6/17/2019 Isopach map - Wikipedia

Isopach map
An isopach map (/ˈaɪsoʊpæk/) illustrates thickness variations within a
tabular unit, layer or stratum. Isopachs are contour lines of equal thickness
over an area. Isopach maps are utilized in hydrographic survey,
stratigraphy, sedimentology, structural geology, petroleum geology and
volcanology.

An isopach map is similar to an isochore map, but these terms actually

describe different methods of displaying thickness variations within a
layer.[1][2]

An isopach map displays lines of equal thickness in a layer where the

thicknesses are measured perpendicular to the layer boundaries.
Isopach maps are also referred to as True Stratigraphic Thickness
(TST) maps.[2][3] Isopach map showing true
An isochore map displays lines of equal thickness in a layer where the stratigraphic thickness of Holocene
thicknesses are measured vertically. Isochore maps in geology are
sediments deposited offshore of
also referred to as True Vertical Thickness (TVT) maps.[2][3]
Pacifica, California
Thus, an isochore and isopach map are the same only when both the top
and bottom surfaces of the layer shown are horizontal. When the layer
shown is inclined, as is usually the case, the thicknesses displayed in an isochore map of the layer will be greater than
the thicknesses displayed in an isopach map of the same layer. Unfortunately the terms isopach and isochore are
widely confused, and many times maps of True Vertical Thickness (TVT), which by definition are isochore maps, are
incorrectly labeled isopach maps.[3]

Notes
1. Levorsen (1967), p. 596-600 and 616.
2. Tearpock and Bischke (2002), chap. 14.
3. Isopach maps vs isochore maps at www.structuralgeology.org (http://www.structuralgeology.org/2012/11/isopach-
maps-vs-isochore-maps.html), accessed 5 April 2013.

References
Levorsen, A.I. (1967), Geology of Petroleum, W.H.Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 724 p.
Tearpock, Daniel J. and Bischke, Richard E. (2002), Applied Subsurface Geological Mapping with Structural
Methods (2nd Edition), Prentice- Hall, Englewood Cliffs 822 p.

External links
Oilfield Glossary (http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/Display.cfm?Term=isopach)

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