In geology, a facies (/ˈfeɪʃɪ.iːz/FAY-shih-eez, US also /ˈfeɪʃiːz/FAY-sheez; same pronunciation and spelling in the plural)[a] is a body of rock with distinctive characteristics.[1] The characteristics can be any observable attribute of rocks (such as their overall appearance, composition, or condition of formation), and the changes that may occur in those attributes over a geographic area. A facies encompasses all of the characteristics of a rock including its chemical, physical, and biological features that distinguish it from adjacent rock.[2]
The term "facies" was introduced by the Swiss geologist Amanz Gressly in 1838 and was part of his significant contribution to the foundations of modern stratigraphy,[3] which replaced the earlier notions of Neptunism.
Middle Triassic marginal marine siltstone and sandstone facies exposed in southern Utah
Ideally, a sedimentary facies is a distinctive rock unit that forms under certain conditions of sedimentation, reflecting a particular process or environment. Sedimentary facies are either descriptive or interpretative. Sedimentary facies are bodies of sediment that are recognizably distinct from adjacent sediments that resulted from different depositional environments. Generally, geologists distinguish facies by the aspect of the rock or sediment being studied.[citation needed] Facies based on petrological characters (such as grain size and mineralogy) are called lithofacies, whereas facies based on fossil content are called biofacies.
A facies is usually further subdivided, for example, one might refer to a "tan, cross-beddedooliticlimestone facies" or a "shale facies". The characteristics of the rock unit come from the depositional environment and from the original composition. Sedimentary facies reflect their depositional environment, each facies being a distinct kind of sediment for that area or environment.
Since its inception in 1838, the facies concept has been extended to related geological concepts. For example, characteristic associations of organic microfossils, and particulate organic material, in rocks or sediments, are called palynofacies. Discrete seismic units are similarly referred to as seismic facies.
Sedimentary facies are described in a group of "facies descriptors" which must be distinct, reproducible and exhaustive. A reliable facies description of an outcrop in the field would include: composition, texture, sedimentary structure(s), bedding geometry, nature of bedding contact, fossil content and colour.
Walther's law of faciesedit
Stratigraphic column on the north shore of Isfjord in SvalbardNorway. The vertical succession of rock types (representing sedimentary facies) reflects lateral changes in paleoenvironment.
Walther's law of facies, or simply Walther's law, named after the geologist Johannes Walther (1860-1937), states that the vertical succession of facies reflects lateral changes in environment. Conversely, it states that when a depositional environment "migrates" laterally, sediments of one depositional environment come to lie on top of another.[4] In Russia the law is known as Golovkinsky-Walther's law, honoring also Nikolai A. Golovkinsky[5] (1834-1897). A classic example of this law is the vertical stratigraphic succession that typifies marine transgressions and regressions.
The sequence of minerals that develop during progressive metamorphism (that is, metamorphism at progressively higher temperatures and/or pressures) define a facies series.
^Other pronunciations include /ˈfeɪsiːz/FAY-seez and /ˈfæʃiːz/FASH-eez, but these are so rare that they are not recorded in any major dictionaries (incl. Collins, Merriam-Webster, Oxford (Lexico), and American Heritage).
Referencesedit
The Wikibook Historical Geology has a page on the topic of: Walther's principle
^Reading, H. G. (1996). Sedimentary Environments and Facies. Blackwell Scientific Publications. ISBN0-632-03627-3.
^Parker, Sybil P. (1984). McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. McGraw-Hill. p. 705. ISBN0-07-045482-5.
^Cross, T. A.; Homewood, P. W. (1997). "Amanz Gressly's role in founding modern stratigraphy". Geological Society of America Bulletin. Geological Society of America. 109 (12): 1617–1630. Bibcode:1997GSAB..109.1617C. doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1997)109<1617:agsrif>2.3.co;2. S2CID 73609554.
^Stanley, Steven M. (1999). Earth System History. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company. p. 134. ISBN0-7167-2882-6.
^ Nurgalieva, N. G.; Vinokurov, V. M.; Nurgaliev, D. K. (2007). "The Golovkinsky strata formation model, basic facies law and sequence stratigraphy concept: Historical sources and relations". Russian Journal of Earth Sciences. 9: 1–7. doi:10.2205/2007ES000222. S2CID 55280334. The fundamentals of the facies law, known in the West as Walther's Law and in Russia as Golovkinsky-Walther's Law, were also described in Golovkinsky's work long before Walther drew his conclusions on this subject. The present paper shows that the fundamentals of sequence stratigraphy were first set forth in the work of N. A. Golovkinsky.
