Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
3. Edition June 2023
544 Pages, Softcover
Textbook
ISBN:
978-1-119-41728-6
John Wiley & Sons
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
Comprehensive textbook on all aspects of sedimentology and stratigraphic principles
Sedimentology and Stratigraphy introduces the reader to the subjects and provides tools for the interpretation of sediments and sedimentary rocks, covering the processes of formation, transport, and deposition of sediment and applying them to develop conceptual models for the full range of sedimentary environments, from deserts to deep seas and reefs to rivers. Different approaches to using stratigraphic principles to date and correlate strata are also considered to provide a comprehensive overview of all aspects of sedimentology and stratigraphy.
The 3rd edition has been thoroughly revised and updated. The book is now divided into five sections, and the chapters on different depositional settings now provide distinct sections on modern processes and sedimentary rocks. The new edition also features a new set of diagrams and photographs in full colour.
Key concepts introduced in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy include:
* The importance of changes in plant and animal life through time and the effects on characteristics of both marine and continental sedimentary environments
* The distinction between modern environments and what is preserved in the sedimentary record
* The role of changing climate, tectonic events and sediment supply in determining the characteristics of deposits in the stratigraphic record
Written by a highly qualified author with abundant experience in the field, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy serves as a highly accessible resource for students of geology and related subjects who seek to understand the formation, characteristics, and importance of sedimentary rocks.
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xiii
About the Companion Website xv
Part A Sedimentary Materials, Processes and Products 1
1 Introduction to Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 3
1.1 Overview 4
1.2 Sedimentology 5
1.3 Stratigraphy 6
1.4 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 7
Further Reading 8
2 Clastic Sediments: Gravel, Sand and Mud 9
2.1 Classification of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks 10
2.2 Gravel and Conglomerate 12
2.3 Sand and Sandstone 15
2.4 Clay, Silt and Mudrock 26
2.5 Textures and Analysis of Clastic Sedimentary Rocks 29
2.6 Clastic Sediments: Summary 34
Further Reading 34
3 Biogenic, Chemical and Volcanogenic Sediments 35
3.1 Limestone 36
3.2 Evaporite Minerals 44
3.3 Cherts 46
3.4 Sedimentary Phosphates 47
3.5 Sedimentary Ironstone 47
3.6 Carbonaceous (Organic) Deposits 49
3.7 Volcaniclastic Sedimentary Rocks 51
Further Reading 52
4 Processes of Transport and Sedimentary Structures 53
4.1 Transport Media 54
4.2 The Behaviour of Fluids and Particles in Fluids 55
4.3 Flows, Sediment and Bedforms 60
4.4 Waves 70
4.5 Sediment Gravity Flows 73
4.6 Mudcracks 77
4.7 Erosional Sedimentary Structures 78
4.8 Terminology for Sedimentary Structures and Beds 79
4.9 Sedimentary Structures and Sedimentary Environments 81
Further Reading 82
5 Field Sedimentology, Facies and Environments 83
5.1 Field Sedimentology 84
5.2 Graphic Sedimentary Logs 85
5.3 Palaeocurrents 91
5.4 Sampling Sedimentary Rocks 94
5.5 Description of Core 96
5.6 Interpreting Past Depositional Environments 97
5.7 Reconstructing Palaeoenvironments 101
5.8 Summary: Facies and Environments 105
Further Reading 105
Part B Continental Environments 107
