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Periodic law patterns of sequence stratigraphy

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Abstract

Based on the current theory of sequence stratigraphy, this study employs stillstand normal regression (SNR) to replace the method of highstand normal regression (HNR) to establish shoreline trajectory and sediment supply models of off-lap and onlap-type sequences, respectively. The basic principle of the digital model-driven approach in this study is to decompose the shoreline trajectory (fst) and sediment supply trajectory (fss) into their vertical and horizontal projection vectors to establish periodic sufficient condition of shoreline trajectory and sediment supply trajectory, aiming to obtain a sequence model bounded by the remnant maximum flooding surface (RMFS) and/or its intersecting subaerial unconformity (ISU): HST (SNR)-FSST (FR)-LST (LNR)-TST (T). This model establishes the synchronic necessary condition of shoreline trajectory and sediment supply trajectory and obtains the periodic law patterns of sequence stratigraphy, proposed as “two rhombuses sandwiching one extension of subaerial unconformity”. This study defines a sequence as: a sequence is a stratigraphic unit (“two rhombuses sandwiching one extension of subaerial unconformity”) constrained by both periodic sufficient condition and synchronic necessary condition of shoreline and sediment supply trajectories, and is composed of a relatively conformable succession of genetically interrelated strata bounded at their top and base by RMFS and/or intersecting subaerial unconformities (ISU). Moreover, the periodic laws of sequence stratigraphy show that the RMFS is almost potentially correlative to the lower boundary of the stage B (global boundary stratotype section and point) of chronostratigraphic units and close to the biohorizon or first appearance datums (first appearance datums) of biostratigraphic units.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

(modified from Grabau (1906), Barrell (1917), Sloss et al. (1949), Wheeler (1958), Mitchum et al. (1977), Haq et al. (1987), Posamentier et al. (1988, 1992), Van Wagoner et al. (1987, 1988, 1990), Cant (1989, 1991), Vail (1991), Christie-Blick (1991), Hunt and Tucker (1992, 1995), Helland-Hansen and Gjelberg (1994), Frazier (1974), Galloway (1989), Johnson and Murphy (1984), Embry and Johannessen (1992), Plint and Nummedal (2000), Donovan (2001), Catuneanu (2002), Catuneanu et al. (2009, 2011, 2012, 2017). (a) model of off-type sequence; (b) conceptual model of systems tract; and (c) entity model of the shoreline trajectory and sediment supply trajectory. LST-lowstand systems tract; TST-transgressive systems tract; HST-highstand systems tract; FSST-falling-stage systems tract; RMFS- remnant maximum flooding surface; ISU-intersecting subaerial unconformity; ESU-extension of subaerial unconformity; SNR- stillstand normal regression; FR-forced regression; LNR-lowstand normal regression; MRS-maximum regressive surface

Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

(modified from Grabau (1906), Barrell (1917), Sloss et al. (1949), Wheeler (1958), Mitchum et al. (1977), Haq et al. (1987), Posamentier et al. (1988, 1992), Van Wagoner et al. (1987, 1988, 1990), Cant (1989, 1991), Vail (1991), Christie-Blick (1991), Hunt and Tucker (1992, 1995), Helland-Hansen and Gjelberg (1994), Frazier (1974), Galloway (1989), Johnson and Murphy (1984), Embry and Johannessen (1992), Plint and Nummedal (2000), Donovan (2001), Catuneanu (2002), Catuneanu et al. (2009, 2011, 2012, 2017), including (a) model of onlap-type sequence, (b) conceptual model of systems tract, and (c) entity model of the shoreline trajectory and sediment supply trajectory. LST-lowstand systems tract; TST-transgressive systems tract; HST-highstand systems tract; FSST-falling-stage systems tract; RMFS- remnant maximum flooding surface; ISU-intersecting subaerial unconformity; ESU-extension of subaerial unconformity; SNR-stillstand normal regression; FR-forced regression; LNR-lowstand normal regression; MRS-maximum regressive surface

Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Modified from Li et al. (2017). LST-lowstand systems tract; TST-transgressive systems tract; HST-highstand systems tract; FSST-falling-stage systems tract; ISU-intersecting subaerial unconformity

Fig. 9

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Data Availability

Data will be made available on request.

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Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by the Foundation of Department of Science and Technology of Guizhou Province, China (No. [2022]ZD003). The author is grateful to all the sequence stratigraphers who have contributed to the development of sequence stratigraphy. Their outstanding achievements have guided the author to establish the periodic sufficient conditions of shoreline trajectory and sediment supply trajectory so as to obtain RMFS and /or ISU bounded sequence model, and establish their synchronic necessary conditions, so as to obtain periodic law of sequence stratigraphy. All these originated from the Jijihu modern subaqueous aggradational fan discovered by Li in the Gurbantonggute desert in Northwest China in the summer of 2007. Li spent more than 15 years to continue this research without any financial support. Therefore, Li should especially thank Dr. Andrew Miall, who encouraged the author not to give up and kindly sent the author two papers (Cant 1989, 1991). Li also wants to express his heartfelt thanks to Drs. Octavian Catuneanu, Dag Nummedal, Christopher R. Fielding, Christopher G. St C. Kendall, Gert Jan Weltje, Frits Agterberg, Marshall X Ma, Yinye Wu, Longyi Shao, Zaixing Jiang, Xinong Xie, and many others for their help and suggestions on this work through email. Many thanks Drs. Baoqing Li and Bei Liu for English editing and figure presentation.

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  1. School of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, China

    Shaohu Li

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S.Li. wrote the main manuscript text. S.Li. prepared Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. S.Li. prepared Tables 1 and 2. S.Li. reviewed the manuscript.

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Li, S. Periodic law patterns of sequence stratigraphy. Earth Sci Inform 16, 4257–4271 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12145-023-01085-6

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