Application of Modern Stratigraphic Techniques: Theory and Case Histories

Application of Modern Stratigraphic Techniques: Theory and Case Histories - Much has been written and debated about the various methodologies applied to modern stratigraphic analysis and the ever increasing complexity of terminologies. However, there exist numerous stratigraphic techniques that are reliant upon precise, quantitative, reproducible data, rather than qualitative interpretive stratigraphic methodologies. Such stratigraphic techniques are applied in an entirely pragmatic non-biased manner within the petroleum industry to provide enhanced stratigraphic understanding of petroleum systems. The petroleum industry is a key driver behind the development of new stratigraphic techniques and a major provider of new stratigraphic data, which has resulted in several of these new techniques having been developed as a requirement to the industry. Furthermore, because techniques, such as isotope chemostratigraphy, elemental chemostratigraphy, magnetic susceptibility stratigraphy, numerical biostratigraphy and heavy mineral stratigraphy are based around precise, quantified and reproducible analytical data, they provide an independent means to test the more interpretive stratigraphic methodologies. This volume attempts an overview of stratigraphic methodologies, but largely focuses on data-generative stratigraphic techniques such as chemostratigraphy, magnetic susceptibility stratigraphy, numerical biostratigraphy and heavy mineral stratigraphy. Where appropriate, each paper discusses data generation methods including sample preparation and analytical methods as well outlining data interpretation methods. This is followed by case histories that demonstrate how those data are used to resolve stratigraphic problems, commonly using material derived from petroleum basins around the World.
The Sequence Stratigraphic Significance of Paralic Coal and its Use as an Indicator of Accommodation Space in Terrestrial Sediments
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Published:January 01, 2010
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CiteCitation
Jennifer Wadsworth, Claus Diessel, Ron Boyd, 2010. "The Sequence Stratigraphic Significance of Paralic Coal and its Use as an Indicator of Accommodation Space in Terrestrial Sediments", Application of Modern Stratigraphic Techniques: Theory and Case Histories, Kenneth T. Ratcliffe, Brian A. Zaitlin
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Abstract
Terrestrial sediments are difficult to correlate because they are laterally variable and generally lack easily identifiable chronostratigraphic surfaces. However, we have been able to identify systematic variations in petrographic properties of paralic coal that respond to changes in accommodation. These properties enable us to distinguish two types of paralic peat cycle (transgressive and regressive) characterized by wetting-upward and drying-upward behavior linked to variations in the groundwater table. They also enable recognition of a range of terrestrial stratigraphic surfaces that record responses to changing accommodation, including accommodation reversal surfaces, flooding surfaces, hiatal surfaces, paludification surfaces, and terrestrialization surfaces. A combination...