Sedimentaryenvironments

www.eas.purdue.edu/mesozoic/lab_03/Sedi_Environments.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Transitionalenvironments

Delta
- similar morphology to an alluvial fan but deposition results from sharp
reduction in velocity as a stream enters standing water
Topset beds - horizontal layers of smaller
sediment size that form as the main channel of
the river shifts elsewhere and the larger particles
of the bed load are no longer deposited

Foreset beds - consist of the bed

load that the river is moving along
which consists of larger
sediments that roll along the main
channel

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Delta_beds.png

Bottomset beds - created from the

suspended sediment that settles out
of the water as the river flows into
the body of water and loses energy
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Factors Affecting Delta Formation and Facies

water and sediment yield of the fluvial system feeding the
)
delta ((climate, tectonics),
seasonal changes in water level and sediment yield
(climate),
river-mouth processes (differences in river/sea water
densities, buoyancy),
coastal configuration, mainly shelf slope and topography
(delta gradient),
wave and tidal energy acting on the coast (climate, gradient,
tidal range),
along shore winds and currents, and
geometry and tectonics (subsidence) of the receiving basin

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Transitionalenvironments

Delta
- similar morphology to an alluvial fan but deposition results from sharp
reduction in velocity as a stream enters standing water

64.19.142.12/www.pnas.org/content/104/
43/16804/F1.medium.gif

www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/1121DeltaTypes.jpeg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Transitionalenvironments

Delta lobe switching

oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/Images/mississippi-delta.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

North Antrim coast, Ireland

www.irishviews.com/north-antrim-coast2.jpg

Coastalprocesses

Waves
wind waves or wind-generated waves
surface waves that occur on the free surface of oceans, seas, lakes,
rivers and canals or even on small puddles and ponds
rivers,
sea waves - directly generated and affected by the local winds,
swell waves - after the wind ceases to blow
development of the wave system as it moves away from the source and
amount of energy transfer depends on:
(1) wind velocity
(2) duration of the wind
(3) distance over which the wind blows, known as the fetch
64.19.142.13/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Waves_in_pacifica_1.jpg/800px-Waves_in_pacifica_1.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

Waves

Wave height, H
vertical distance between
wave crest and wave trough

Wave period, T
the time between the
passing of two successive
crests

Wavelength, L
horizontal distance
b
between
adjacent
dj
wave
crests or troughs

flowsurfmag.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/wavegraphcrop_2007523204144.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

Wave shoaling
the effect by which surface waves entering shallower water
increase in wave height (~twice the amplitude)

V - wave velocity
g - gravity
d - water depth

ericbeiers.com/archive/sediment/slide0047_image060.jpg
64.19.142.13/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Propagation_du_tsunami_en_profondeur_variable.gif
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

change in direction of a wave (bending) due to a change in its speed

www.cnsm.csulb.edu/departments/geology/people/bperry/geology303/_derived/geol303text.html_txt_142BluffCoveWaveRefractionM
ar05S.gif
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

change in direction of a wave (bending) due to a change in its speed

elearning.stkc.go.th/lms/html/earth_scienc
e/LOcanada6/606/images/6_6_1.jpg

102supercoastswiki.wikispaces.com/file/view/headlands_and_bays7.jpg/232666296/
headlands_and_bays7.jpg
www.cnsm.csulb.edu/departments/geology/people/bperry/geology303/_derived/geol30
3text.html_txt_142BluffCoveWaveRefractionMar05S.gif
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

www.geol.ucsb.edu/faculty/sylvester/UCSB_Beaches/groins2.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

Longshore current
an ocean current that flows parallel to and close to the shore

spinner.cofc.edu/CGOInquiry/Graphics/longshore%20drift.gif

elearning.stkc.go.th/lms/html/earth_science/LOcanada6/
606/images/6_6_2.jpg
www.geol.ucsb.edu/faculty/sylvester/UCSB_Beaches/groins2.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_currents
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

commonly referred to by the misnomer

, is a strong channel of
water flowing seaward from near the shore, typically through the surf line
typical flow is at 0.5 m/s and can be as fast as 2.5 m/s

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_currents
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

Tsunami
a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a
body of water, usually an ocean, though it can occur in large lakes
has distinctly different characteristics than wind-generated waves:
(1) enormous wavelength (100 to 200 km) but
(2) extremely low wave height in deep water (~1 m)
(3) long wave period (10 to 30 mins)
(4) travels with remarkable velocity (100~700 km/hr)
JR-Maglev (581 km/h)

Bluebird-Proteus CN7 (644.96 km/hr)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JR--Maglev
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JR
Maglev--MLX01
MLX01--2.jpg

wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1895/Preview
Comp/SuperStock_1895-20912.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

Storm surge

www.civildefence.govt.nz/memwebsite07.nsf/Files/Photo_library_floods2007/$file/northland%20coastal%20surge.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

Storm surge
an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather
system, typically tropical cyclones
caused primarily by high winds pushing on the ocean's surface,
causing the water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea level

