SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE1

SEDIMENTOLOGYLAB#5SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURES

SedimentaryStructuressedimentaryfeaturesformedfromaggregatesofsedimentaryparticles

I.PrimarySedimentaryStructures
formedatornearthetimeofdeposition

A.Beds(Strata)
tabularorlenticularlayersofrockwithlithologic,texturalorstructuralcharacteristicsthat
distinguishthemfromthesurroundingbeds

1.Bedthickness

a.Verythickbed=greaterthan100cm

b.ThickBed=30100cm

c.MediumBed=1030cm

d.ThinBed=310cm

e.VeryThinBed=13cm

f.ThickLamina=310mm

g.ThinLamina=lessthan3mm

2.Massive(Structureless)Beds(Text,p.97*orp.82**orp.71***)
arehomogeneousandlackinternalstructures
maybeduetobioturbation,rapiddeposition,diageneticeffects,constantdepositional
conditions

3.GradedBedding
withverticalchangesingrainsize
ifgrainsizefinesupwarditiscalledNormalGrading(mostcommonsituation;Text,p.96*or
p.81**orp.70***)
ifcoarsenupwardiscalledReverseGrading

a.TurbidityCurrents
wheretwofluidsofdifferentdensitiesmix,themoredensefluidmovesbelowthelessdense
one

b.Flysch
sand/shalecycles
 SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE2

c.BoumaSequence(Text,p.52*orp.43**orp.37***)
idealturbiditesequence;characteristicofdeepmarineenvironments

Consistsofthefollowinglayers:
E.shaleylayerduetosuspensionsettling
D.parallelsiltlaminae(suspension)
C.rippledcrosslaminatedfinetoveryfinesand(lowerpartoflowerflowregime)
B.Parallellaminatedsand(planebed)
A.Massiveorgradedsandlayer(upperflowregime);withSoleMarksatbase

Withincreasingdistancefromthesourceofsediments,thereisaprogressivelossofunits(A
first,etc.)andlosechannels,flutes,groovesandtoolsinsuccession

d.SoleMarks(Text,pp.110113*orp.98101**orpp.8487***)
positivereliefcastslocatedonthebaseofbeds;cohesivefinesedimentsubstrateiserodedand
the"mold"isinfilledwithcoarsesilt/sand

d1.Toolmarks
madebyobjectsmovingalongbottom

Groovemarks(casts)madebytools(orcurrents?);elongate,nearlystraightridgesdueto
infilling"groove"createdbytooldragoverfinesedimentbottom

Bounce,Brush,Prod,RollandSkipMarksproducedbytoolsthatmakeintermittentcontact
withthebottom;somemaybeusedtodeterminepaleocurrentdirections

d2.Flutemarks(casts)
madebycurrents;elongatecastsupto20cmormoreinwidth,upto10cminheightanduptoa
meterormorelong;bluntendpointsupcurrent

B.BedformsduetoUnidirectionalFlow(Text,pp.3843*orp.8185**orpp.7178***)

1.FlowRegimes
relationshipsamongstreamofwater,shapeofwater/sedimentinterface,typeoftransport,
energyconditions,phaserelationships

a.LowerFlowRegime
withfroudenumberslessthanone

Withanincreaseinfroudenumbersfromzero,thefollowingsequenceofbedformsarecreated:

a1.Flatbed
 SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE3

onlyafewparticlesmove

a2.Ripples
smallscale(1030cmlongand0.63cmhigh);grainswithdiameterlessthan0.6mm;water
movesfasterthan20cm/sec

a3.SandWaves
developfromrippleswherethereisaflowspeedgreaterthan50cm/secorfromplanebeds
withsedimentscoarserthan0.6mm
sandwavesaresmallifthereisshallowflow(lessthan0.5meters)ormaybe15metersor
morelongand12metershigh(largesandwavesformifthewaterdepthisgreaterthan4.7
metersandtheseareoftentermedMegaripples/Dunes;Text,p.98*orp.88**orp.76***)
theremayalsoberipplesonsandwaves,ifthereisfinesandandbackfloweddies
theangleofreposeisatapproximately30degreesforripplesandsandwaves(butwatchoutfor
collapseofstructuresanddecreaseinangleofforesets)

a4.WashedOutSandWaves
froudenumberslightlylessthanone;dipof"foresets"lessthan10degrees

b.UpperFlowRegime
froudenumbergreaterthanone

b1.Planebeds
thesediment/waterinterfacebecomesflatandthesedimentsflowasaseriesofsheets

b2.Antidunes
roundedmounds;maybestableormigrateupcurrenttodepositupcurrentdippingforesets

