Excerpts from:

The Application of Key Stratigraphic

Concepts plus Geological Insights from
the Sequence Stratigraphy Revolution
to Engineering Geology in Michigan

Presented By:
Niah Venable, Geosciences,
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI
 Geological First Principles
Relevant to Sequence Stratigraphy
(adapted from Posamentier and Allen, 1999)

Fluid and sediment gravity flows tend to move

from high to low elevations, i.e., water flows
downhill, tending to follow topographic or
bathymetric lows.
Flow velocity is directly proportional to slope
magnitude.
Sediment grain size and flux is directly
proportional to stream power, i.e., flow velocity
and discharge.
 Geological First Principles
Relevant to Sequence Stratigraphy
(adapted from Posamentier and Allen, 1999)

Fine-grained sediment (e.g., silt and clay) is

generally transported in suspension to accumulate
in low current strength areas through suspension
settling.
Coarser-grained sediment (e.g., sand sized and
greater) is generally transported as bed load or,
less commonly, in suspension.
As environmental energy decreases, coarse-
grained sediments are deposited first.
 Geological First Principles
Relevant to Sequence Stratigraphy
(adapted from Posamentier and Allen, 1999)

In typical alluvial, marine shelf, or deep-water

sedimentary systems equilibrium (the most
efficient use of system energy) is expressed as a
graded or steady-state profile.
In near-shore marine (or lacustrine) systems sea
(lake) level is the base level of accumulation.
 Geological First Principles
Relevant to Sequence Stratigraphy
(adapted from Posamentier and Allen, 1999)

Walther's Law: the same sedimentary succession that is

present vertically was present horizontally unless there
was a break (unconformity) in sedimentation.

From Shaw, 1964

 First Principles and Controls
Sequence Stratigraphy

Relative Sea Level

Eustacy (global s.l.)
Tectonic
Subsidence/Uplift
Climate/Sediment
Supply
Sediment
compaction

Coe, et al., 2003

 First Principles and Controls
Sequence Stratigraphy
Eustatic Sea Level Cycles
1st Order Cycles
100s my
100s of meters
2nd Order Cycles Falling

10s my Rising

100s of meters
3rd Order Cycles
1-10 my
10s of meters
Etc. From:
Nichols, 1999
 First Principles and Controls
Sequence Stratigraphy
Accommodation Space, a key first principle

Accommodation

Space available for

sediment accumulation

Posamentier, Jervey, and Vail; 1988

 First Principles and Controls
Sequence Stratigraphy

Accommodation is defined by:

The Equilibrium Profile
The theoretical, steady state (no gain or loss of
sediment) depositional surface in any environment
Controlled by various factors, including
Hydrodynamic gradient of the system
Substrate and sediment load characteristics

and
 First Principles and Controls
Sequence Stratigraphy
Base Level
Points coinciding with theoretical equilibrium
profile along an actual depositional profile

Erosion occurs above and

deposition occurs below
base level

Posamentier and Allen, 1999

 First Principles and Controls
Sequence Stratigraphy

Base Level
Marine (lacustrine) base level is simplified as the
sea (or lake) surface
Actually much more complicated

Coe, et al., 2003

 First Principles and Controls
Sequence Stratigraphy
The thickness and type of sedimentary
deposit formed in any sedimentary
environment is controlled by:
Sediment supply
Base level and accommodation space for that
sediment

Coe, et al., 2003

 First Principles and Controls
Sequence Stratigraphy
Rate of relative sea level change,
Accommodation (A) and stratal geometry
(SG)

dA/dt dSG/dt
Aaccommodation RELATIVE SEA LEVEL

SGstratal geometry
Ttime

Posamentier, Jervey, and Vail; 1988

 Sequence Stratigraphy
Analysis of cyclic patterns in sedimentary successions,
developed through time, in response to:

variations in sediment
supply and
space available for
sediment accumulation

Vail, 1987

Used to explain and predict stratal geometry.

Major Sequence Stratigraphic and
Chronostratigraphic Surfaces

Kendall, USC
Sequence Stratigraphy www site
 Sequence Stratigraphy
First Principles and Controls
Implication of high resolution sequence concepts to
aquifer/hydrocarbon reservoir correlation

Van Wagoner, et al., 1990

Retrogradational System Progradational System

 Key Sequence Stratigraphy References
Sea Level Changes: an Integrated Approach;
edited by, C.K. Wilgus, et al., SEPM Spec. Pub. No.
42, 1988.
Siliciclastic Sequence Stratigraphy Concepts
and Applications; Posamentier, H.W. and Allen,
G.P., SEPM Concepts in Sedimentology, No. 7, 1999
The Sedimentary Record of Sea-Level Change;
ed. Angela Coe, The Open University/ Cambridge
University Press, 2003