Stochastic analysis of complex lithological successions

It is difficult to develop stochastic models for complex lithological sequences that are typically associated with intertidal-supratidal depositional environments. A sequence from the Upper Silurian Leopold Formation on eastern Somerset Island is used to demonstrate that a combination of cluster analysis, Markov Chain analysis, and substitutability analysis can give considerable insight into the nature of such complex successions. The high variability of this sequence was created by a combination of (a) variation in the depositional environment, (b) variation in the degree of dolomitization, (c) variation in the clastic influx, (d) random highenergy (possibly storm associated events) and (e) random breaks in the succession of depositional environments.