SUBJECT

Sedimentology

lecture

master

Faculty of Science

Geology MSc

2

Semester 1

Autumn semester

Roots and development of sedimentology. Allogenic controls on sedimentation. Facies, sedimentary environments, uniformitarianism, facies models. Bed load transport in unidirectional and oscillatory flows, gravitational mass movements. Laws of deposition. Bedforms in clay, sand and gravel, reconstruction of physical parameters of sediment transport. Sedimentary structures formed by gravitational mass movements. Other sedimentary structures: sole marks, soft-sediment deformation. Palaeoichnology applied in reconstruction of sedimentary environments. Volcanosedimentary processes and products. Facies models of depositional environments: eolian, alluvial, fluvial, wave-dominated and tide-dominated shorelines, siliciclastic shelves, deltas, deep-sea slopes and fans.

Facies, microfacies and facies models in carbonates. Deposition of shallow marine carbonates (development of platforms and ramps). Slopes in carbonates. Currents in oceans, stratification, nutrients, production. Cycle of oxygen, carbonates and siliceous sediments, carbonate compensation depth. Hemipelagic, pelagic carbonate and siliceous ooze in the deep seas. Factors controlling early vs. late, shallow vs. deep burial diagenesis of carbonates. Dolomitization.

• Walker, R.G. & James, N.P. (eds.) (1992), Facies models (3rd ed.), Geoscience Canada, 409 p.
• Einsele, G., Ricken, W. & Seilacher, A. (1990): Cycles and events in stratigraphy. Springer, 955 p.