Stratigraphy

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See Stratigraphy in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, is basically the study of rock layers and layering. It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks. The subject was invented and first applied by William “Strata” Smith in England in the early 1800s. William Smith, known as the “Father of Geology”, created the first geologic map of England and first recognized the significance of strata or rock layering.

Subfields

Stratigraphy includes two related subfields: lithologic and biologic stratigraphy or biostratigraphy.

• Lithologic stratigraphy is the most obvious. It deals with the physical lithologic or rock type change both vertically in layering or bedding of varying rock type and laterally reflecting changing environments of deposition, known as facies change.
• Biologic, or paleontologic, stratigraphy is based on fossil evidence in the rock layers. Strata from widespread locations containing the same fossil fauna and flora are correlatable in time. Biologic stratigraphy depends on the reality of evolution and was one of the first and most powerful lines of evidence for evolution. It provides strong evidence for formation, speciation, of and the extinction of species.

geological timescale

The Geological Timescale was developed during the 1800s based on the evidence of biologic stratigraphy and faunal succession. This timescale remained a relative scale until the development of radiometric dating which gave it and the stratigraphy it was based on an absolute time framework.

Note! dinosaur remains are never found in the same strata with human remains. This disproved Young Earth Creationist claims that humans coexisted with dinosaurs.

External Links

International Commission on Stratigraphy [1]