GEOL 440

Sedimentology and stratigraphy:

processes, environments and
deposits
Jim Best MWF: Lectures
and F: Laboratory Class
Bruce Fouke

Lecture 1: Scope, assessment

and structure of course;
Introduction to Sedimentology
and Basic Definitions: uses and
applications of Sedimentology.
The purpose of this course is to provide an integrated
overview of the sciences of sedimentology and
stratigraphy. State-of-the-art analytical tools will be
integrated with the latest theoretical concepts on
deposition and diagenesis to provide a
comprehensive answer to the questions "What is the
origin of a sedimentary rock?" and “How can the
study of sedimentary processes help us better
understand ancient environments and manage
modern environmental change”.

•What is this course about?

• How do I get the most out of this
course?
Course materials and textbooks

Handout -
course outline

Handouts/lecture
notes

Other texts and

journal papers……
essential
Course materials and textbooks

Use Boggs for

parts of course
Assessment
•Types
•Deadlines
•Curves
 Questions?

Any previous knowledge of sedimentology?

 THE KEY - PROCESSES

A general approach…..

1) Present is the key to the past

(yes, but lets discuss!)
2) Observe the ancient
3) Do the inverse problem
techniques

interregional mapping
seismic imaging

seismic imaging
regional mapping
well correlation

local mapping
outcrop/core studies
facies analysis
thin sections
Types of Sedimentary Rocks

conglomerates and breccias,

Siliciclastic sandstones and mudrocks

Biogenic, biochemical limestones (& dolomites),

& organic cherts,
phosphates & coals

Chemical evaporites,
sediments ironstones

ignimbrites, tuffs,
Volcaniclastic
debris flows
 Some examples of
sedimentary environments & rocks

think about how we can best interpret

the depositional environment
from the rock record

(i.e. what do we need to know

as a sedimentary forensic scientist!)
Sedimentary environments: the framework

Source
glacial
erosion glacial runoff
weathering streams

hillslope
erosion
fjords
landslides Coral reefs
deltaic & estuarine tidewater
trapping
fluvial transport
primary
floodplains productivity open
shoreline slopes

shelf shelf
break abyssal plains
Sink or basin floor
Stratigraphy
fans
Sedimentary environments
Lets take a tour around some modern
environments & their ancient equivalents.

Source

Sink
Deserts

Algeria
Deserts

The
Namib Desert

capped by basalt

aeolian dunes
 Rivers

c.5 km

Rakaia River, NZ
Rivers

The joining of the

Padma & Meghna
Rivers,
Bangladesh.
c.3 km

• modern process
• ancient product
 Rivers

…. and fans

Rakaia River, NZ
Rivers … some deposits Palaeo-Rakaia River deposit,
Canterbury Plains,
NZ

Soft-sediment deformation

Sandstone

Bedforms

• process
Rudite/ conglomerate • environment
• geometry
 Deltas 190 km
(& deserts)

The Nile Delta

Deltas –
Mississippi
Deltas • process
• environment
• thickness
• variability
• porosity/perm
• structural control
• palaeoclimate

354 km
The Ganges
Delta
 Deep Sea environments
Delta front

Shelf

Canyons

• Mass movements
• Drift deposits
• Gravity flow deposits
• Storm deposits
Sinuous submarine
channels
Offshore SE Indonesia
Salt lakes: 20th December 1983

Lake Eyre,
Australia

22nd February 1984

Salt lakes 27th October 1984

4th March 1985

Salt lakes … deposits

Evaporite
Carbonates
Differences between ‘clastics & carbonates
In ‘clastic sediments the
grains & matrix are
usually the result of
disintegration of the
parent rock, & transport
into the depositional
environment

In carbonate
environments, sediment is
generally produced in-situ
Carbonates - reefs

Brain corals

Modern carbonate sediments are mainly composed of

two minerals: calcite and aragonite.
Carbonates

Carbonate formation
may result in the
following rock
types:

limestone,
chalk,
dolomite.
Volcaniclastic

Mt. St. Helens

Resultant deposits:
• pyroclastic flows
• debris flows/lahars
• ash beds
Volcaniclastic

Mt. St. Helens

So …what and where's this?

Opportunity
Mars Rover
OK…but you are asking…….why is Sedimentology
important?
…… so name a few?

• oil, gas and coal (source, reservoir and seal)

• detrital sediments - heavy metals (e.g gold), diamonds etc

• industrial minerals - sandstones, clays, aggregates

• modern environments - management & planning (e.g.

groundwater)

• input to environmental engineering

•deciphering ancient climates and climate change

Reading for this time: B&D Chapter 1 “Definitions,
rationale…’ or Boggs Introductory few pages (xvii-
xix) and look at structure of B&D text (main
chapter headings etc)
Next time: a very brief history of
the subject and we’ll begin to look
at weathering and sediment
production……..