GS-3800 – Sedimentology – Spring 2009

Date: Lecture Topic – Reading Assignment

Jan 21: Introduction – Leeder Chapter 1, Stow p. 109-125

Jan 23: Cobbles and conglomerate – Stow Chapter 4

Jan 26: Sand and sandstone – Stow Chapter 5

Jan 28: Mud and mudrocks – Stow Chapter 6

Jan 30: Biogenic sediment – Leeder Chapter 3, Stow Chapters 7 + 8

Feb 02: Chemical sediment – Leeder Chapter 3, Stow Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 14

Feb 04: Compaction and diagenesis – no reading

Feb 06: Examination 1: Sedimentary petrology (75 points)

Feb 09: Properties of fluids – Leeder Chapter 4

Feb 11: Behavior of fluids – Leeder Chapters 4 + 5

Feb 13: Unidirectional stream flow – Leeder Chapter 5

Feb 16: WI Report #1: Conglomerate and sandstone (20 points, due Feb 18)

Feb 18: WI Report #2: Mudrock and chert (20 points, due Feb 25)

Feb 20: WI Report #3: Limestone (20 points, due Mar 4)

Feb 23: Entrainment of sediment – Leeder Chapter 6

Feb 25: Suspension and grain settling – Leeder Chapter 6

Feb 27: Types and origins of stratification – Stow p. 28-67

Mar 02: Bedforms I – unidirectional flow – Leeder Chapters 7 + 8

Mar 04: Sedimentary structures I – Leeder Chapters 7 + 8

Mar 06: Examination #2: Physical sedimentology (75 points)

Mar 09: Waves, tides, and currents – Leeder Chapter 9

Mar 11: Bedforms II - oscillatory flow – Leeder Chapter 9

Mar 13: Sedimentary structures II – Leeder Chapter 9

Mar 16: Subaqueous gravity flows – Leeder Chapters 11 + 12

Mar 18: Behavior of turbidity currents – Leeder Chapters 11 + 12

Mar 20: Turbidites and related deposits – Leeder Chapters 11 + 12

Mar 23: Spring Break

Mar 30: Sedimentary structures III – Leeder Chapters 11 + 12

Apr 01: Basic concepts of physical stratigraphy – Stow Chapter 15

Apr 03: Climate and sea level – Leeder Chapters 13 + 14

Apr 06: Sequence stratigraphy – Leeder Chapter 14

Apr 08: Building a facies model – Stow Chapter 15

Apr 10: Fluvial facies – Leeder Chapter 17

Apr 13: Video: Ocean Drilling Program in Film

Apr 15: Examination #3: Physical sedimentology/stratigraphy (75 points)

Apr 17: Video: Landslides and Avalanches (National Geographic)

Apr 20: Video: Gravity Deposits (AAPG)

Apr 22: Deltaic facies – Leeder Chapter 22

Apr 24: Tidal flats and estuaries – Leeder Chapter 21

Apr 27: Beach and barrier islands – Leeder Chapter 23

Apr 29: Continental shelf – Leeder Chapter 25

May 01: Continental slope and rise – Leeder Chapter 26

Writing Assignment #4 - Importance of Sedimentology (15 points; due May 6)

May 04: Submarine canyons, fans, and channels – Leeder Chapter 26

May 06: Tectonics and sedimentary basins – Leeder Chapter 28

May 08: Reading Day

May 13: Final Examination: Facies analysis (150 points) – 1:00-3:00 pm