Lesson 1: Introduction Flashcards
broad scientific discipline that encompasses the study of all kinds of sedimentary rocks. specifically the:
-physiochemical properties
-mineralogy
-composition
-classification
-origin
-etc
sedimentary petrology
deals with the characterization of individual sediments. specifically:
-sizes
-physiochemical properties
-mineralogy
-depositional history (possible environment during deposition)
sedimentology
how do you usually start describing sedimentary rocks? and is this under sedimentary petrology or sedimentology?
sedimentary petrology.
start larger:
-size
-type, classification
-composition, mineralogy
-physical properties: color, sed features
difference between interbedded and intercalated
interbedding occurs when different lithologies alternate between layers.
intercalating is a special kind of interbedding in which the lithologies are from different depositional environments that are in close proximity to each other. (a layer gets inserted into an already existing sequence)
what does the sediment size tell about the depositional environment? ex.?
the larger the sediment sizes, the higher energy of environments and the closer proximity to the parent rock.
ex. breccias typically indicate upstream depositions with high energies, near the provenance (mountains)
2 importance of studying sedimentary petrology?
- genetic significance
-they reveal the nature of past environments (rocks themselves) and life forms (fossils), thus our only available clues to the earth’s surface history - economic significance
-metallic ores: iron, gold, uranium
-nonmetallics: natural gas, coal, sulfur, limestone, sand&gravel, silica for cement
-placer deposits
what are placer deposits?
heavy minerals that accumulate in basins bc of gravity
what percent do sedimentary rocks roughly cover the earth’s surface?
about 3/4 or almost 80%
what are the 3 things that affect the composition of siliciclastic sedimentary rocks?
- tectonic provenance
- kind of depositional basin
- depositional conditions present in tectonic setting
what are the 4 fundamental kinds of constituents?
- terrigenous siliciclastic particles
- chemical/biochemical constituents
- carbonaceous constituents
- authigenic constituents
depositional agents
water, wind, ice
describe the general process of sedimentary rock formation
formation of source rocks (intrusion, metamorphism, volcanism, tectonic uplift) -> weathering & dissolution of soluble constituents (explosive volcanism) -> erosion (transportation) -> deposition ->burial (+temp&pressure) -> diagenesis -> sedimentary constituents that make up the rocks
sediments derived from terrestrial environments and typically made out of silica
terrigenous siliciclastic particles
what are the range of sizes for terrigenous siliciclastic particles?
gravel to mud-sized
examples of silicates
quartz, feldspars, micas
forms of terrigenous siliciclastic particles
clasts (aggregate of minerals) or rock fragments (individual mineral grains)
rock types that make up terrigenous siliciclastic particles
igneous, metamorphic and older sedimentary rocks (as long as dominantly made up of silicate minerals)
how do secondary minerals (made up of terrigenous siliciclastic particles) form at weathering sites?
these minerals, particularly iron oxides and clays minerals, are formed from the recombination and recrystallization of chemical elements released from parent rock during weathering, during fluid phase then transported, not after deposition
other names for terrigenous silisiclastic particles
terrigenous constituents/ siliciclastic grains
how are terrigenous siliciclastic particles transported as? and where to? implication?
solids to depositional basins (thus extrabasinal origin, however some pyroclastic particles may form within the basin)
what common rocks do terrigenous siliciclastic particles make?
sandstone, conglomerates, shales
constituents derived from precipitates (minerals or mineral aggregates)
chemical/biochemical constituents
how do soluble constituents like calcite, gypsum and apatite form in basins?
chemical and biochemical processes lead to extraction of these soluble constituents from basin water, then moved about by currents and waves within the basin
example of chemical biochemical aggregate grains
carbonate ooids and pellets
aside from soluble constituents, what other precipitates can be formed through chemical and biochemical processes?
calcareous and siliceous tests or shells of organisms