SEDIMENTARY ROCKS (Chapter 5) - Lecture Outline

Last updated: 02/11/07

1. Generalizations about sediments and sedimentary rocks

bullet

Importance of sediments and sedimentary rocks

bullet

Sedimentary rock characteristics

bullet

accumulation and lithification of clastic material

bullet

chemical or biochemical precipitates

bullet

mixtures of both

bullet

starting materials

bullet

transport

2. Agents of sedimentary transport

bullet

Gravity-driven

bullet

Currents

bullet

size and density sorting

bullet

sorting

bullet

Glaciers

bullet

Effects of transport

bullet

Dissolved material

3. Sedimentation

bullet

Clastic sedimentation

bullet

High-energy environments

bullet

Low-energy environments
 

bullet

Chemical/biochemical sedimentation

bullet

Sedimentary environments

bullet

clastic sedimentary (continental)

bullet

alluvial

bullet

desert

bullet

lake

bullet

glacial
 

bullet

clastic sedimentary (shoreline)

bullet

deltaic

bullet

tidal flat

bullet

beach
 

bullet

clastic sedimentary (marine)

bullet

continental shelf

bullet

continental margin

bullet

organic reefs

bullet

deep sea
 

bullet

chemical/biochemical (marine)

bullet

carbonate

bullet

marine evaporites

bullet

siliceous

4. Sedimentary structures

bullet

Cross-bedding

bullet

Ripples
bullet

Symmetric

bullet

Asymmetric

bullet

Graded bedding

bullet

Mudcracks

bullet

Bioturbation

bullet

Bedding sequences

5. Diagenesis and lithification

bullet

Cementation

bullet

Lithification

bullet

Compaction

bullet

Dissolution

bullet

Precipitation

6. Classification of sedimentary rocks

bullet

Clastic sedimentary rocks
bullet

Conglomerates

bullet

Breccias

bullet

Sandstones

bullet

Mudstones, siltstones, shales

bullet

Chemical/biochemical sedimentary rocks
bullet

Limestone

bullet

Dolostone

bullet

Evaporites

bullet

Cherts

bullet

Phosphorites

bullet

Iron-formations

bullet

Coal, oil, gas

6. Sedimentary basins and plate tectonics