Chapter 1. Introduction 5

Why study clastic sedimentology? 5

About this book 6

Comprehensive sedimentology textbooks 7

 

Chapter 2. Grain Texture 8

Introduction 8

Grain Size 8

Volume 8

Linear dimensions 9

Direct measurement 9

Sieving 10

Settling velocity 10

Stoke's Law of Settling 11

Grade scales 14

Displaying grain size data 16

Describing grain size distributions 18

Median 18

Mean 19

Sorting coefficient 19

Skewness 20

Kurtosis 20

Paleoenvironmental implications 20

Why measure grain size? 22

Grain Shape 22

Roundness 22

Wadell 22

Dobkins and Folk 22

Power's visual comparison chart 22

Sphericity 23

Wadell 23

Sneed and Folk 24

Riley 24

Clast form 24

Significance of grain shape 25

Source rock 25

Transport 25

Porosity and Permeability 28

Porosity 28

Controls on porosity 28

Packing density 28

Grain size 29

Sorting 30

Post-burial processes 30

Compaction 30

Cementation 30

Clay formation 30

Solution 31

Permeability (Darcy's Law) 31

Controls on permeability 34

1

Porosity and packing 34

Grain size and sorting 34

Post-burial processes 35

Directional variation in permeability 36

Grain Orientation 36

Introduction 36

Measuring grain orientation 36

Types of grain fabric 37

Isotropic fabric 37

Anisotropic fabric 37

a(t)b(i) 38

a(p)a(i) 38

Complex anisotropic fabric 38

The problem with measuring grain orientation on thin sections 39

Displaying directional data 39

Statistical treatment of directional data 42

Interpretation of grain orientation 44

 

Chapter 3. Classification of terrigenous clastic rocks 47

A fundamental classification of sediments 47

Terrigenous clastic sediments 49

Classification of sandstone 49

Basis of the classification 49

Genetic implications 52

Level of classification 54

Classification of rudite 54

Classification of lutite 54

 

Chapter 4. Unidirectional fluid flow and sediment transport 55

Introduction 55

Unidirectional fluid flows 55

Flow between two plates 55

Fluid gravity flows 56

Classification of fluid gravity flows 58

Shear stress and velocity in turbulent flows 59

Structure of turbulent flows 61

Organized structure of turbulent flows 63

Sediment Transport 66

Modes of transport 66

Quantitative interpretation of grain size curves 67

Threshold of movement 67

Threshold of grain suspension 71

 

Chapter 5. Bedforms and stratification under unidirectional flows 74

Introduction 74

Bedforms under unidirectional flows 74

Terminology 74

The sequence of bedforms 75

Bedform stability fields 85

Cross-stratification formed by bedforms under unidirectional flows 88

Terminology 88

2

Origin of cross-stratification 90

Cross-stratifcation produced by asymmetrical bedforms 95

Ripple cross-lamination 96

Cross-stratification formed by dunes 97

Upper plane bed horizontal lamination 99

In-phase wave stratification 101

 

Chapter 6. Flow, bedforms and stratification under oscillatory and combined flows 102

Introduction 102

Characteristics of gravity waves 102

Bedforms and stratification under purely oscillatory currents 105

Initiation of motion 105

Bedforms under waves 106

Stratification formed by oscillatory currents 109

Bedforms and stratification under combined flows 113

The enigma of hummocky cross-stratification 114

HCS - description and associations 116

Characteristics of HCS 116

Grain size 116

Morphology and geometry 116

HCS associations 118

Discrete HCS sandstone 118

Amalgamated HCS sandstone 119

The HCS debate 119

Experimental evidence 121

Evidence based on grain fabric 121

The origin of HCS? 122

Conclusion 124

Appendix 1. 125

Appendix 2. 127

References