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:

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/ashworth/webpages/g304/reportphotos2003/cross-bedding.jpg

Cross bedding
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/ashworth/webpages/g304/reportphotos2003/cross-bedding.jpg

erosion
flow
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/ashworth/webpages/g304/reportphotos2003/cross-bedding.jpg

erosion
flow
Sedimentary Structures & Environments
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/ashworth/webpages/g304/reportphotos2003/cross-bedding.jpg

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
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/levin/0470000201/chap_tutorial/ch03/images/le03_20.gif

2a. Asymmetrical ripples:

map view
Sedimentary Rock Types

Flow Direction?
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com:8100/legacy/college/levin/0470000201/chap_tutorial/ch03/images/le03_20.gif

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
http://course1.winona.edu/csumma/images/sedstrux/rip300.jpg

Direction?
 Sedimentary Rock Types

2b. Symmetrical ripples:

map view

Flow
http://course1.winona.edu/csumma/images/sedstrux/rip300.jpg

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