6 Continental Environments and Sources of Sediment 109
6.1 From Source of Sediment to Formation of Strata 110
6.2 Tectonic Uplift 110
6.3 Global Climate 111
6.4 Weathering Processes 112
6.5 Erosion and Transport 115
6.6 Denudation and Landscape Evolution 118
6.7 Continental Environments of Deposition 124
Further Reading 126
7 Glacial Environments 127
7.1 Distribution of Glacial Environments 128
7.2 Glacial Ice 129
7.3 Continental Glacial Environments 131
7.4 Continental Glacial Deposition 136
7.5 Marine Glacial Environments 138
7.6 Glacial Deposits in the Stratigraphic Record 140
7.7 Glacial Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 141
Further Reading 142
8 Aeolian Environments 143
8.1 Aeolian Transport 144
8.2 Characteristics of Wind- blown Particles 145
8.3 Desert Environments 146
8.4 Aeolian Bedforms 148
8.5 Stratigraphic Record of Aeolian Deposits 152
8.6 Aeolian Deposits Outside Deserts 155
8.7 Summary 157
Further Reading 158
9 Rivers and Alluvial Fans 159
9.1 Fluvial and Alluvial Systems 160
9.2 River Channels 162
9.3 Floodplain Deposition 170
9.4 Alluvial Fans 171
9.5 Fossils in Fluvial and Alluvial Environments 175
9.6 Soils and Palaeosols 176
9.7 Fluvial and Alluvial Stratigraphy 179
Further Reading 184
10 Lakes 185
10.1 Lakes and Lacustrine Environments 186
10.2 Freshwater Lakes 187
10.3 Freshwater Lake Clastic Deposits 190
10.4 Saline Lakes 193
10.5 Ephemeral Lakes 194
10.6 Lacustrine Carbonates 197
10.7 Lacustrine Stratigraphy 198
10.8 Recognition of Lacustrine Facies in the Stratigraphic Record 199
Further Reading 200
11 Volcanic Rocks and Sediments 201
11.1 Volcanic Rocks and Sediment 202
11.2 Transport and Deposition of Volcaniclastic Material 205
11.3 Eruption Styles 209
11.4 Facies Associations in Volcanic Successions 210
11.5 Volcanic Material in Other Environments 213
11.6 Volcanic Rocks in Earth History 214
Further Reading 215
Part C Marine Environments 217
12 The Marine Realm: Morphology and Processes 219
12.1 Oceans and Seas 220
12.2 Oceanic Currents 222
12.3 Wave and Storm Processes 222
12.4 Tides 223
12.5 Chemical and Biochemical Sedimentation in Oceans 228
12.6 Marine Fossils 230
12.7 Trace Fossils 231
Further Reading 235
13 Deltas 237
13.1 Modern Deltas 238
13.2 Variations in Delta Morphology 241
13.3 Syndepositional Deformation in Deltas 249
13.4 Deltaic Successions 249
13.5 Deltaic Cycles and Stratigraphy 254
13.6 Fossils in Deltaic Deposits 255
13.7 Recognition of Deltaic Deposits 255
Further Reading 256
14 Clastic Coasts and Estuaries 259
14.1 Coasts 260
14.2 Beaches 261
14.3 Wave- dominated Coastlines 265
14.4 Tidally Influenced Coastal Systems 269
14.5 Estuaries 271
14.6 Fossils in Coastal and Estuarine Environments 275
14.7 Recognition of Coastal and Estuarine Systems 276
Further Reading 277
15 Shallow Sandy Seas 279
15.1 Shallow Marine Environments 280
15.2 Storm and Wave- dominated Shallow Clastic Seas 282
15.3 Tide- dominated Clastic Shallow Seas 286
15.4 Responses to Change in Sea Level 290
15.5 Fossils in Sandy Shelf Successions 291
15.6 Criteria for the Recognition of Sandy Shallow Marine Sediments 292
Further Reading 293
16 Shallow Marine Carbonate and Evaporite Environments 295
16.1 Carbonate and Evaporite Depositional Environments 296
16.2 Coastal Carbonate and Evaporite Environments 299
16.3 Shallow Marine Carbonate Deposits 303
16.4 Carbonate Platform Facies and Successions 309
16.5 Marine Evaporites 314
16.6 Mixed Carbonate- clastic Environments 317
16.7 Recognition of Shallow Marine Carbonate and Evaporite Facies 318
Further Reading 319
17 Deep Marine Environments 321
17.1 The Deep Seas 322
17.2 Sediment Gravity Flow Processes in Deep Seas 323
