Sedimentary Structures
Sedimentary Structures
Sedimentary Structures
Sedimentary Structures
Sedimentary Structures:
Features that form within
sediment during accumulation
and before it is lithified.
Sedimentary Structures
Sedimentary Structures
Sedimentary Structures:
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Uses of Sedimentary Structures
1. Paleoenvironmental indicators:
many features only form under
certain physical conditions.
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Uses of Sedimentary Structures
1. Paleoenvironmental indicators:
many features only form under
certain physical conditions.
on land
moving water
moving air
still water
event(s) vs. continous
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
From Shrock 1948
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Modern Raindrop Imprints on Clay
From Shrock 1948
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Uses of Sedimentary Structures
2. Paleo-current direction:
some indicate direction of flow,
may allow for regional
interpretations
Illinois
Late Paleozoic
Michigan River Delta
flow NE
directions Indiana
SW
Illinois
Late Paleozoic
Michigan River Delta
flow
directions
Indiana
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Uses of Sedimentary Structures
3. Stratigraphic up direction:
indicates original
orientation in
tectonically deformed
beds
?
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Examples of Sedimentary Structures
1. Bedding = stratification:
Change or break in deposition
causes a marked plane.
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Examples of Sedimentary Structures
1a. Massive bedding:
thick uniform
bedding
constant conditions
during deposition
relatively quite water
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Examples of Sedimentary Structures
1b. Cross bedding:
layers within bed are inclined at time
of deposition (not horizontal)
sand moving along as ripples or dunes
formed by water or air
restricted to moving water
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Examples of Sedimentary Structures
1b. Cross bedding:
[Link]
Cross bedding
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
[Link]
erosion
flow
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
[Link]
erosion
flow
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
[Link]
up
flow
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
truncated side = up,
forset in flow direction
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
truncated side = up,
forset in flow direction
up
flow
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
?
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
two directions = beach/tides
Sedimentary Rock Types
Environmental significance of sandstones
1c. Graded bedding:
grain size decrease
from bottom to
the top of the bed.
represents an event
Sedimentary Rock Types
Environmental significance of sandstones
1c. Graded bedding:
grain size decrease
from bottom to
the top of the bed.
represents an event
Sedimentary Rock Types
Sedimentary Rock Types
Environmental significance of sandstones
Graded beds of graywacke
Sedimentary Rock Types
2. Ripples and dunes:
two kinds
Sedimentary Rock Types
2a. Asymmetrical ripples:
Sedimentary Rock Types
2a. Asymmetrical ripples:
long face and short face
short face points down current/wind
[Link]
2a. Asymmetrical ripples:
map view
Sedimentary Rock Types
Flow Direction?
[Link]
2a. Asymmetrical ripples:
map view
Sedimentary Rock Types
Flow Direction?
Sedimentary Rock Types
2b. Symmetrical ripples:
Sedimentary Rock Types
2b. Symmetrical ripples:
back and forth, wave motion
pointed crests rounded troughs
directional indicator, crest UP
Sedimentary Rock Types
2b. Symmetrical ripples:
map view
Flow
[Link]
Direction?
Sedimentary Rock Types
2b. Symmetrical ripples:
map view
Flow
[Link]
Direction?
Sedimentary Rock Types
3. Mud cracks:
series of polygonal desiccation cracks
sediment accumulated in alternating
wet and dry environment
Sedimentary Rock Types
3. Mud cracks:
directional indicator, curl UP
Sedimentary Rock Types
Summary:
massive beds: <environment>
cross bed: <up>, <flow>, <environment>
graded beds: <up>, <environment>
asymmetrical ripple: <flow>
symmetrical ripple: <up>
mud cracks: <up>, <environment>
Sedimentary Rock Types
Other structures: (not on exam)
Raindrop imprints: <up>, <environment>
Sedimentary Rock Types
Other structures: (not on exam)
Fossil Burrows: <up>, <environment>
Sedimentary Rock Types
Other structures: (not on exam)
Water escape: <up>
Sedimentary Rock Types
Other structures: (not on exam)
load casts: <up>
bottom side of sandstone over mud
Sedimentary Rock Types
Other structures: (not on exam)
load casts: <up>
bottom side of sandstone over mud
Sedimentary Rock Types
Other structures: (not on exam)
sole marks: <up>, <flow>
bottom side of sandstone over mud
Sedimentary Rock Types
Other structures: (not on exam)
sole marks: <up>, <flow>
bottom side of sandstone over mud
Sedimentary Rock Types
