A vertical column visualization showing geological rock layers with standardized lithology patterns, formation names, ages, and thickness scales. Each layer is represented as a stacked rectangular block filled with a distinctive pattern (e.g., brick pattern for limestone, dots for sandstone, dashes for shale) following FGDC/USGS conventions. This plot is essential for communicating subsurface geology and sedimentary sequences in a compact, standardized format.
""" anyplot.ai
column-stratigraphic: Stratigraphic Column with Lithology Patterns
Library: plotly 6.8.0 | Python 3.13.14
Quality: 91/100 | Updated: 2026-06-17
"""
import os
import plotly.graph_objects as go
# Theme tokens (see prompts/default-style-guide.md "Theme-adaptive Chrome")
THEME = os.getenv("ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
PAGE_BG = "#FAF8F1" if THEME == "light" else "#1A1A17"
ELEVATED_BG = "#FFFDF6" if THEME == "light" else "#242420"
INK = "#1A1A17" if THEME == "light" else "#F0EFE8"
INK_SOFT = "#4A4A44" if THEME == "light" else "#B8B7B0"
GRID = "rgba(26,26,23,0.15)" if THEME == "light" else "rgba(240,239,232,0.15)"
INK_RGB = "26,26,23" if THEME == "light" else "240,239,232"
# Constant data-mark styling (kept identical across themes so the column reads the same)
PATTERN_FG = "rgba(26,26,23,0.5)"
BAR_EDGE = "rgba(26,26,23,0.55)"
# Data - synthetic sedimentary section based on Western Interior Seaway formations
layers = [
{"top": 0, "bottom": 15, "lithology": "Sandstone", "formation": "Dakota Fm", "age": "Late Cretaceous"},
{"top": 15, "bottom": 30, "lithology": "Shale", "formation": "Graneros Sh", "age": "Late Cretaceous"},
{"top": 30, "bottom": 50, "lithology": "Limestone", "formation": "Greenhorn Ls", "age": "Late Cretaceous"},
{"top": 50, "bottom": 62, "lithology": "Shale", "formation": "Carlile Sh", "age": "Late Cretaceous"},
{"top": 62, "bottom": 78, "lithology": "Siltstone", "formation": "Niobrara Fm", "age": "Late Cretaceous"},
{"top": 78, "bottom": 100, "lithology": "Limestone", "formation": "Fort Hays Ls", "age": "Late Cretaceous"},
{"top": 100, "bottom": 125, "lithology": "Sandstone", "formation": "Fox Hills Ss", "age": "Maastrichtian"},
{"top": 125, "bottom": 148, "lithology": "Conglomerate", "formation": "Lance Fm", "age": "Maastrichtian"},
{"top": 148, "bottom": 170, "lithology": "Shale", "formation": "Fort Union Fm", "age": "Paleocene"},
{"top": 170, "bottom": 195, "lithology": "Sandstone", "formation": "Wasatch Fm", "age": "Eocene"},
]