17.3 Submarine Fans 325
17.4 Ancient Submarine Fan Systems 328
17.5 Slope Aprons 332
17.6 Ocean Current and Pelagic Sedimentation 333
17.7 Chemogenic Sediments 337
17.8 Fossils in Deep Ocean Sediments 337
Further Reading 339
Part D Post-depositional Processes 341
18 Soft Sediment Deformation 343
18.1 Deformation After Deposition 344
18.2 Large- scale Post- depositional Features 350
Further Reading 353
19 Diagenesis 355
19.1 Diagenetic Processes 356
19.2 Clastic Diagenesis 363
19.3 Carbonate Diagenesis 366
19.4 Diagenesis of Volcaniclastic Sediments 369
19.5 Formation of Coal, Oil and Gas 370
Further Reading 375
Part E Stratigraphy 377
20 Stratigraphy: Concepts and Lithostratigraphy 379
20.1 Geologic Time 380
20.2 Stratigraphic Units 385
20.3 Lithostratigraphy 385
20.4 Applications of Lithostratigraphy 391
Further Reading 394
21 Biostratigraphy 395
21.1 Fossils in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 396
21.2 Classification of Organisms 397
21.3 Evolutionary Trends 398
21.4 Biozones and Zone Fossils 400
21.5 Taxa Used in Biostratigraphy 404
21.6 Applied Biostratigraphy 408
21.7 Biostratigraphy and Other Stratigraphic Techniques 409
Further Reading 410
22 Dating and Correlation Techniques 411
22.1 Techniques for Dating and Correlation 412
22.2 Radiometric dating 412
22.3 Magnetostrati graphy 416
22.4 Chemostrati graphy 418
22.5 Dating in the Quaternary 421
Further Reading 423
23 Subsurface Stratigraphy and Sedimentology 425
23.1 Introduction to Subsurface Stratigraphy and Sedimentology 426
23.2 Seismic Reflection Data 426
23.3 Borehole Stratigraphy and Sedimentology 432
23.4 Petrophysical Logging 435
23.5 Subsurface Facies and Basin Analysis 440
Further Reading 441
24 Sequence Stratigraphy and Sea Level Changes 443
24.1 Sea- level Changes and Sedimentation 444
24.2 Depositional Sequences and Systems Tracts 452
24.3 Parasequences: Components of Systems Tracts 457
24.4 Carbonate Sequence Stratigraphy 461
24.5 Applications of Sequence Stratigraphy 463
24.6 Causes of Sea Level Fluctuations 467
24.7 Sequence Stratigraphy: Summary 473
Further Reading 474
25 Sedimentary Basins 475
25.1 Controls on Sediment Accumulation 476
25.2 Basins Related to Lithospheric Extension 478
25.3 Basins Related to Subduction 484
25.4 Basins Related to Crustal Loading 486
25.5 Basins Related to Strike- slip Tectonics 489
25.6 Complex and Hybrid Basins 490
25.7 The Record of Tectonics in Stratigraphy 490
25.8 Sedimentary Basin Analysis 492
25.9 Integrating Sedimentology and Stratigraphy: the History of the Earth's Surface 495
Further Reading 496
References 497
Index 511
Acknowledgements xiii
About the Companion Website xv
Part A Sedimentary Materials, Processes and Products 1
1 Introduction to Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 3
1.1 Overview 4
1.2 Sedimentology 5
1.3 Stratigraphy 6
1.4 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 7
Further Reading 8
2 Clastic Sediments: Gravel, Sand and Mud 9
2.1 Classification of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks 10
2.2 Gravel and Conglomerate 12
2.3 Sand and Sandstone 15
2.4 Clay, Silt and Mudrock 26
2.5 Textures and Analysis of Clastic Sedimentary Rocks 29
2.6 Clastic Sediments: Summary 34
Further Reading 34
3 Biogenic, Chemical and Volcanogenic Sediments 35
3.1 Limestone 36
3.2 Evaporite Minerals 44
3.3 Cherts 46
3.4 Sedimentary Phosphates 47
3.5 Sedimentary Ironstone 47
3.6 Carbonaceous (Organic) Deposits 49
3.7 Volcaniclastic Sedimentary Rocks 51
Further Reading 52
4 Processes of Transport and Sedimentary Structures 53
4.1 Transport Media 54
4.2 The Behaviour of Fluids and Particles in Fluids 55
