Sedimentology and Laboratory
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
This course aims at providing the fundamental knowledge for the understanding of processes and products of carbonate and siliciclastic sedimentary facies successions and depositional environments through laboratory activities, field excursions and numerous case studies.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will acquire the knowledge to understand and interpret carbonate and siliciclastic rock successions in terms of depositional environments, facies types and how they varied through time and space across the geological record. Students will develop skills to describe and interpret sedimentary rocks and link them to the environment of deposition that can be applied to various fields of the Earth Sciences from environmental issues and paleoclimatology to the sustainable use of energy and water resources. Students will improve their ability in writing reports, critical thinking and solving related issues related to sedimentological questions.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The programme is divided in two parts focussing on the sedimentology of siliciclastic and carbonate rocks, respectively.
The first part of lectures focus on siliciclastic sedimentary facies: 1) continental environments (fluvial and lacustrine); 2) paralic environments and depositional systems (fan deltas, deltas, strand plains, beaches, chenier plains, tidal plains, barrier island-lagoon systems, estuaries), 3) continental shelf environments and depositional systems (wave-dominated, tide-dominated, ocean currents-dominated, muddy), 4) slope depositional systems (slope deltas, aprons, slope turbidite systems) and deep-marine depositional systems (deep-water fans, channel-lobe systems, basin plains).
The second part of the programme introduces the students to the modern and ancient shallow-water carbonate and evaporitic environments and to the recognition of their main lithofacies associations.1) Principles of carbonate production, ecology, mineralogy, chemistry and geometry of carbonate accumulation and carbonate factories. 2) The present-day carbonate environments and sediment. 3) Carbonate and evaporitic facies analysis: inner platform, sabkha, saline lagoon and basinal evaporites, high-energy carbonates in beaches, tidal deltas and shoals, platform margin reefs, fore-reef slopes, carbonate escarpments, slopes and basin lithofacies associations. 4) The drowning of carbonate platforms. 5) Case studies of facies analysis of ancient carbonate platforms. The programme will also include lectures on the characteristics of carbonate sediment products and processes in the geologic record and modern sedimentary environments. The analysis of present-day carbonate sediment and the processes of formation will be integrated with the description and interpretation of equivalent carbonate rock successions in the geological record. In addition important topics, such as carbonate rock changes through the Phanerozoic and environmental, paleoclimatic and oceanographic controlling factors on the evolution of carbonate platforms and carbonate factories, will be illustrated with examples from the geologic record and present-day carbonate settings.
Sedimentology laboratory practicals include field excursions addressed to the observation and description of the studied depositional environments and stratigraphic log analysis of carbonate and siliciclastic rocks.
The first part of lectures focus on siliciclastic sedimentary facies: 1) continental environments (fluvial and lacustrine); 2) paralic environments and depositional systems (fan deltas, deltas, strand plains, beaches, chenier plains, tidal plains, barrier island-lagoon systems, estuaries), 3) continental shelf environments and depositional systems (wave-dominated, tide-dominated, ocean currents-dominated, muddy), 4) slope depositional systems (slope deltas, aprons, slope turbidite systems) and deep-marine depositional systems (deep-water fans, channel-lobe systems, basin plains).
The second part of the programme introduces the students to the modern and ancient shallow-water carbonate and evaporitic environments and to the recognition of their main lithofacies associations.1) Principles of carbonate production, ecology, mineralogy, chemistry and geometry of carbonate accumulation and carbonate factories. 2) The present-day carbonate environments and sediment. 3) Carbonate and evaporitic facies analysis: inner platform, sabkha, saline lagoon and basinal evaporites, high-energy carbonates in beaches, tidal deltas and shoals, platform margin reefs, fore-reef slopes, carbonate escarpments, slopes and basin lithofacies associations. 4) The drowning of carbonate platforms. 5) Case studies of facies analysis of ancient carbonate platforms. The programme will also include lectures on the characteristics of carbonate sediment products and processes in the geologic record and modern sedimentary environments. The analysis of present-day carbonate sediment and the processes of formation will be integrated with the description and interpretation of equivalent carbonate rock successions in the geological record. In addition important topics, such as carbonate rock changes through the Phanerozoic and environmental, paleoclimatic and oceanographic controlling factors on the evolution of carbonate platforms and carbonate factories, will be illustrated with examples from the geologic record and present-day carbonate settings.
Sedimentology laboratory practicals include field excursions addressed to the observation and description of the studied depositional environments and stratigraphic log analysis of carbonate and siliciclastic rocks.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge about sedimentary geology, stratigraphy, tectonics, petrography and geomorphology.
Teaching methods
Lectures will take place in presence. The laboratory includes geological fieldtrips and laboratory activities on sedimentary rock description and interpretation that will be attended in person according to the semester timetable. Field and laboratory activities will be the topic for the preparation of individual reports.
Teaching Resources
1) Lectures provided by lecturers in pdf files on Ariel .
2) Scientific publications provided during the lectures.
3) Books:
Tucker M.E & Wright V.P. (1990) -Carbonate Sedimentology. Blackwell Science, pp 471.
Schlager (2005) Carbonate Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy SEPM sp. Vol 8.
Reading (1996, ed.) Sedimentary Environments. Processes, Facies and Stratigraphy. Blackwell.
Flügel (2004) Microfacies of carbonate rocks. Springer.
Facies Models, 4th Edition, James, N. & Dalrymple, R. (eds), Geological Association of Canada, Toronto, 2010.
Sito web
https://carbonateworld.com/
A web Atlas for the petrographic analysis of carbonate rocks
2) Scientific publications provided during the lectures.
3) Books:
Tucker M.E & Wright V.P. (1990) -Carbonate Sedimentology. Blackwell Science, pp 471.
Schlager (2005) Carbonate Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy SEPM sp. Vol 8.
Reading (1996, ed.) Sedimentary Environments. Processes, Facies and Stratigraphy. Blackwell.
Flügel (2004) Microfacies of carbonate rocks. Springer.
Facies Models, 4th Edition, James, N. & Dalrymple, R. (eds), Geological Association of Canada, Toronto, 2010.
Sito web
https://carbonateworld.com/
A web Atlas for the petrographic analysis of carbonate rocks
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of a written test that will be evaluated with a final mark up to 30/30. Exam questions will focus on the topics of the course programme aimed at verifying the acquired knowledge, the synthesis and presentation skills, the ability to elaborate ideas and critical thinking on contrast and comparisons and the additional study on the suggested scientific literature and text books. The evaluation will include also the preparation of reports related on the practical activities of fieldwork and laboratory analyses.
GEO/02 - STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY - University credits: 9
Field activity: 12 hours
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Practicals: 24 hours
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Della Porta Giovanna Paola, Felletti Fabrizio Bruno
Professor(s)
Reception:
15:30
Office