Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Environments
Chapter 8 & 13
Introduction
Depositional Environments
Facies and facies successions
Summary
Depositional Environments
Geomorphic setting in which a particular
set of physical, chemical, and biological
processes operates to generate a certain
kind of sedimentary deposit
Physical environment has “static” and
dynamic elements
Static: basin geometry, sediment composition,
water depth, etc.
Dynamic: currents (wind, water),
precipitation, climate
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Depositional Environments
Depositional Environments
Depositional Environments
Continental
Fluvial
Alluvial Fan, Braided River, Meandering River
Desert, Lacustrine, Glacial
Deltaic
Delta Plain, Delta Front, Prodelta
Marginal Marine
Beach, Barrier Island, Estuary, Tidal Flat
Marine
Continental Shelf
Carbonate Reefs and associated environments,
Siliciclastic Shelves
Continental Slope and Ocean Floor
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Depositional Environments
Objective: Use sedimentary deposits to
interpret depositional environments
Physical, biological, chemical parameters of
an environment combine to produce a body
of sediment characterized by specific
textural, structural and compositional
properties
Distinctive bodies of sediments or
sedimentary rocks are facies
Forcing Product
Climate
Geometry
Sediment
Supply
Depositional
Physical properties
Tectonism Environment
Sea level
Composition
Biota
Forcing Product
Climate
Geometry
Sediment
Supply
Depositional
Physical properties
Tectonism Environment
Sea level
Composition
Biota
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Objectives of Stratigraphic
Analysis
Use observable properties of deposits
(color, lithology, texture, sedimentary
structures, etc.) to reconstruct depositional
environment
Individual features or beds are seldom (if
ever…) diagnostic
E.g., cross-bedded sandstones in rivers,
Facies
Different types of facies can be defined
Lithologic (“lithofacies”)
Distinguished by physical characteristics
Facies
Facies are distinguished by lithological,
structural and organic aspects that are
detectable “in the field” (core)
Facies are ultimately given environmental
interpretations, but the facies definition is
objective rather than interpretive
Sometimes “interpretive” facies are defined
E.g., fluvial facies, submarine fan facies
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5
SW NE
Coastal Plain
Shoreface
Marine
Limestone
Facies
Associations/Successions
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Facies
Associations/Successions
“Sandier
(coarsening)
upward” succession
Often interpreted
as “shoaling
upward” or
progradation
Facies
Associations/Successions
As depositional environments in a given
environment shift with time, the deposits of
one environment may come to lie above the
deposits of another environment
Assumes subsidence
Therefore, a direct environmental relationship
may exist between vertically stacked
successions of strata
“Walther’s Law” – Johannes Walther, 1894
Walther’s Law
“It is a basic statement of far-reaching
significance that only those facies and
facies-areas can be superimposed
primarily which can be observed beside
each other at the present time”
(Walther, 1894)
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Facies
Associations/Successions
Walther’s Law applies to conformable
successions only
No significant time gaps
Does not imply that vertical facies
successions always duplicate the lateral
transitions
Walther’s Law
Boggs 2001
Facies
Associations/Successions
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Facies Models
General summary of a given depositional
system
Written/presented in terms that make the
summary usable
Assumes:
Physical processes constant through
time
Limited number of depositional systems
Facies Models
Act as a norm for purposes of comparison
Act as a framework and guide for future
observations
Act as a predictor in new geological
situations
Act as an integrated basis for
interpretation for the system it represents
Walker, 1994
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Facies Models
Facies models have been generated for
all (?most) types of depositional
environments
Wide range of variability may be present
for any given type of environment
Be careful about applying models too
rigidly
A “certain amount” of departure from
idealized model is to be expected
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Summary
Depositional environments
characterized by physical, chemical and
biotic aspects
Interaction of these aspects produces
distinctive bodies of sediment or
sedimentary rocks that are called facies
Lithofacies characterized by distinctive
physical properties that can be
recognized in the field
Summary
Combinations of facies (facies
associations, facies successions) usually
better for environmental reconstruction
than individual facies
Walther’s Law predicts how facies can
stack vertically in a conformable
succession
Summary
Facies models are derived for particular
environments by examining modern,
ancient environments/deposits
Facies models act as:
A norm for comparison
A framework and guide for observations
A predictor in new situations
An integrated basis for interpretation
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