4.3 Flows, Sediment and Bedforms 60
4.4 Waves 70
4.5 Sediment Gravity Flows 73
4.6 Mudcracks 77
4.7 Erosional Sedimentary Structures 78
4.8 Terminology for Sedimentary Structures and Beds 79
4.9 Sedimentary Structures and Sedimentary Environments 81
Further Reading 82
5 Field Sedimentology, Facies and Environments 83
5.1 Field Sedimentology 84
5.2 Graphic Sedimentary Logs 85
5.3 Palaeocurrents 91
5.4 Sampling Sedimentary Rocks 94
5.5 Description of Core 96
5.6 Interpreting Past Depositional Environments 97
5.7 Reconstructing Palaeoenvironments 101
5.8 Summary: Facies and Environments 105
Further Reading 105
Part B Continental Environments 107
6 Continental Environments and Sources of Sediment 109
6.1 From Source of Sediment to Formation of Strata 110
6.2 Tectonic Uplift 110
6.3 Global Climate 111
6.4 Weathering Processes 112
6.5 Erosion and Transport 115
6.6 Denudation and Landscape Evolution 118
6.7 Continental Environments of Deposition 124
Further Reading 126
7 Glacial Environments 127
7.1 Distribution of Glacial Environments 128
7.2 Glacial Ice 129
7.3 Continental Glacial Environments 131
7.4 Continental Glacial Deposition 136
7.5 Marine Glacial Environments 138
7.6 Glacial Deposits in the Stratigraphic Record 140
7.7 Glacial Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 141
Further Reading 142
8 Aeolian Environments 143
8.1 Aeolian Transport 144
8.2 Characteristics of Wind- blown Particles 145
8.3 Desert Environments 146
8.4 Aeolian Bedforms 148
8.5 Stratigraphic Record of Aeolian Deposits 152
8.6 Aeolian Deposits Outside Deserts 155
8.7 Summary 157
Further Reading 158
9 Rivers and Alluvial Fans 159
9.1 Fluvial and Alluvial Systems 160
9.2 River Channels 162
9.3 Floodplain Deposition 170
9.4 Alluvial Fans 171
9.5 Fossils in Fluvial and Alluvial Environments 175
9.6 Soils and Palaeosols 176
9.7 Fluvial and Alluvial Stratigraphy 179
Further Reading 184
10 Lakes 185
10.1 Lakes and Lacustrine Environments 186
10.2 Freshwater Lakes 187
10.3 Freshwater Lake Clastic Deposits 190
10.4 Saline Lakes 193
10.5 Ephemeral Lakes 194
10.6 Lacustrine Carbonates 197
10.7 Lacustrine Stratigraphy 198
10.8 Recognition of Lacustrine Facies in the Stratigraphic Record 199
Further Reading 200
11 Volcanic Rocks and Sediments 201
11.1 Volcanic Rocks and Sediment 202
11.2 Transport and Deposition of Volcaniclastic Material 205
11.3 Eruption Styles 209
11.4 Facies Associations in Volcanic Successions 210
11.5 Volcanic Material in Other Environments 213
11.6 Volcanic Rocks in Earth History 214
Further Reading 215
Part C Marine Environments 217
12 The Marine Realm: Morphology and Processes 219
12.1 Oceans and Seas 220
12.2 Oceanic Currents 222
12.3 Wave and Storm Processes 222
12.4 Tides 223
12.5 Chemical and Biochemical Sedimentation in Oceans 228
12.6 Marine Fossils 230
12.7 Trace Fossils 231
Further Reading 235
13 Deltas 237
13.1 Modern Deltas 238
13.2 Variations in Delta Morphology 241
13.3 Syndepositional Deformation in Deltas 249
13.4 Deltaic Successions 249
13.5 Deltaic Cycles and Stratigraphy 254
13.6 Fossils in Deltaic Deposits 255
13.7 Recognition of Deltaic Deposits 255
Further Reading 256
14 Clastic Coasts and Estuaries 259
14.1 Coasts 260
14.2 Beaches 261
14.3 Wave- dominated Coastlines 265
14.4 Tidally Influenced Coastal Systems 269
14.5 Estuaries 271
14.6 Fossils in Coastal and Estuarine Environments 275
14.7 Recognition of Coastal and Estuarine Systems 276
Further Reading 277
15 Shallow Sandy Seas 279
15.1 Shallow Marine Environments 280
15.2 Storm and Wave- dominated Shallow Clastic Seas 282
15.3 Tide- dominated Clastic Shallow Seas 286
15.4 Responses to Change in Sea Level 290
