The Principles of Stratigraphical GeologyMarr, J. E. (John Edward)
Science
The Principles of Stratigraphical Geology
Marr, J. E. (John Edward)
Geology, Stratigraphic
The occurrence of an unconformity implies the denudation of one set of
beds before the deposition of another set upon them, and accordingly
the denuded edges of the lower set will somewhere abut against the
lower surface of the lowest deposit or deposits of the overlying
set[20]. The existence of an unconformity may often be detected in
section, but when the unconformity is upon a large scale this may not
be possible, but it will be discovered by mapping the strata and will
be apparent on a map owing to the deposits of the lower set of beds
abutting against the others. This is well seen where the Permian rocks
of Durham, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire rest upon different members
of the underlying Carboniferous series, and will be noticed on any
good geological map of England. But a similar effect may be caused by
a fault, so that mere inspection of a map or even of the strata in the
field and discovery of one set of beds ending off against another does
not prove unconformity. When the fault is a normal one, with low hade
(that is, having a fissure approaching the vertical position), the
outcrop of the fault-fissure will approximate to a straight line if
the fault has a straight course, even if the ground be very uneven,
whereas, if the plane of unconformity has not been tilted to a high
angle from its original horizontal position, it will crop out in a
sinuous manner across uneven ground, in a way similar to that of beds
which are nearly horizontal, so that though the general trend of the
outcrop of the plane of unconformity may be fairly straight, its
deviation from a straight line will be frequent and marked, as seen in
the case of the Permian unconformity above referred to. But if the
unconformable junction has been highly inclined its outcrop will
resemble that of a normal fault, or if the fault be a thrust-plane
with high hade, the outcrop of this will resemble that of an
unconformable junction which has not been greatly tilted from its
original horizontal position. In these cases we require more evidence
before we can decide whether we are dealing with an unconformable
junction or a faulted one.
[Footnote 20: An unconformity may be simulated or an actual
unconformity rendered apparently more important, as the result of
underground solution of the underlying strata subsequently to the
deposition of the upper set upon them, and any insoluble materials in
the underlying strata may be left as an apparent pebble-bed at the
base of the upper beds. This is seen at the junction of the Tertiary
beds with the chalk near London. Subterranean water has dissolved the
upper part of the chalk, increasing the unconformity which naturally
exists between chalk and Tertiary beds, and the insoluble flint of the
dissolved chalk is left as a layer of 'green-coated flint' at the base
of the Tertiary deposits.]
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