64.19.142.10/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Storm_surge_graphic.svg/352pxStorm_surge_graphic.svg.png

64.19.142.11/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Surge-en.svg/800px-Surge-en.svg.png
www.civildefence.govt.nz/memwebsite07.nsf/Files/Photo_library_floods2007/$file/northland%20coastal%20surge.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Shorelineprocesses

Seiche
Swiss French: to sway back and forth
a standing wave in an enclosed or partially enclosed body of water (e.g.,
lakes, reservoirs, swimming pools, bays, harbors, seas)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standing_wave
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses

Tides
rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the
gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of
the Earth
semidiurnal - two high tides and two low tides each day
diurnal - one high and one low tide each day

64.19.142.13/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/00/Tide_type.gif/433px-Tide_type.gif
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocessesandlandforms
Coastalprocessesandlandforms
Marine deposition
- sediment transport and deposition by wave currents

Marine erosion
- corrosion, corrasion or abrasion, attrition, hydraulic action, and shock
pressure of breaking waves

64.19.142.11/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Accreting_coast_Image6.svg/800pxAccreting_coast_Image6.svg.png
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marinedepositionalfeatures
Spit
- a type of bar or beach, in which one end connects to land and the other
end extends into the sea
- develops by the process of longshore drift
Arabat spit, Ukraine
length: 110 km

www.rower.fan.pl/2007_Stepy/EN/kerchscholkinoleninoarabatspi
thenichevsk.jpg

ljplus.ru/img4/m/e/metelik/arabat.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marinedepositionalfeatures
Tombolo
- a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar that connects an island to
the mainland
- formed by wave refraction
tombolo connecting St Ninian's Isle with the
Shetland Mainland, UK

Karystos, Greece

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Tombolo_
St_Ninians_5940.JPG/800px-Tombolo_St_Ninians_5940.JPG

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Tombolo_
Paximadhi_Eboea.jpg/800px-Tombolo_Paximadhi_Eboea.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marinedepositionalfeatures
- relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast
- usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to
more than a dozen
- general requirements for formation:

- theories of formation:
(1) offshore bar
(2) spit accretion
(3) submergence (e.g. Mississippi River delta)
64.19.142.12/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Baie_de_Mobile.jpg_hyuncompressed
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marinedepositionalfeatures
Barrier beaches/islands/chains
- relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast
- usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to
more than a dozen

spinner.cofc.edu/CGOInquiry/Graphics/barris.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

thewatchers.adorraeli.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/barrierisland.jpg

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalprocesses
Marine deposition
- sediment transport and deposition by wave currents

Marine erosion
- corrosion, corrasion or abrasion, attrition, hydraulic action, and shock
pressure of breaking waves

64.19.142.11/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Accreting_coast_Image6.svg/800pxAccreting_coast_Image6.svg.png
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marineerosional
Marine
erosional features
Sea cliffs
- vertical or near vertical rock exposures formed by wave erosion and
weathering

Kalaupapa, USA (HI)

height: 1010 m

www.fodors.com/images/experiences/Molokai-Kalaupapacliffs.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Matengai, Japan
height: 257 m

64.19.142.12/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/
Matengai_of_Kuniga_Coast_in_Oki_Island_Shimane_pref600
.jpg

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marineerosional
Marine
erosional features
Wave-cut/shore platform
- a narrow, flat area often found at the base of a sea cliff or along the
shoreline of a lake, bay, or sea that was created by the action of waves

64.19.142.11/upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped
ia/commons/a/a1/Wave_cut_platform.png

www.stacey.peak-media.co.uk/purbeck/Kimmeridge/800wavevcut2.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marineerosional
Marine
erosional features
Coves/bays/bights
- area of water mostly surrounded by land often formed by differential
erosion
McWay Cove, USA (CA)

Bay of Bengal
area: 2,172,000 km

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/McWay_cov
e_1.jpg/800px-McWay_cove_1.jpg

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Bay_of_
Bengal_map.png/588px-Bay_of_Bengal_map.png
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marineerosional
Marine
erosional features
Headland/promontory/cape
- a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends
out into a body of water

Koko Head, USA (HI)

Cape Engao, Philippines

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Oahu_fro
m_air2.jpg/800px-Oahu_from_air2.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2552847162_ddddcb28f2.jpg

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marineerosional
Marine
erosional features
Headland/promontory/cape
- a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends
out into a body of water

cgz.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/cgz/accounts/staff/rchambers/GeoBytes%20GCSE%20Blog%20Resources/Images/Coasts/Hea
dland_Erosion.gif
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marineerosional
Marine
erosional features
Headland/promontory/cape
- a point of land, usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends
out into a body of water
Arch of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

sea cave

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/CaboSanLucasLa
ndsEnd.JPG

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e4/Seacave_fault.jp
g/512px-Seacave_fault.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Marineerosional
Marine
erosional features:Headlands

stacks/stumps at Torre Sant'Andrea, Italy

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Torre_San
t%27Andrea.jpg/800px-Torre_Sant%27Andrea.jpg