15.5 Fossils in Sandy Shelf Successions 291
15.6 Criteria for the Recognition of Sandy Shallow Marine Sediments 292
Further Reading 293
16 Shallow Marine Carbonate and Evaporite Environments 295
16.1 Carbonate and Evaporite Depositional Environments 296
16.2 Coastal Carbonate and Evaporite Environments 299
16.3 Shallow Marine Carbonate Deposits 303
16.4 Carbonate Platform Facies and Successions 309
16.5 Marine Evaporites 314
16.6 Mixed Carbonate- clastic Environments 317
16.7 Recognition of Shallow Marine Carbonate and Evaporite Facies 318
Further Reading 319
17 Deep Marine Environments 321
17.1 The Deep Seas 322
17.2 Sediment Gravity Flow Processes in Deep Seas 323
17.3 Submarine Fans 325
17.4 Ancient Submarine Fan Systems 328
17.5 Slope Aprons 332
17.6 Ocean Current and Pelagic Sedimentation 333
17.7 Chemogenic Sediments 337
17.8 Fossils in Deep Ocean Sediments 337
Further Reading 339
Part D Post-depositional Processes 341
18 Soft Sediment Deformation 343
18.1 Deformation After Deposition 344
18.2 Large- scale Post- depositional Features 350
Further Reading 353
19 Diagenesis 355
19.1 Diagenetic Processes 356
19.2 Clastic Diagenesis 363
19.3 Carbonate Diagenesis 366
19.4 Diagenesis of Volcaniclastic Sediments 369
19.5 Formation of Coal, Oil and Gas 370
Further Reading 375
Part E Stratigraphy 377
20 Stratigraphy: Concepts and Lithostratigraphy 379
20.1 Geologic Time 380
20.2 Stratigraphic Units 385
20.3 Lithostratigraphy 385
20.4 Applications of Lithostratigraphy 391
Further Reading 394
21 Biostratigraphy 395
21.1 Fossils in Sedimentology and Stratigraphy 396
21.2 Classification of Organisms 397
21.3 Evolutionary Trends 398
21.4 Biozones and Zone Fossils 400
21.5 Taxa Used in Biostratigraphy 404
21.6 Applied Biostratigraphy 408
21.7 Biostratigraphy and Other Stratigraphic Techniques 409
Further Reading 410
22 Dating and Correlation Techniques 411
22.1 Techniques for Dating and Correlation 412
22.2 Radiometric dating 412
22.3 Magnetostrati graphy 416
22.4 Chemostrati graphy 418
22.5 Dating in the Quaternary 421
Further Reading 423
23 Subsurface Stratigraphy and Sedimentology 425
23.1 Introduction to Subsurface Stratigraphy and Sedimentology 426
23.2 Seismic Reflection Data 426
23.3 Borehole Stratigraphy and Sedimentology 432
23.4 Petrophysical Logging 435
23.5 Subsurface Facies and Basin Analysis 440
Further Reading 441
24 Sequence Stratigraphy and Sea Level Changes 443
24.1 Sea- level Changes and Sedimentation 444
24.2 Depositional Sequences and Systems Tracts 452
24.3 Parasequences: Components of Systems Tracts 457
24.4 Carbonate Sequence Stratigraphy 461
24.5 Applications of Sequence Stratigraphy 463
24.6 Causes of Sea Level Fluctuations 467
24.7 Sequence Stratigraphy: Summary 473
Further Reading 474
25 Sedimentary Basins 475
25.1 Controls on Sediment Accumulation 476
25.2 Basins Related to Lithospheric Extension 478
25.3 Basins Related to Subduction 484
25.4 Basins Related to Crustal Loading 486
25.5 Basins Related to Strike- slip Tectonics 489
25.6 Complex and Hybrid Basins 490
25.7 The Record of Tectonics in Stratigraphy 490
25.8 Sedimentary Basin Analysis 492
25.9 Integrating Sedimentology and Stratigraphy: the History of the Earth's Surface 495
Further Reading 496
References 497
Index 511
Gary Nichols has taught sedimentology and stratigraphy at universities in the UK and Norway. His research interests in the analysis of facies and sedimentary basins have taken him to every continent, providing experience of a wide range of sedimentary rock types of different ages in a variety of depositional settings. He currently designs training programmes for geoscientists working in the energy industry.
