All of this information should be written in paragraph form -- similar to your rock description -- but closely following this order of features. The descriptions can therefore be quite lengthy depending on the thickness and diversity of the section. This is why a format is used -- to maintain order and consistency. Each paragraph description should be keyed to a number or letter on your graphic stratigraphic column. Standard abbreviations are acceptable. With some outcrops, variation between units may be minor; if so, initial description should be thorough, with subsequent entries condensed to suit rock character.

1. Name of stratigraphic unit(s) (i.e. formation, group, etc.) and/or brief rock name.

2. Specific locality or area to which description applies

3. Thickness and overall structure or shape of section in this area

4. Main rock types and their disposition within the section

5. Gross characteristics of area underlain by unit (topographic expression, color and types of soil, vegetation, nature of outcrops).

6. Characteristic structures of section.

a. range of thicknesses and average thickness of beds.

b. shapes of beds

c. primary features within beds

d. characteristic secondary features (e.g. fractures, prominent weathering features)

e. number of separate stratigraphic units recognized and described

Part B. Format for describing an individual stratigraphic unit (bed, bed set, etc.) in the field

1. Thickness of individual unit

2. Sediment types - including color, grain size, sorting, etc. (consult rock description format)

3. Bedding - types (i.e. cross-bedding, plane bedding, parallel laminations, etc.)

- thicknesses (in both feet and meters) of each bed

4. Contacts between beds - depositional (abrupt vs. gradational)

- erosional (include evidence)

5. Sedimentary structures or features - soft sediment deformation, mud cracks, bioturbation, etc.

6. Fossils - to lowest taxonomic level known

7. Weathering - weathered color of rocks and the weathering resistance of the rocks (slope forming rocks are not resistant; cliff forming rocks are very resistant; most rocks are somewhere in between)

- e.g. "moderate slope forming unit" - this might be a silty or sandy shale

8. Environmental interpretation of the section you have described