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: ggplot2 3.5.1 | R 4.4.1
#' Quality: 93/100 | Created: 2026-06-17
library(ggplot2)
library(dplyr)
library(tibble)
library(ragg)
set.seed(42)
# --- Theme tokens -----------------------------------------------------------
THEME <- Sys.getenv("ANYPLOT_THEME", "light")
PAGE_BG <- if (THEME == "light") "#FAF8F1" else "#1A1A17"
ELEVATED_BG <- if (THEME == "light") "#FFFDF6" else "#242420"
INK <- if (THEME == "light") "#1A1A17" else "#F0EFE8"
INK_SOFT <- if (THEME == "light") "#4A4A44" else "#B8B7B0"
GRID <- if (THEME == "light") "#D8D5CC" else "#33332E"
# Imprint palette — canonical order, first series ALWAYS #009E73.
# Lithology is encoded primarily by the FGDC/USGS-style fill pattern; the colour
# is a secondary tint, so the categories take the Imprint palette in order.
LITH_COLORS <- c(
Sandstone = "#009E73", # 1 — brand green (first series)
Shale = "#C475FD", # 2 — lavender
Limestone = "#4467A3", # 3 — blue
Siltstone = "#BD8233", # 4 — ochre
Conglomerate = "#AE3030" # 5 — matte red
)
# --- Data: a synthetic borehole section (depth increases downward) ----------
layers <- tibble(
top = c(0, 26, 54, 86, 112, 150, 176, 214),
bottom = c(26, 54, 86, 112, 150, 176, 214, 250),
lithology = c("Sandstone", "Shale", "Limestone", "Siltstone",
"Sandstone", "Conglomerate", "Shale", "Limestone"),
formation = c("Belly River Fm", "Wapiabi Fm", "Greenhorn Fm", "Joli Fou Fm",
"Viking Fm", "Cadomin Fm", "Nikanassin Fm", "Fernie Fm"),
age = c("Campanian", "Santonian", "Cenomanian", "Albian",
"Albian", "Aptian", "Tithonian", "Toarcian")
)
layers$lithology <- factor(layers$lithology, levels = names(LITH_COLORS))
# A sub-Cretaceous unconformity (Aptian conglomerate over Tithonian shale).
UNCONFORMITY <- 176
# --- Build the lithology patterns natively (line / dot / clast primitives) ---
# ggplot2 has no native fill-texture geom, so each rock type's standard symbol
# is composed from segments, points and open circles laid inside the layer box.
seg_rows <- list(); dot_rows <- list(); clast_rows <- list()
si <- 0L; di <- 0L; ci <- 0L
for (i in seq_len(nrow(layers))) {
t <- layers$top[i]; b <- layers$bottom[i]
lit <- as.character(layers$lithology[i])
if (lit == "Limestone") {
# Brick: full-width courses with staggered vertical joints.
courses <- seq(t + 7, b - 3, by = 9)
si <- si + 1L
seg_rows[[si]] <- tibble(x = 0.0, xend = 1.0, y = courses, yend = courses)
if (length(courses) >= 2) {
for (j in seq_len(length(courses) - 1)) {
xv <- if (j %% 2 == 0) c(0.34, 0.67) else c(0.2, 0.5, 0.8)
si <- si + 1L
seg_rows[[si]] <- tibble(x = xv, xend = xv,
y = courses[j], yend = courses[j + 1])
}
}
} else if (lit == "Shale") {
# Continuous, closely spaced horizontal laminae.
lines_y <- seq(t + 4, b - 3, by = 4.5)
si <- si + 1L
seg_rows[[si]] <- tibble(x = 0.05, xend = 0.95, y = lines_y, yend = lines_y)
} else if (lit == "Siltstone") {
# Broken (dashed) horizontal lines, staggered between rows.
rows <- seq(t + 4, b - 3, by = 5)
for (j in seq_along(rows)) {
xo <- if (j %% 2 == 0) 0.13 else 0
xs <- seq(0.1 + xo, 0.82, by = 0.26)
si <- si + 1L
seg_rows[[si]] <- tibble(x = xs, xend = xs + 0.14,
y = rows[j], yend = rows[j])
