Page 17 - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

4 Introduction: Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

changes through time can be related to plate tec- to 10, followed by marine environments in Chapters
tonics, because mountain building provides the 12 to 16 – the general theme being to start at the top,
source for much of the sediment, and plate move- with the mountains, and end up in the deep oceans.
ments also create the sedimentary basins where sedi- Exceptions to this pattern are Chapter 7 on glacial
ment accumulates. environments and Chapter 17 on volcanic processes
and products. Post-depositional processes, including
lithification and the formation of hydrocarbons, are
1.5 THE STRUCTURE OF THIS BOOK considered in Chapter 18. Chapters 19 to 23 are on
different aspects of stratigraphy and are intended to
Sedimentology and stratigraphy can be considered provide an introduction to the principles of stratigraphic
together as a continuum of processes and products, analysis using techniques such as lithostratigraphy,
both in space and time. Sedimentology is concerned biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphic correlation.
primarily with the formation of sedimentary rocks but The final chapters in the book provide a brief introduc-
as soon as these beds of rock are looked at in terms of tion to sedimentary basins and the large-scale tectonic
their temporal and spatial relationships the study has and climatic controls on the sedimentary record.
become stratigraphic. Similarly if the stratigrapher Sedimentology and stratigraphy cannot be consid-
wishes to interpret layers of rock in terms of environ- ered in isolation from other aspects of geology, and in
ments of the past the research is sedimentological. It is particular, plate tectonics, petrology, palaeontology
therefore appropriate to consider sedimentology and and geomorphology are complementary topics. Refer-
stratigraphy together at an introductory level. ence is made to these subjects in the text, but only a
The starting point taken in this book is the smallest basic knowledge of these topics is assumed.
elements, the particles of sand, pebbles, clay minerals,
pieces of shell, algal filaments, chemical precipitates
and other constituents that make up sediments (Chap-
FURTHER READING
ters 2 and 3). An introduction to the petrographic
analysis of sedimentary materials in hand specimen
The following texts provide a general background to geology.
and under the microscope is included in these chap-
ters. In Chapter 4 the processes of sediment transport Chernicoff, S. & Whitney, D. (2007) Geology: an Introduction
and deposition are considered, followed by a section on to Physical Geology (4th edition). Pearson/Prentice Hall,
the methodology of recording and analysing sedimen- New Jersey.
tary data in the field in Chapter 5. Weathering and Grotzinger, J., Jordan, T.H., Press, F. & Siever, R. (2007)
erosion is considered in Chapter 6 as an introduction to Understanding Earth (5th edition). Freeman and Co., New
the processes which generate the clastic material that York.
is deposited in many sedimentary environments. The Lutgens, F.K. & Tarbuck, E.J. (2006) Essentials of Geology
(9th edition). Pearson/Prentice Hall, New Jersey.
following chapters (7 to 17) deal largely with different Smith, G.A. & Pun, A. (2006) How Does the Earth Work?
depositional environments, outlining the physical, Physical Geology and the Process of Science. Pearson/Pren-
chemical and biological processes that are active, the tice Hall, New Jersey.
characteristics of the products of these processes and Summerfield, M.A. (1991) Global Geomorphology: an Introduc-
how they may be recognised in sedimentary rocks. tion to the Study of Landforms. Longman/Wiley, London/
Continental environments are covered in Chapters 8 New York.