Unconformity

Unconformity
Hutton's Unconformity at Jedburgh, Scotland, illustrated by John Clerk in 1787 and photographed in 2003.

An unconformity is a buried erosion surface separating two rock masses or strata of different ages, indicating that sediment deposition was not continuous. In general, the older layer was exposed to erosion for an interval of time before deposition of the younger, but the term is used to describe any break in the sedimentary geologic record. The significance of angular unconformity (see below) was shown by James Hutton, who found examples of Hutton's Unconformity at Jedburgh in 1787 and at Siccar Point in 1788.[1][2]

The rocks above an unconformity are younger than the rocks beneath (unless the sequence has been overturned). An unconformity represents time during which no sediments were preserved in a region. The local record for that time interval is missing and geologists must use other clues to discover that part of the geologic history of that area. The interval of geologic time not represented is called a hiatus.

Contents

Types of unconformities

Disconformity

Disconformity

A disconformity is an unconformity between parallel layers of sedimentary rocks which represents a period of erosion or non-deposition. Disconformities are marked by features of subaerial erosion. This type of erosion can leave channels and paleosols in the rock record.[3] A paraconformity is a type of disconformity in which the separation is a simple bedding plane with no obvious buried erosional surface.[4] A blended unconformity is a type of disconformity or nonconformity with no distinct separation plane or contact, sometimes consisting of soils, paleosols, or beds of pebbles derived from the underlying rock.

Nonconformity

Nonconformity

A nonconformity exists between sedimentary rocks and metamorphic or igneous rocks when the sedimentary rock lies above and was deposited on the pre-existing and eroded metamorphic or igneous rock. Namely, if the rock below the break is igneous or has lost its bedding by metamorphism, the plane of juncture is a nonconformity.[5]

Angular unconformity

Angular unconformity

An angular unconformity is an unconformity where horizontally parallel strata of sedimentary rock are deposited on tilted and eroded layers, producing an angular discordance with the overlying horizontal layers. The whole sequence may later be deformed and tilted by further orogenic activity. A typical case history is presented by the paleotectonic evolution of the Briançonnais realm (Swiss and French Prealps) during the Jurassic.

 modèles palinspastiques
Blocs diagrammes et profils palinspastiques des Préalpes (Briançonnais s.l.) au Jurassique moyen
Discordances successives angulaires et en éventails sur la marge N-briançonnaise, affectant 650m de sédiment durant 50 Ma; Dogger-Malm, Préalpes du Chablais (Suisse, France).

Paraconformity

Paraconformity

A paraconformity is a type of unconformity in which strata are parallel; there is little apparent erosion and the unconformity surface resembles a simple bedding plane. It is also known as nondepositional unconformity or pseudoconformity.

Buttress unconformity

A buttress unconformity is when younger bedding is deposited against older strata thus influencing its bedding structure.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ Hutton's Unconformity
  2. ^ Keith Montgomery (2003). "Siccar Point and Teaching the History of Geology" (pdf). University of Wisconsin. http://nagt.org/files/nagt/jge/abstracts/Montgomery_v51n5.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-26. 
  3. ^ Disconformity at EPGeology
  4. ^ American Geological Institute. Dictionary of Geological Terms. New York: Dolphin Books, 1962.
  5. ^ Stokes, W. Lee (1982). Essentials of Earth History 4th Edition. Prentice Hall,Inc.. p. 65. ISBN 0132858908. 
  6. ^ Cliff Ford (2 September, 2003). "Siccar Point". Field Excursion Preview. University of Edinburgh School of GeoSciences. http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/field/siccarpoint/. Retrieved 2008-10-20. 

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  • Unconformity — Un con*form i*ty, n. 1. Want of conformity; incongruity; inconsistency. South. [1913 Webster] 2. (Geol.) Want of parallelism between strata in contact. [1913 Webster] Note: With some authors unconformity is equivalent to unconformability; but it… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • unconformity — index breach, controversy (argument), deviation, difference, disaccord, disagreement, discrepancy, di …   Law dictionary

  • unconformity — (n.) c.1600, from UN (Cf. un ) (1) not + CONFORMITY (Cf. conformity). Geological sense is from 1829 …   Etymology dictionary

  • unconformity — [un΄kən fôr′mə tē] n. pl. unconformities 1. a lack of conformity; inconsistency; incongruity 2. Geol. a) a break in the continuity of rock strata in contact, separating younger from older rocks and usually resulting from erosion of the surface of …   English World dictionary

  • Unconformity — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Unconformity >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 nonconformity nonconformity &c. 82 Sgm: N 1 unconformity unconformity disconformity Sgm: N 1 unconventionality unconventionality informality abnormity abnormality anomaly …   English dictionary for students

  • unconformity — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Lack of conformity to convention Nouns 1. unconformity, nonconformity, unconventionality, informality, abnormality; anomaly, anomalousness; exception, peculiarity, irregularity; infraction, breach,… …   English dictionary for students

  • unconformity spring —    See spring, unconformity …   Lexicon of Cave and Karst Terminology

  • unconformity — noun Date: circa 1600 1. archaic lack of conformity 2. a. lack of continuity in deposition between rock strata in contact corresponding to a period of nondeposition, weathering, or erosion b. the surface of contact between unconformable strata …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • unconformity — /un keuhn fawr mi tee/, n., pl. unconformities. 1. lack of conformity; incongruity; inconsistency. 2. Geol. a. a discontinuity in rock sequence indicating interruption of sedimentation, commonly accompanied by erosion of rocks below the break. b …   Universalium

  • unconformity — noun a) A lack of conformity. b) A gap in time in rock strata, where erosion occurs while deposition slows or stops. See Also: nonconformity …   Wiktionary

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