the study of the composition, relative positions, etc, of rock strata in order to determine their geological history
2. archaeology
a vertical section through the earth showing the relative positions of the human artefacts and therefore the chronology of successive levels of occupation
Abbreviation: stratig
Derived forms
stratigrapher (strəˈtɪɡrəfə) or stratigraphist (strəˈtɪɡrəfɪst)
noun
stratigraphic (ˌstrætɪˈɡræfɪk) or stratigraphical (ˌstratiˈgraphical)
adjective
stratigraphy in American English
(strəˈtɪgrəfi)
noun
1.
the arrangement of rocks in layers or strata
2.
the branch of geology dealing with the study of the nature, distribution, and relations of the stratified rocks of the earth's crust
Derived forms
stratigrapher (straˈtigrapher)
noun
stratigraphic (ˌstratiˈgraphic) (ˌstrætəˈgræfɪk)
adjective
stratigraphically (ˌstratiˈgraphically)
adverb
Word origin
< stratum + -graphy
stratigraphy in the Oil and Gas Industry
(strətɪɡrəfi)
noun
(Extractive engineering: Petroleum geology)
Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers.
Stratigraphy is the study of the arrangement of geological formations in space and time.
Subsurface exploration by oil companies has provided a wealth of information andhas led to a better understanding of the stratigraphy of sedimentary basins.