Sedimentology

This lesson includes lectures per themes, that allow the student to acquire basic knowledge on sedimentology. It also includes laboratory excercises which help with more practical knowledge. There are also some summary questions that help with the evaluation of acquired knowledge.

Objectives

Sedimentology is the study of past sedimentary rocks, modern sedimentary environments (e.g. rivers,lakes,coasts) and the processes that produce, transport and deposit sediments. So, the sedimentology lectures will allow students to reconstruct parts of the earth’s surface that developed through time, due to reconstruction of past sedimentary deposition environments . Also sedimentary rocks record the upward movements of mountain ranges, the climatic changes and the changes of sea level and thus the student will familiarize with identifying such events. The student will additionally acquire the necessary background for identifying the connection of past sedimentary rocks with natural hydrocarbons and underground water. Finally the study of present day sedimentary environments will be the main tool for environmental impact studies.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of geology

Syllabus

Introduction to Sedimentology- Processes of clastic and non-clastic sediment formation 1. Clastic sedimentation 1.1 Classification of sediments and sedimentary rocks 1.2 Granulometric analysis 1.3 Sediment transportation 1.4 Sedimentary structures and facies 1.5 Sedimentary environments (alluvial fans,Lakes,Rivers,Deltas) 2.Non clastic-Chemical-Biochemical sedimentary rocks (limestones, evaporites, organics etc)