Old Man of Hoy, Scotland

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Old_man_of_ho
y2.jpg

skerries which are part of the land Islands, Finland

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Archipelago062009.jpg/800px-Archipelago062009.jpg
N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

Coastalfeatures

Coral reefs
Great Barrier reef

Moorea, French Polynesia

4.bp.blogspot.com/_EH8GsUqg6-U/R1OFFQJ5SI/AAAAAAAAAKE/tyAwfy-xwPY/s1600-R/fringe+reef+2.bmp

Tokelau, New Zealand

www.bayactionplan.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2011/02/great-barrier-reef.jpg

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/At
afutrim.jpg

N. Ramos | Geology 11 Principles of Geology

Lecture Notes: Sedimentary Environments

TERRESTRIAL SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS

ALLUVIAL FAN
Rock Type

FLUVIAL

Breccia,
conglomerate,
arkose,

Conglomerate
sandstone
siltstone, shale

Composition

Terrigenous

Terrigenous

Color

Brown or red

Brown or red

Grain Size

Clay to gravel

Clay to gravel
(Fining upward)

Grain Shape

Angular

Rounded to
angular

Sorting

Poor

Variable

Inorganic
Sedimentary
Structures

LACUSTRINE

Terrigenous, carbonate,
or evaporite

Yellow, red,

Clay to silt or sand

(Coarsening upward)

Sand

---

Variable

Asymmetrical
ripples,

graded bedding

cross-bedding, lamination, cross-bedding,

graded bedding, graded bedding,
tool marks
mudcracks,
raindrop prints

---

Tracks, trails,
burrows

Fossils

---

Rare freshwater
shells,
shells, bones,
bones,

Terrigenous or
evaporite

Black, brown,

Cross-bedding

Organic or
Biogenic
Sedimentary
Structures

DESERT (DUNES)

Siltstone,
Quartz arenite (sandstone)
shale, limestone,
or gypsum
or evaporites (gypsum)

Symmetrical ripples,

Tracks, trails, burrows,

rare stromatolites

Freshwater shells,
fish, bones,
plant fragments

PALUDAL
Peat, coal,
black shale,
siltstone
Terrigenous

Black, gray,
Clay to silt

Rounded

Good

---

Variable

Cross-bedding

Laminated to
massive

Tracks, trails

Root marks,
burrows

---

Plant fossils,
rare freshwater
plant fragments

TRANSITIONAL SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS

DELTA

BARRIER BEACH

LAGOON

TIDAL FLAT

Rock Type

Sandstone, siltstone,
shale, coal

Quartz arenite, coquina

Siltstone, shale, limestone,

oolitic limestone or gypsum

Siltstone, shale,
calcilutite,
dolostone or gypsum

Composition

Terrigenous

Terrigenous or carbonate

Terrigenous, carbonate,
or evaporite

Terrigenous, carbonate,
or evaporite

Color

Brown, black,
gray, green, red
d

White to tan

Dark gray to black

Grain Size

Clay to sand
(Coarsening upward)

Sand

Clay to silt

Clay to silt

---

---

Grain Shape

Sorting

---

Poor

Rounded to angular

Good

Gray, brown, tan

Poor

Variable

Inorganic
Sedimentary
Structures

Cross-bedding,
Cross bedding,
graded bedding

Cross-bedding,
Cross bedding,
symmetrical ripples

Lamination, ripples,
cross-bedding

Lamination, mudcracks,
ripples, cross-bedding

Organic or
Biogenic
Sedimentary
Structures

Trails, burrows

Tracks, trails, burrows

Trails, burrows

Stromatolites,
trails, tracks,
burrows

Fossils

Plant fragments, shells

Marine shells

Marine shells

Marine shells

MARINE SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS

REEF

CONTINENTAL SHELF

CONTINENTAL SLOPE & RISE

ABYSSAL PLAIN

Rock Type

Fossiliferous
limestone

Sandstone, shale, siltstone,

fossiliferous limestone,
oolitic limestone

Litharenite, siltstone, and shale

(or limestone)

Shale, chert,
micrite, chalk,
diatomite

Composition

Carbonate

Terrigenous or carbonate

Terrigenous or carbonate

Terrigenous
or carbonate

Color

Gray to white

Gray to brown

Grain Size

Variable, frameworks,
few to no grains

Clay to sand

Grain Shape

---

Gray, green, brown

Clay

---

---

Sorting

---

Poor to good

Inorganic
Sedimentary
Structures

---

Lamination,
cross-bedding

Graded bedding, cross-bedding,

lamination, flute marks, tool marks
(turbidites)

Organic or
Biogenic
Sedimentary
Structures

---

Trails, burrows

Trails, burrows

Fossils

Corals, marine shells

Marine shells

Black,
white red

Poor

Marine shells, rare plant fragments

---

Good
Lamination

Trails,
burrows

Marine shells
(mostly
microscopic)