The geologist studying the stratigraphic record is a sort of detective, looking for clues.There are two basic types of correlation: physical correlation, which requires comparison of the physical characteristics of the strata, and fossil correlation, the comparison of fossil types.Actually, chronostratigraphic work is very similar some of the toughest cases confronted by police detectives, because more often than not the geologic detective has little evidence on which to operate.First of all, as noted earlier, only sedimentary rock can be used in making such determinations: for instance, igneous rock in its molten form, as when it is expelled from a volcano, could force itself underneath a rock stratum, thus confusing the stratigraphic record