Importance of Sequence in Environmental Reconstruction

Abstract

Sequences represent interrelationships of several environments. There are two basic approaches in the study of sequences. The one is the study of aerial variations in an environment. In other words, the relationship of lateral facies is studied. One concentrates on a thin stratigraphic or time unit that covers a wide geographic area, so that several different facies of essentially the same time period are examined. Such an approach can be rather useful in environmental reconstruction. For example, the occurrence of shelf mud facies on one side of a sand body and lagoon facies on the other side would hint that this sand body might be a barrier island. The relationship of lateral facies also helps in defining and delineating various environments of a depositional basin and in finding the configuration of basin and basin analysis, in postulating current directions and in dispersal patterns in the basin.