}
} else if (lit == "Sandstone") {
# Stipple: regular dot grid, offset on alternate rows.
rows <- seq(t + 4, b - 3, by = 5.5)
for (j in seq_along(rows)) {
xo <- if (j %% 2 == 0) 0.065 else 0
xs <- seq(0.1 + xo, 0.93, by = 0.13)
di <- di + 1L
dot_rows[[di]] <- tibble(x = xs, y = rep(rows[j], length(xs)))
}
} else if (lit == "Conglomerate") {
# Scattered clasts as open circles of varying size.
n <- max(8L, round((b - t) * 0.7))
ci <- ci + 1L
clast_rows[[ci]] <- tibble(
x = runif(n, 0.13, 0.87),
y = runif(n, t + 4, b - 4),
r = runif(n, 2.0, 5.5)
)
}
}
seg_df <- bind_rows(seg_rows)
dot_df <- bind_rows(dot_rows)
clast_df <- bind_rows(clast_rows)
# Wavy line marking the unconformity contact.
wave <- tibble(x = seq(0, 1, length.out = 160))
wave$y <- UNCONFORMITY + 1.8 * sin(wave$x * 2 * pi * 7)
# --- Plot -------------------------------------------------------------------
p <- ggplot() +
geom_rect(data = layers,
aes(xmin = 0, xmax = 1, ymin = top, ymax = bottom, fill = lithology),
color = NA, alpha = 0.62) +
geom_segment(data = seg_df, aes(x = x, xend = xend, y = y, yend = yend),
color = INK, linewidth = 0.35) +
geom_point(data = dot_df, aes(x = x, y = y), color = INK, size = 0.9) +
geom_point(data = clast_df, aes(x = x, y = y, size = r),
shape = 1, stroke = 0.5, color = INK) +
scale_size_identity() +
geom_rect(data = layers,
aes(xmin = 0, xmax = 1, ymin = top, ymax = bottom),
fill = NA, color = INK_SOFT, linewidth = 0.5) +
geom_path(data = wave, aes(x = x, y = y), color = INK, linewidth = 0.9) +
annotate("text", x = -0.12, y = UNCONFORMITY, label = "unconformity",
hjust = 1, fontface = "italic", size = 2.8, color = INK_SOFT) +
geom_text(data = layers,
aes(x = 1.1, y = (top + bottom) / 2 - 3.8, label = formation),
hjust = 0, fontface = "bold", size = 3.3, color = INK) +
geom_text(data = layers,
aes(x = 1.1, y = (top + bottom) / 2 + 4.8, label = lithology),
hjust = 0, fontface = "italic", size = 2.9, color = INK_SOFT) +
geom_text(data = layers,
aes(x = -0.08, y = (top + bottom) / 2, label = age),
hjust = 1, size = 3.0, color = INK_SOFT) +
scale_fill_manual(values = LITH_COLORS, name = "Lithology",
breaks = names(LITH_COLORS)) +
scale_y_reverse(breaks = seq(0, 250, 25),
expand = expansion(mult = c(0.03, 0.03))) +
coord_cartesian(xlim = c(-1.5, 2.6), clip = "off") +
guides(fill = guide_legend(override.aes = list(alpha = 0.62))) +
labs(title = "column-stratigraphic · r · ggplot2 · anyplot.ai",
y = "Depth (m)", x = NULL) +
theme_minimal(base_size = 9) +
theme(
plot.background = element_rect(fill = PAGE_BG, color = PAGE_BG),
panel.background = element_rect(fill = PAGE_BG, color = NA),
panel.grid = element_blank(),
panel.grid.major.y = element_line(color = GRID, linewidth = 0.25),
axis.title.y = element_text(color = INK, size = 11),
axis.text.y = element_text(color = INK_SOFT, size = 9),
axis.title.x = element_blank(),
axis.text.x = element_blank(),
axis.ticks.x = element_blank(),
axis.ticks.y = element_line(color = INK_SOFT, linewidth = 0.3),
plot.title = element_text(color = INK, size = 13, face = "bold",
margin = margin(b = 10)),
legend.position = "right",
legend.title = element_text(color = INK, size = 11),
legend.text = element_text(color = INK_SOFT, size = 9),
legend.background = element_rect(fill = ELEVATED_BG, color = INK_SOFT,
linewidth = 0.3),
legend.key = element_rect(fill = ELEVATED_BG, color = NA),
plot.margin = margin(t = 14, r = 16, b = 14, l = 16)
)
# --- Save -------------------------------------------------------------------
ggsave(
filename = sprintf("plot-%s.png", THEME),
plot = p,
device = ragg::agg_png,
width = 8,
height = 4.5,
units = "in",
dpi = 400
)
Part of Stratigraphic Column with Lithology Patterns on anyplot.ai.