical of continental shelves. Finally, parasequence boundaries may become obscure in coastal plain settings and in deep marine settings because of a lack of facies contrast necessary to make flooding surfaces visible.

Next . . . parasequence sets and stacking patterns

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4 von 4 14.03.15 19:01 Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sedimentary Cycles - 4-5th order cycles Parasequence Cycle

Overlapping of sea-level cyclicity of different orders leads to complex sequence paern (4-5th order) Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Parasequence - Stacking pattern

Stackin paern of rapid sea- level rise parasequence sets indicate the type of sea-level changes

transgression / regression

slow sea- level rise sea-level fall Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Parasequence - Stacking pattern

Progradaon Regression Sediment input > Accomodaon space

Retrogradaon Transgression Sediment input < Accomodaon space

Aggradaon stable sea-level Sediment input = Accomodaon space

Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons

85 min 23 slides

Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Sequence Stratigraphy - Accomodation space

General opinion

Sequence stragraphy is defined by sea-level variaons, a stragraphic framework of transgressive / regressive cycles

No !!

Sequence stragraphy is defined by changes in accomodaon space Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space

"the space available for potenal sediment accumulaon“ (Jervey 1998)

Distribuon and deposion of sediments in a siliziclasc shelf system (passive connental margin) is controlled by accommodaon space Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space

Accommodaon space is controlled by: Sea level variaons: eustac sea-level rise and fall, regional to global variaon

Sediment input: sediment supply into the basin, local to regional variaon weathering, erosion, transport energy (climate, tectonic development)

Basin subsidence: basement variaons, regional variaon, geodynamic tectonical basin development

Δ Accommodaon space / t = Δ Eustasy + Δ Subsidence – Δ Sedimentaon Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space

Controlling factors: sea-level, sediment input, subsidence

Increasing accommodaon space by: Sea-level rise Decreasing Increasing Sediment input Basin subsidence Sea-level

Accomodaon- space

Ocean floor Sediment input

Basement Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space

Controlling factors: sea-level, sediment input, subsidence

Decreasing accommodaon space by: Decreasing Increasing Basin subsidence Sea-level fall Sediment input (upli) Sea-level

Accomodaon- space

Ocean floor Sediment input

Basement Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space

Complex interacons between controlling factors

Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space

Accommodation space

Change of accomodation space is defined as: Δ Accommodaon space = Δ Eustac sea level + Δ Subsidence – Δ Sedimentaon

34 Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space - sea-level change

Eustac sea level: Fixed point (e.g. centre of the earth)

Relave sea level: local point – fixed to crust (eustasy + tectonics + sediment compacon) Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space - relative sea-level change

Relave sea-level changes is controlled by eustac sea- level changes, basin subsidence and sediment input

Graben Horst Graben

Hohe Sedimentationsrate Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space - relative sea-level change Relave sea-level in passive connental margin

• Low subsidence (10-100m/ma) • Connuous Subsidence • No upli

• eustac SL curve = Sinus-curve • Transgessions/regressions start slowly • maximum speed at Inflecon Point (B / D)

• Relave SL rise and fall (sinus curve) • Overall trend: increasing sea-level • Increasing accomodaon space |ˇ¨#B&xààCŸ9XÄ≈+å ?¡∫Ÿ` @ŸÄ@9X⿉∆Œ¿;,ìRÿ0^A¿5QʻɆ(kæÜ

Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space - relative sea-level change

Relave sea-level in complex tectonic sengs

200-400 ka

ORBITAL OSCILLATION TECTONIC EVENT TECTONIC EVENT

ES ES BASIN SUBSIDENCE

RELATIVE CHANGE OF LAKESEA LEVEL ASYMMETRICAL CYCLES HIGH SEA SEA

SYMMETRICAL CYCLE LAKE LEVEL LOW TIME Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space - relative sea-level change

Relave sea-level depends on global parameters

• Orbital parameters (Milankovich cycles) • connental distribuon • rate of glaciaon (polar ice caps) • global climate (changing water volumes due to temperature) Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space - relative sea-level change

Relave sea-level depends on Hinterland development

• Tectonical und climacal parameter • upli (Hinterland) increases sediment supply • fluvial system tend to get base level again (more sediment input) • acve orogens (connuous upli), increased numbers of sediment mass flows (turbidites, debris flows) Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accommodation space - relative sea-level change

Impact of the different parameters on sea level changes Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accomodation space - Basin subsidence

Basin subsidence mainly controlled by tectonic events

Riing

sea-floor spreading

plate subducon Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accomodation space - Sediment input Effect of changing sediment input on accomodaon space

Accomodaon space Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accomodation space - Sediment input

Rate of sediment supply is controlled by erosion base level erosion base level is the ideal erosion profile adjusted to the ocean (global base level) or to lakes (local base level) rate of erosion strongly controlled by relief Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accomodation space - Sediment input Relief is controlled by interacon of erosion and upli Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accomodation space - sediment input

Silicates - sediment availabilty controlled by

• climate (precipitaon & temperatures) • vegetaon (soil development) • weathering processes: chemical, physical & biological weathering • climac changes oen increase erosion (sediment supply) Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accomodation space - sediment input

Carbonates - sediment availabilty controlled by

• climate more important as in siliciclasc sediments • mostly biogenic in-situ producon • specific condions for carbonate producing organisms (mostly climac) - light (low dispersed sediment) - water temperature - salinity - oxygen (water circulaon) Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons Accomodation space - Sediment input sediment compacon

• increasing accommodaon space at stable relave sea-level • sandstone compacon up to 30% • mudstone compacon up to 80% • mainly in areas of high sediment input (deltas, turbidite fans) • difficult to seperate from subsidence Sequence Stragraphy - Basics, Concepts & Applicaons

50 – 60 min

22 slides