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    Steno's Law of Stratigraphy Study Guide

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    Steno's Law of Stratigraphy outlines four principles for determining the relative ages of rock layers: 1) The principle of superposition states that lower layers are older than higher layers, though deformation can alter the sequence. 2) The principle of original horizontality notes that tilted layers were originally horizontal before later events disturbed them. 3) The principle of lateral continuity says that sediment layers extend in all directions unless barriers blocked them. 4) The principle of cross-cutting relationships states that any feature cutting across a layer must have formed after that layer.

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    Steno's Law of Stratigraphy Study Guide

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    Yra
    247 views2 pages
    Steno's Law of Stratigraphy outlines four principles for determining the relative ages of rock layers: 1) The principle of superposition states that lower layers are older than higher layers, though deformation can alter the sequence. 2) The principle of original horizontality notes that tilted layers were originally horizontal before later events disturbed them. 3) The principle of lateral continuity says that sediment layers extend in all directions unless barriers blocked them. 4) The principle of cross-cutting relationships states that any feature cutting across a layer must have formed after that layer.

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    Steno's Law of Stratigraphy outlines four principles for determining the relative ages of rock layers: 1) The principle of superposition states that lower layers are older than higher layers, though deformation can alter the sequence. 2) The principle of original horizontality notes that tilted layers were originally horizontal before later events disturbed them. 3) The principle of lateral continuity says that sediment layers extend in all directions unless barriers blocked them. 4) The principle of cross-cutting relationships states that any feature cutting across a layer must have formed after that layer.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    247 views2 pages

    Steno's Law of Stratigraphy Study Guide

    Uploaded by

    Yra
    Steno's Law of Stratigraphy outlines four principles for determining the relative ages of rock layers: 1) The principle of superposition states that lower layers are older than higher layers, though deformation can alter the sequence. 2) The principle of original horizontality notes that tilted layers were originally horizontal before later events disturbed them. 3) The principle of lateral continuity says that sediment layers extend in all directions unless barriers blocked them. 4) The principle of cross-cutting relationships states that any feature cutting across a layer must have formed after that layer.

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    EARTH SCIENCE

    Steno’s Law of Stratigraphy


    Steno’s Law of Stratigraphy, formulated by Danish geologist Nicolaus Steno (Niels Stensen) in
    1669, described the pattern of which rock layers are deposited. The four principles of the Law of
    Stratigraphy are the law of superposition, law of original horizontality, law of cross-cutting relationships,
    and law of lateral continuity.
    The Principle of Superposition
    "...at the time when any given stratum was being formed, all the matter resting upon it was fluid, and,
    therefore, at the time when the lower stratum was being formed, none of the upper strata existed." Steno,
    1669.
    Law of Superposition was formulated by Nicolaus Steno. He is a Danish geologist who outlined
    the law in his book De Solido Intra Naturaliter Contento Dissertationis Prodomus (1669; The Prodromus
    of Nicolaus Steno’s Dissertation Concerning a Solid Body Enclosed by Process of Nature Within a Solid).
    Considered as one of the great principles of general geology, Law of Superposition states that the layers of
    sedimentary rock are progressively younger with ascending order sequence. However, due to deformation
    and erosion, there are possibilities that the rocks may tilt or overturn. This event might alter the sequence
    of the layers; and results may not be clear as to what the original top layer or bottom layer is.
    Principle of Initial Horizontality
    “…the strata is either perpendicular to the horizon or inclined to the horizon were at one time parallel to
    the horizon." Steno, 1669.
    The Principle of Initial Horizontality, is the principle wherein Steno stated that the tilted rocks were
    affected by later events, such as volcanic disturbance or collapse of cave-ins. For example, formation of
    caves might remove large parts of lower layer, while collapse of the caves might brought upper rock layers
    downwards. These events indicate that rocks were disturbed ever since the start of their formation. Also,
    the tilting, folding, and faulting that was caused by the subterranean forces might complicate the
    stratigraphic sequence. Some molten rock might also squeeze between older layers, forming an exception
    to Steno’s law.
    Principle of Strata Continuity.
    "Material forming any stratum were continuous over the surface of the Earth unless some other solid bodies
    stood in the way." Steno, 1669
    Principle of Strata Continuity is the law where Steno identified the possible links of identical rocks
    on opposite sides of a river valley and deduced events that possibly separated them. This principle states
    that the sediment layers extend in all directions, and even valleys that are separated because of erosion are
    originally continuous. Although the sediments do not extend indefinitely, the limits are recognized and
    controlled by the amount and type of sediments in the size and shape of sedimentary basin. The sediment
    will be deposited once it is transported on the area. But the layers of the source will eventually become
    thinner as the material lessens away from the source.
    Principle of Cross Cutting Relationships
    "If a body or discontinuity cuts across a stratum, it must have formed after that stratum." Steno, 1669
    The Principle of Cross Cutting Relationships is essential in studying all kinds of rocks. It is a
    relative dating technique that states that a feature is younger when it is the geologic feature which cuts the
    other.

    REFERENCES:

    • Law of Superpostion. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/science/law-of-superposition


    • Steno’s Principle of Stratigraphy. Retrieved from http://www.geologyin.com/2014/03/stenos-
    principles-of-stratigraphy.html
    • Nicholas Steno. Retrieved January 23 from https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/steno.html

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