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Lec1 Texture Part1

This document discusses methods for measuring sediment texture, including grain size, shape, and fabric. It describes the Udden-Wentworth grain size scale and phi scale used to classify sediment sizes. Methods for measuring grain size in lithified and unconsolidated sediments are outlined, including visual estimation, thin section analysis, and sieve analysis. Sieve analysis involves separating sediments by grain size using stacked sieves of decreasing mesh size. Grain size data can be displayed using histograms, frequency curves, and cumulative curves on arithmetic or log scales. Average grain size is also discussed. Sedimentation methods for measuring fine silt and clay sizes use Stokes' Law, which relates settling velocity to grain size, density difference, fluid viscosity

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11 views

Lec1 Texture Part1

This document discusses methods for measuring sediment texture, including grain size, shape, and fabric. It describes the Udden-Wentworth grain size scale and phi scale used to classify sediment sizes. Methods for measuring grain size in lithified and unconsolidated sediments are outlined, including visual estimation, thin section analysis, and sieve analysis. Sieve analysis involves separating sediments by grain size using stacked sieves of decreasing mesh size. Grain size data can be displayed using histograms, frequency curves, and cumulative curves on arithmetic or log scales. Average grain size is also discussed. Sedimentation methods for measuring fine silt and clay sizes use Stokes' Law, which relates settling velocity to grain size, density difference, fluid viscosity

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syaeheera
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You are on page 1/ 17

SIG2004

Part 1: Siliciclastics
Sediment Textures
Dr. Meor Hakif Amir Hassan
Department of Geology
University of Malaya
[email protected]
Sediment Texture
• The texture of a sediment includes the
following properties:
• Grain Size
• Grain Shape
• Grain Fabric
Grain Size
• Udden-Wentworth grain size
scale (Wentworth, 1922) is most
widely used by sedimentologists
Grain Size: Udden-Wentworth Scale

Coarser
Four basic grain size divisions:

Clay: <0.004 mm
Silt: 0.004 – 0.00625
Sand: 0.0626 – 2 mm
Gravel: > 2 mm

e.g., medium sand is >0.25 mm to


0.5 mm.

Finer
Grain Size: Udden-Wentworth Grade Scale

Coarser
Udden-Wentworth Scale is useful
for describing wide range of grain
size

Scale is hard to use for statistics:


Magnitude of each size class is
different
Many size classes in fractions

Finer
Grain Size: Phi Scale
Logarithmic scale
Expressed as integers

Phi was originally defined as:    log 2 d (mm )


d is grain size in mm

Used for easier graphical plotting and


Statistical calculations
Even-sized divisions
(-) coarser
(+) finer
Measuring Grain Size
Measuring Grain Size
Lithified Sedimentary Rock
• Conglomerates and breccia: direct
measurement with a measuring
tape

• Sandstones: Visual estimation using


hand lens and measuring tape
Measuring Grain Size
Lithified Sedimentary Rock

• Mudstones (Visual estimation):


• Silt: Gritty texture
• Clay: Smooth, non-gritty when
bitten

• Mudstones (Scratch test with steel


probe):
• Waxy lustre, dark color=claystone
• Dull lustre, light color=siltstone
Measuring Grain Size
Lithified Sedimentary Rock

• Sandstones, Siltstones: Direct


measurement from thin sections
Measuring Grain Size
Unconsolidated sand: Sieving
A sample is passed through a vertically
stacked set of square-holed screens
(sieves).

Different sieve have different size mesh

Sieve mesh sizes can be vertically


stacked following the Udden-
Wentworth Scale (coarsest at the top, -1Φ
finest at bottom)

Sediment filled in the topmost stack.


0Φ
Stack then mechanically shaken

Grains that are larger than the holes 1Φ


remain on a sieve. Smaller grains pass
through.
2Φ
The grains collected on each screen are
weighed to determine the weight of
sediment in a given range of size.
Measuring Grain Size
Histogram
Unconsolidated sand: Sieving
Displaying the Grain Size Data Normal distribution (bell-curve)

• Plotting the data on bivariate


diagrams

• Histogram
• Weight % grain size class versus phi
size
Frequency curve
• Frequency curve
• Bar replaced by smooth curve
• Connect midpoint of size classes

(Boggs, 2009)
Measuring Grain Size Arithmetic scale
Unconsolidated sand: Sieving
Displaying the Grain Size Data

• Plotting the data on bivariate


diagrams

• Cumulative curve
• Cumulative weight % versus phi
size Log scale
• Can use arithmetic or log-
probability scale

(Boggs, 2009)
Log-normal distribution (straight-line)
Measuring Grain Size
Unconsolidated sand: Sieving
Displaying the Grain Size Data

• Average Grain Size


• Three measures of average grain
size:
• Mode size: Most frequent
• Median size: Midpoint grain size
• Mean size: Arithmetic average
Sedimentation Methods: Unconsolidated fine
silt and clay
• Measure fall time of particles
through water in a settling tube
• Fall time equated to grain
diameter
• Mostly based on Stoke’s Law
Sedimentation method: Stokes Law
• The settling velocity of
particles in a fluid is
determined by:
• (1) Particle size
• (2) Difference in density
between the particle and fluid Terminal settling velocity
• (3) Fluid viscosity
Grain diameter (particle size)

Difference between particle


The frictional drag is smaller for Density and fluid density
large spheres than for small ones,
and therefore the terminal Fluid viscosity
velocity of a large sphere is
greater than that for a small Acceleration due to gravity
sphere of the same material.

Terminal settling velocity: At this velocity the frictional drag due to viscous forces is just balanced by the
gravitational force and the velocity is constant

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