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On the directional nature of stratigraphic correlation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

John C. Tipper
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Australian National University, GPO Box 4, Canberra, Australia

Abstract

In every correlation exercise the diachroneity of the lithostratigraphic boundaries determines the discrepancy between lithostratigraphic correlation and time-correlation. Here it is shown that diachroneity varies in degree as a simple function of the direction in which correlation is made, and hence that stratigraphic correlation must take that direction into account. When the direction of correlation is not known, a sound strategy for time-correlation of lithostratigraphic boundaries is to assume that each is at its most diachronous.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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