SEDIMENTOLOGY
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2016/2017
- Teacher
- MICHELE MORSILLI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Primo Semestre
- SSD
- GEO/02
Training objectives
- The purpose of this course is to provide the various concepts that allow us to understand: the formation of sediments of different composition and origin, the main diagenetic transformations with special reference to carbonate rocks, processes of transport and deposition including flow regimes, aspects sedimentological major sedimentary environments present and their comparison with those of the past; models of depositional facies and architecture succession terrigenous and carbonate.
One of the main educational goals is to provide the knowledge necessary for the understanding of sedimentary processes and to develop skills of synthesis, processing stratigraphic and sedimentological data interpretations and, finally, develop critical skills in the analysis of existing facies models.
The main knowledge gained will be:
• Define the source and the setting up of sediments and sedimentary rocks;
• Understand the processes of transport and in which flow regime are created;
• Insight into the sedimentary structures;
• Understand the concepts of facies and their hierarchy together with the depositional dynamic;
• Analyse the sedimentary environments with particular attention to sedimentary processes, control factors and interaction with the producer organisms;
• Define and understand the architecture pattern and depositional facies;
The main skills (the ability to apply knowledge acquired) will be:
• recognize and classify the sedimentary structures and understand the depositional processes,
• identify the transport processes based on the types of deposits;
• be able to synthesize useful data for paleoenvironmental reconstructions;
• provide interpretations of data from outcrop or subsurface sedimentary evolution of rock successions and eventual sequence-stratigraphic framework;
• identify the controlling factors of the sedimentary processes and their dynamics;
• understand the sedimentary sequences through a process-product analysis;
• reconstruct facies models on the basis of processes and products identified;
• use all the knowledge acquired during the course to reconstruct, interpret and critically evaluate any original data available and facies models proposed. Prerequisites
- Knowledge of geology, structural geology, paleontology, chemistry and physics
Course programme
- 1- Origin and formation of sediments and sedimentary rocks (6 h of classroom lectures)
• The components of sediments and sedimentary rocks
• Textural characters sediments
• Classification of sedimentary rocks
• Overview of other types of rocks
• Notes on diagenesis
2- Principles of hydrodynamics (6 h of classroom lectures)
• Introduction to fluid dynamics
• Flows uniform and non-uniform
• Laminar and turbulent flow
• The transport of sediments
• Traction processes and examples of sedimentary structures.
• Waves, tides and internal waves
3- Sedimentary structures (6 h of classroom lectures)
• Introduction to sedimentary structures.
• Defining and geometric classification;
• Structures from unidirectional current, waves
• Hyperconcentrated and massive flows
• Erosive sedimentary structures and biogenic
• Recognition of sedimentary structures and their three-dimensional organization.
4- Dynamics of sedimentary processes (6 h of classroom lectures)
• Outline of sedimentary basins and sedimentary systems
• Outline of eustatic and relative sea-level fluctuation
• Notes on the interaction between sediment supply, eustatism and tectonics
• Concept of transgression and regression.
• Introduction to the sequence stratigraphy and critical analysis of existing models.
5 - Introduction to sedimentary environments (4 h of classroom lectures)
The sedimentary environments and facies analysis: definition of sedimentary environment and their subdivision, facies definitions, biofacies, facies association, Walther Law; facies analysis methods, graphical representations (palaeocurrents, stratigraphic log), systems and depositional facies models.
1- CONTINENTAL ENVIRONMENTS (6 h of classroom lectures)
• Alluvial environment - The processes of transport and deposition. Facies models. Examples of the architecture of alluvial depositional systems.
2- TRANSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS (6 h of classroom lectures)
• Delta and estuaries - The deltas: morphological classification / dynamic classification based on the physical processes dominate. Deltaic system elements. Sequences of deltaic progradation. Resedimentation along the front. Delta Gilbert type. Examples of deltaic architecture. Estuaries: definition and classification.