December 18, 2023
facies, other, uses, medical, disambiguation, confused, with, feces, faeces, fasces, faces, fascism, geology, facies, shih, also, sheez, same, pronunciation, spelling, plural, body, rock, with, distinctive, characteristics, characteristics, observable, attribu. For other uses see Facies medical and Facies disambiguation Not to be confused with Feces Faeces Fasces Faces or Fascism In geology a facies ˈ f eɪ ʃ ɪ iː z FAY shih eez US also ˈ f eɪ ʃ iː z FAY sheez same pronunciation and spelling in the plural a is a body of rock with distinctive characteristics 1 The characteristics can be any observable attribute of rocks such as their overall appearance composition or condition of formation and the changes that may occur in those attributes over a geographic area A facies encompasses all of the characteristics of a rock including its chemical physical and biological features that distinguish it from adjacent rock 2 Eolianite carbonate facies Holocene on Long Island BahamasThe term facies was introduced by the Swiss geologist Amanz Gressly in 1838 and was part of his significant contribution to the foundations of modern stratigraphy 3 which replaced the earlier notions of Neptunism Contents 1 Types of facies 1 1 Sedimentary facies 1 1 1 Walther s law of facies 1 2 Metamorphic facies 2 See also 3 Notes 4 ReferencesTypes of facies editSedimentary facies edit nbsp Middle Triassic marginal marine siltstone and sandstone facies exposed in southern UtahIdeally a sedimentary facies is a distinctive rock unit that forms under certain conditions of sedimentation reflecting a particular process or environment Sedimentary facies are either descriptive or interpretative Sedimentary facies are bodies of sediment that are recognizably distinct from adjacent sediments that resulted from different depositional environments Generally geologists distinguish facies by the aspect of the rock or sediment being studied citation needed Facies based on petrological characters such as grain size and mineralogy are called lithofacies whereas facies based on fossil content are called biofacies A facies is usually further subdivided for example one might refer to a tan cross bedded oolitic limestone facies or a shale facies The characteristics of the rock unit come from the depositional environment and from the original composition Sedimentary facies reflect their depositional environment each facies being a distinct kind of sediment for that area or environment Since its inception in 1838 the facies concept has been extended to related geological concepts For example characteristic associations of organic microfossils and particulate organic material in rocks or sediments are called palynofacies Discrete seismic units are similarly referred to as seismic facies Sedimentary facies are described in a group of facies descriptors which must be distinct reproducible and exhaustive A reliable facies description of an outcrop in the field would include composition texture sedimentary structure s bedding geometry nature of bedding contact fossil content and colour Walther s law of facies edit nbsp Stratigraphic column on the north shore of Isfjord in Svalbard Norway The vertical succession of rock types representing sedimentary facies reflects lateral changes in paleoenvironment Walther s law of facies or simply Walther s law named after the geologist Johannes Walther 1860 1937 states that the vertical succession of facies reflects lateral changes in environment Conversely it states that when a depositional environment migrates laterally sediments of one depositional environment come to lie on top of another 4 In Russia the law is known as Golovkinsky Walther s law honoring also Nikolai A Golovkinsky 5 1834 1897 A classic example of this law is the vertical stratigraphic succession that typifies marine transgressions and regressions Metamorphic facies edit Main article Metamorphic facies The sequence of minerals that develop during progressive metamorphism that is metamorphism at progressively higher temperatures and or pressures define a facies series See also editLithofacies Metamorphic rock Sequence stratigraphy StratumNotes edit Other pronunciations include ˈ f eɪ s iː z FAY seez and ˈ f ae ʃ iː z FASH eez but these are so rare that they are not recorded in any major dictionaries incl Collins Merriam Webster Oxford Lexico and American Heritage References edit nbsp The Wikibook Historical Geology has a page on the topic of Walther s principle Reading H G 1996 Sedimentary Environments and Facies Blackwell Scientific Publications ISBN 0 632 03627 3 Parker Sybil P 1984 McGraw Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science and Technology McGraw Hill p 705 ISBN 0 07 045482 5 Cross T A Homewood P W 1997 Amanz Gressly s role in founding modern stratigraphy Geological Society of America Bulletin Geological Society of America 109 12 1617 1630 Bibcode 1997GSAB 109 1617C doi 10 1130 0016 7606 1997 109 lt 1617 agsrif gt 2 3 co 2 S2CID 73609554 Stanley Steven M 1999 Earth System History New York W H Freeman and Company p 134 ISBN 0 7167 2882 6 Nurgalieva N G Vinokurov V M Nurgaliev D K 2007 The Golovkinsky strata formation model basic facies law and sequence stratigraphy concept Historical sources and relations Russian Journal of Earth Sciences 9 1 7 doi 10 2205 2007ES000222 S2CID 55280334 The fundamentals of the facies law known in the West as Walther s Law and in Russia as Golovkinsky Walther s Law were also described in Golovkinsky s work long before Walther drew his conclusions on this subject The present paper shows that the fundamentals of sequence stratigraphy were first set forth in the work of N A Golovkinsky Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Facies amp oldid 1188296833 Walther s law of facies, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
