StrataPlot, a Graphic Correlation Tool for Biostratigraphic Analysis

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StrataPlot, a Graphic Correlation Tool for
Biostratigraphic Analysis

• Emil Platon
• Research Assistant Professor
• Energy Geoscience Institute at the University
  of Utah

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This talk

• Basic introduction to Biostratigraphy
• Graphic correlation method
• StrataPlot specifications
• StrataPlot demonstration

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Biostratigraphy

• Biostratigraphy is the science of dating rocks by
  using the fossils contained within them.
• Index Fossil - short life span
• - broad geographic distribution
• - common
• - easy to identify

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biostratigraphy
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Biostratigraphy - Geologic Time
http//www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform.html
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Biostratigraphy - Fossils

• Macrofossils
• Ammonites (cephalopods)
• very good index fossil
• Microfossils
• Foraminifera (single-celled protists)
• Planktonic species - good index fossils

http//paleodirect.com/ammonites.htm
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Biostratigraphy - Biozonation
Interval Zone
Total Range Zone
Partial Range Zone
"sp. i I.Z."
c
"sp. c I.Z."
"sp. f T.R.Z."
f
i
b
e
h
"sp. h P.R.Z."
"sp. b I.Z."
"sp. e I.Z."
Time
"sp. a I.Z."
"sp. g T.R.Z."
a
d
"sp. d T.R.Z."
g
After M. Caron, 1979
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Biostratigraphy - Biozonation
MESOGEAN
BOREAL
M.A.
Ammonite
Foraminifera
Dic. primitiva
Dic. concavata
Coniacian
88
Subprion. neptuni Romanic. deveriai
Marg. schneegansi
Marg. coronata
IZ
PRZ
Selwynoc. woolgari Romanic. oraniss.
Turonian
P. helvetica
P. helvetica
Mammi. nodosoides Inoc. labiatus
TRZ
TRZ
90
W. archaeocretacea
W. archaeocretacea
PRZ
PRZ
Cenomanian
R. cushmani
R. cushmani
After M. Caron, 1979
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Biostratigraphy - Graphic Correlation

• Uses any event that can be tied to the absolute
  time.
• First and last stratigraphic occurrences of taxa
  (e.g., 1st appearance of P. helvetica in the
  geologic)
• First abundant occurrence of some taxa
• Magnetic reversals.
• etc.

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Graphic Correlation - Composite Standard
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Graphic Correlation
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StrataPlot - Specifications

• Standalone Windows application
• GUI Database
• Installation
• Application
• Data Base
• Borland Builder Data Base Engine

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StrataPlot - Database
Paleo 24 Oracle
StrataPlot DB Paradox

• Research localities studied by AMOCO exploration
  and later donated to EGI by British Petroleum

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StrataPlot - Public Database

• Public Data
• More than 2000 public localities
• More than 700 interpreted localities
• Six Composite Standards
• Time Scale Recalibration
• Mesozoic and Cenozoic - Gracianski et al. (1998)
• Paleozoic - Gradstein et al. (2004)

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Locality - Composite Standard
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Specifications - Data Loading
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Specifications - Data Loading
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Specifications - Data Loading
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Specifications - Graphing
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Specifications - Section Data
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Specifications - Graphing
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Specs. - Save Interpretation
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Specs. - Save Interpretation
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Specs. - Save Interpretation
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Specifications - Taxon Age
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Specifications - Distribution Charts
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Specifications - Graph Editing
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Specifications - Section Age
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StrataPlot - Current Status

• Beta Testing
• Dr. Thomas D. Demchuck - ConocoPhillips - USA
• Dr. Peter P. McLaughlin - Delaware Geological
  Survey - USA
• Dr. Matthew Wakefield BG Group - UK
• Dr. Peter Griggs - BHPBillton - USA
• Dr. Jason Crux - BHPBillton - USA
• Dr. Vladimir Davydov - Boise State University -
  USA
• Dr. Ned Covas - Nobel Energy Inc. - USA
• Dr. Miroslav Bubik - National Geological Survey -
  Czeck Republic
• Dr. Baraboshkin Evgenij Jurievich - Moskow State
  Univeristy - Russia
• Dr. William N. Krebs - Petronas - Malayesia
• Dr. Jeffrey A. Stein - Consulting Palynologist
  -USA
• Dr. Richard Howe - Shell - USA
• Dr. Anthony Gary - University of Utah - USA
• Dr. Sudeep Kanungo - University of Utah - USA
• Dr. Armando Cunha - Petrobras - Brazil

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StrataPlot - Current Status

• More beta testing needed

• Emil PLATON
• eplaton_at_egi.utah.edu
• 801-585-7013

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• If you wish to call in to ask the presenter
  questions or to participate in the weekly
  meeting, please dial in at  1.888.629.9921 and
  put in the passcode 5383118 when prompted.