# Lithology fills from the Imprint palette (canonical order, brand green first),
# each paired with a distinct fill pattern approximating FGDC/USGS map symbols.
lithology_styles = {
"Sandstone": {"color": "#009E73", "pattern_shape": ".", "pattern_size": 9},
"Shale": {"color": "#C475FD", "pattern_shape": "-", "pattern_size": 7},
"Limestone": {"color": "#4467A3", "pattern_shape": "+", "pattern_size": 9},
"Siltstone": {"color": "#BD8233", "pattern_shape": "/", "pattern_size": 7},
"Conglomerate": {"color": "#2ABCCD", "pattern_shape": "x", "pattern_size": 11},
}
# Subtle theme-adaptive shading deepens with each younger period (top -> bottom)
age_alpha = {"Late Cretaceous": 0.035, "Maastrichtian": 0.06, "Paleocene": 0.085, "Eocene": 0.11}
# Plot
fig = go.Figure()
# Group consecutive layers by age for boundary markers and left-side labels
age_groups = []
current_age = layers[0]["age"]
current_top = layers[0]["top"]
prev_bottom = layers[0]["bottom"]
for layer in layers:
if layer["age"] != current_age:
age_groups.append({"age": current_age, "top": current_top, "bottom": prev_bottom})
current_age = layer["age"]
current_top = layer["top"]
prev_bottom = layer["bottom"]
age_groups.append({"age": current_age, "top": current_top, "bottom": prev_bottom})
# Subtle age-period background shading
for group in age_groups:
fig.add_shape(
type="rect",
x0=0.62,
x1=1.38,
y0=group["top"],
y1=group["bottom"],
fillcolor=f"rgba({INK_RGB},{age_alpha.get(group['age'], 0.04)})",
line={"width": 0},
layer="below",
)
# Age boundary lines (heavier dotted lines at period transitions)
for i in range(1, len(age_groups)):
boundary_depth = age_groups[i]["top"]
fig.add_shape(
type="line",
x0=0.62,
x1=1.38,
y0=boundary_depth,
y1=boundary_depth,
line={"color": INK_SOFT, "width": 2, "dash": "dot"},
layer="above",
)
# Layer bars
for layer in layers:
style = lithology_styles[layer["lithology"]]
thickness = layer["bottom"] - layer["top"]
mid_depth = (layer["top"] + layer["bottom"]) / 2
fig.add_trace(
go.Bar(
x=[1],
y=[thickness],
base=layer["top"],
orientation="v",
marker={
"color": style["color"],
"pattern": {
"shape": style["pattern_shape"],
"size": style["pattern_size"],
"solidity": 0.6,
"fgcolor": PATTERN_FG,
},
"line": {"color": BAR_EDGE, "width": 1.5},
},
width=0.6,
showlegend=False,
hovertemplate=(
f"<b>{layer['formation']}</b><br>"
f"Lithology: {layer['lithology']}<br>"
f"Depth: {layer['top']}-{layer['bottom']} m<br>"
f"Thickness: {thickness} m<br>"
f"Age: {layer['age']}"
"<extra></extra>"
),
)
)
# Formation name + lithology label (right of the column)
fig.add_annotation(
x=1.46,
y=mid_depth,
text=f"<b>{layer['formation']}</b><br><i>{layer['lithology']}</i>",
showarrow=False,
font={"size": 11, "color": INK},
xanchor="left",
yanchor="middle",
)
# Age period labels on the left side
for group in age_groups:
mid = (group["top"] + group["bottom"]) / 2
fig.add_annotation(
x=0.54,
y=mid,
text=f"<b>{group['age']}</b>",
showarrow=False,
font={"size": 11, "color": INK_SOFT},
xanchor="right",
yanchor="middle",
)
# Legend for lithology types with pattern swatches
for lithology, style in lithology_styles.items():
fig.add_trace(
go.Bar(
x=[None],
y=[None],
marker={
"color": style["color"],
"pattern": {
"shape": style["pattern_shape"],
"size": style["pattern_size"],
"solidity": 0.6,
"fgcolor": PATTERN_FG,
},
"line": {"color": BAR_EDGE, "width": 1},
},
name=lithology,
showlegend=True,
)
)
# Style
fig.update_layout(
autosize=False,
title={
"text": "column-stratigraphic · python · plotly · anyplot.ai",
"font": {"size": 16, "color": INK},
"x": 0.5,
"xanchor": "center",
},
yaxis={
"title": {"text": "Depth (m)", "font": {"size": 12, "color": INK}},
"tickfont": {"size": 10, "color": INK_SOFT},
"range": [198, -3],
"dtick": 20,
"gridcolor": GRID,
"gridwidth": 1,
"zeroline": False,
"linecolor": INK_SOFT,
"side": "left",
},
xaxis={"showticklabels": False, "showgrid": False, "zeroline": False, "range": [0.3, 2.2], "fixedrange": True},
plot_bgcolor=PAGE_BG,
paper_bgcolor=PAGE_BG,
font={"color": INK},
barmode="overlay",
bargap=0,
legend={
"title": {"text": "<b>Lithology</b>", "font": {"size": 13, "color": INK}},
"font": {"size": 11, "color": INK_SOFT},
"x": 0.99,
"y": 0.99,
"xanchor": "right",
"yanchor": "top",
"bgcolor": ELEVATED_BG,
"bordercolor": INK_SOFT,
"borderwidth": 1,
},
margin={"l": 140, "r": 40, "t": 80, "b": 60},
)
# Save
fig.write_image(f"plot-{THEME}.png", width=800, height=450, scale=4)
fig.write_html(f"plot-{THEME}.html", include_plotlyjs="cdn")
Part of Stratigraphic Column with Lithology Patterns on anyplot.ai.