Lesson 2: Grain size Flashcards
what does sedimentary texture encompass?
the three fundamental properties of sedimentary rocks
what are the 3 fundamental properties of sedimentary rocks?
- grain size
- grain shape
- fabric
what do you mean by grain shape?
form, roundness, and surface texture of grains
what do u mean by fabric?
grain packing and orientation
of the 3 fundamental properties of sedimentary rocks which are of individual grains and which are of grain aggregates?
individual
-grain size
-grain shape
aggregates
-fabric
why are logarithmic or geometric scales the most useful grade scales for expressing particle size?
the key is the scales having fixed ratio between successive elements in the series, because particles have a wide range of sizes
what is the most widely used grain size scale by sedimentologists?
Udden-Wentworth scale
describe the scale in the Udden-Wentworth
each value is either two times larger or one half as large as the preceding value depending if you’re going from up or down, respectively
what is the range of size in the U-W scale
<1/256 mm to >256 mm
what are the major size categories in the U-W scale?
mud (clay, slit), sand, gravel
subclasses under silt
very fine, fine, medium, coarse
subclasses under sand
very fine, fine, medium, coarse, very coarse
subclasses under gravel
granule, pebble, cobble, boulder
what class measures from 1-2 mm
very coarse sand
what class measures about 1.0 phi to 2.0 phi
medium sand
what is the problem with U-W scale
does not do well for graphical plotting and statistical calculations
what is the solution for U-W scale’s problem
plotting the logarithm to base 2
logarithmic scale for sediment size
kumbrein Phi Scale
describe the kumbrein Phi scale equation
Φ = log2 (𝐷/𝐷o)
D – Sediment size in diameter
Do – reference diameter equal to 1mm (constant)
what is the significance of grain size analysis?
> gives us a clue on how strong the transportation agent is (like of the fluid)
for geotechnical analysis (soil analysis, esp for liquefaction analysis)
how many filters are there in a mechanical sieve with vibrating platform, what is the size of the largest mesh
8 and one collecting pan; 4mm
for unconsolidated loose clay to silt sized sediments, what are the 5 methods are used for grain size analysis?
- pipette analysis
- sedimentation balances
- sedigraph
- laser diffractometry
- electro-resistance size analysis, ie. Coulter Counter)
for unconsolidated loose silt to granule sized sediments, what are the 3 methods used for grain size analysis?
- seiving
- settling-tube analysis
- image analysis