• Coastal environment. The beaches: classification of costs. Longshore currents and rip current: their influence on erosion, transport and deposition of sediment. Sedimentological characteristics of beach deposits. The barrier island-lagoon systems. Morphological elements and their sedimentary features. Mechanisms of migration of the barrier-lagoon system.
3- MARINE ENVIRONMENT (8 h of classroom lectures)
• Continental shelf (clastic shallow sea). Dominant physical processes. Types of margins in relation to energy and the environment gradient of the substrate. Systems dominated by storms, tides, waves and ocean currents. Sedimentary structures. Current models of sedimentation and fossil.
• Open marine environment - deep ocean basins: the continental slope, continental rise, escarpment, canyons and submarine fan. The dominant physical processes. Types of products of the various areas. Turbidite deposits and their depositional architecture (various models). Facies associations and related sedimentary environments. The pelagic sedimentation.
• The environments in carbonate sedimentation. The principles of the carbonate production and interactions with biological and climatic parameters. Distribution of the various types of sediments. Zonation of a carbonate platform: innner platform, marigin, slope, basin. Facies associations and internal organization in various environments: current examples and fossils. Models of depositional architecture. Interactions internal and external factors and organization of sedimentary carbonate platforms. Didactic methods
- The teaching method includes lectures in the classroom on all the topics of the course and practical exercises, as well as field trips.
Lessons are conducted with the help of on-screen presentations, prepared by the teacher and constantly updated, with numerous pictures and diagrams of simplification. The information provided in the presentation comes largely from scientific articles selected from journals of major impact.
The presentation follows a logical scheme with general concepts and outlines that are expanded in the course of the lesson.
During the lesson the teacher interacts frequently with students with specific questions, raising questions about the knowledge and interpretations to explain a particular process. The aim is to develop the critical thinking and stimulate curiosity about the topics covered. Learning assessment procedures
- The aim of the examination is to test the level of achievement of learning objectives previously indicated.
The exam is divided into 2 parts: a written test (partial examination) and an oral exam.
• The partial examination (open questions) is based on all the topics covered in the first half of the course. The test is intended to evaluate the study of matter and understanding of the topics. To pass the test the student must acquire at least 18 points out of 30 points. The expected time for the test is 2 hours. It is not allowed to consult texts or use PCs, smart phones, iwatch etc .;
• A final oral examination in which it will not be assessed as the ability to "repeat" some topic covered in class, as the ability to link and compare different aspects covered during the course and in particular on the second part of the course. This mode is reserved for the candidate who has passed the previous partial exam with a score of 18/30. In particular, if the student has not passed or has not made the partial examination, the oral examination will be carried out throughout the program. To pass the oral exam you must acquire at least 18 points out of 30.
The final grade is the sum of 2 scores divided by 2. To pass the comprehensive examination is necessary to acquire a minimum score of 18 out of 30.
If the final score is less than 18, you must repeat the oral examination in the manner and the requirements mentioned. Reference texts
- PDF copies of the presentations of the teacher and other materials provided during the course.
Many arguments can be explored on the following texts and scientific articles.
ALLEN P.A. (1997). Earth surface processes. Blackwell Science London
BOSELLINI A. (1991). Introduzione allo studio delle rocce carbonatiche. Italo Bovolenta editore.
BOSELLINI A., RICCI LUCCHI F., MUTTI E. (1989). Rocce e successioni sedimentarie. UTET.
NICHOLS (2009). Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Blackwell Science London.
REINECK H.E., SINGH I.B. (1980) - Depositional Sedimentary Environments. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
READING H.G. (1996). Sedimentary environments. 688 p. Blackwell Science London.
RICCI LUCCHI F. (1972-1980)- Sedimentologia, parte I, II, III. CLUEB, Bologna.
RICCI LUCCHI F. (1992). Sedimentografia. Atlante fotografici delle strutture e dei sedimenti. Zanichelli, Bologna.
TUCKER M.E, WRIGHT P. (1990). Carbonate sedimentology. Blackwell Science London
TUCKER M.E. (2000). Sedimentary petrography. Blackwell Science London.
LEEDER M. (1999), Sedimentology and sedimentary basin. Blackwell Science London
