This course is devoted to understanding the environmental processes that form sediments and sedimentary rocks, and how we go about interpreting past environments and processes from the sedimentary record.

WHY SEDIMENTOLOGY?

1. Clastic  Rocks (>80%) 

They are particles derived from the weathering and erosion of precursor rocks and consist primarily of fragmental material and are classified by grain size and composition. Clastic rocks are the most common i.e. mudstones (65%) and sandstones (20-25%)

 What is a sedimentary rock? Sedimentary processes. Classification of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. Characteristics of sedimentary rocks. Sorting, Roundness. Sphericity. Color. Sediment maturity. Composition. Provenance. Sedimentary textures. Clastic Depositional Environments.

2. Biochemical Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks. (represents about 10 - 15% of sedimentary rocks)

Biogenic Carbonate Mineralogy. Limestone texture. Types of carbonate grains. Classification of carbonate rocks. Carbonate diagenesis. Carbonate Environments. Biochemical chert. Diatomite.

3. Chemical Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks.

 Evaporite deposits. Evaporite precipitation order of seawater. Depositional environments.  Ferrous deposits. Origin and transport of Fe. Depositional basins. Phosphorite deposits. Types of phosphorite deposits. Depositional environments. Siliceous deposits. Residual deposits.

4. Principles of Sedimentary rocks.

Principles of sediments is used to know more information about the characteristics of sedimentary rocks that are deposited in basins.

Principles of Sedimentary rocks can be classified into:

Principle of superposition

Sedimentary layers are deposited in a time sequence, with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top.

Principle of original horizontality

The deposition of sediments in a horizontal way which is their relief angle.

Principle of lateral continuity

The layers of sediments extend in all directions If there is no any restrictions on their ways.

Principle of cross-cutting relationships

Any intrusive/cutting rock or layer is younger than the layers of sediments.

4. Sedimentary Structures

 Sedimentary Bedding and Structure. Bedding patterns. Sediment transport mechanisms. Types of fluid flow. Types of sedimentary structures.

5. Plate Tectonics and Sedimentary Rocks.

6. Sedimentary basins.

 Facies concept. Facies associations. Facies analysis. Facies model.

Mineralogy and Stratigraphy

• recognize texture and composition of rock samples,
• basic knowledge about the transport mechanisms and types of deposit,
• general knowledge of the varios sedimentary environments.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

• macroscopic identification of sedimentary rocks
• field trips with analysis of the sedimentary succession.

The teaching material and specific communications from the lectures can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform > blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

• lectures, class exercises, field excursions

Attendance

frequency

Course books

BOSELLINI, MUTTI & RICCI LUCCHI - Rocce e successioni sedimentarie. U.T.E.T.

CASATI - Scienze della Terra. Elementi di Geologia generale. Ed. Clup

MAC DOUGALL - Storia della Terra. Piccola Biblioteca Einaudi

PRESS & SIEVER - Capire la Terra. Ed. Zanichelli

TUCKER - Rocce sedimentarie, guida alla descrizione sugli affioramenti rocciosi. Ed. Flaccovio, PA.

DORRIK - Sedimentary Rocks in the Field, a color guide - Elsevier Inc.

PROTHERO & SCHWAB - Sedimentary Geology, an introduction to Sedimentary Rocks and Stratigraphy.

COE - Geological Field Techiques - Wiley-Blackwell

Assessment

• Oral examination with pratical recognition of rock samples

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.