2.Crossbeds
withlayersdepositedatanangletotheboundingsurfacesofthebed
inclinedForesetsareduetoavalanchingorsuspensionsettlingontheleesidesofthebedforms
(ripples,sandwaves,etc.)
crossbedsareTangentialtothebottomsetlaminaeandareTruncatedbythenextbed(thismay
beusedfordetermining"rightsideup"intectonicallydeformedbeds)

a.TabularCrossbeds(Text,pp.100102*orpp.8990**orpp.7778***)
arerelativelybroadbedswithplanarforesets
formedprimarilybymigrationoflargescaleripples

b.TroughCrossbeds(Text,pp.100102*orpp.8990**orpp.7778***)
withconcaveupwardforesetsthathaveatangentialrelationshiptothebaseofthenextset

3.RippleCrossLamination(Rippledriftcrossstratification,Climbingripplelamination;Text,
 SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE4

p.103*orp.91**orp.79***)
crestsoflaminaeareoutofphaseandappeartobemigratingupslope;requiresabundant
sedimentsupplyandproducedduringrapidmigrationofcurrentripples

Inphaseripplelaminae(whereoneripplecrestliesdirectlyabovetheother)formwherethereis
abalancebetweentractiontransportandsedimentsupplysothatripplesdonotmigratedespitea
growingsedimentsurface

4.HummockyCrossbeds(Text,pp.104105*orp.93**orp.80***)
withlargeconcaveupswalesandconvexuphummocks,usuallyconsistingofcoarsesiltand
finesand;believedtobeformedduringstormsurges

5.EpsilonCrossbeds
lowangle"foreset"lookingstructuresduetolateralmigrationofpointbars

C.Ripples

1.Asymmetrical(Current)Ripples(p.86**orp.75***)
withsteepleesideandgentlyslopedwindward/currentside;formduetounidirectional
currents

2.Oscillation("Symmetrical")Ripples(Text,p.99*orp.87**orp.76***)
formedbybidirectionalcurrentflow;usuallyaresymmetricalincrosssectionalshape(butif
forwardandbackwardorbitalwavevelocitiesunequalmaybe"asymmetrical"shaped)

3.RippleCrossLamination
seeabove

D.PeritidalbedformsareduetoBidirectionalFlow
sanddepositedduringfloodtide;muddepositedduringfloodslack

1.FlaserBeds(Text,p.103*orp.92**orp.79***)
withthinstreaksofmudoccurringbetweensetsofsandcrosslaminations;formwherethesand
supplyisgreaterthanmudsupply

2.LenticularBeds(Text,p.104*orp.92**orp.79***)
sandlensesoccurasisolatedripplesandpodsinmud;formwheresandsupplyislessthanmud
supply

3.WavyBeds
withwavysurfacesofsandandalternatingmud;formwheresandsupplyequalsmudsupply

E.DeformationStructures
formduetodeformationofsedimentsduringorsoonafterdeposition
 SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE5

1.ConvoluteBedding/Lamination(Text,p.106*orp.94**orp.81***)
withfoldingorcrumplingofsediments(usuallysilt/sand)
probablyduetoliquifaction/dewateringofsediments

2.RecumbentForesets
foldingofforesetsduetocompaction/dewateringofsand

3.Load(BallandPillow)Structures(Text,p.107*orp.95**orp.82***)
formatthebaseofsandstone(sometimeslimestone)bedswhichloadontoliquifiedmud;some
authorsrestrictloadstructurestosmallscalefeatures(uptotensofcentimeters)andballand
pillowsaslargerstructures;ballsthatsinkintomudaretermedPseudonodules

4.FlameStructures(Text,p.106*orp.95**orp.81***)
tonguesofliquifiedmudprojectupwardintooverlyingsediments(usuallywatersaturated
sand)duetoloading

5.SandstoneDikes
formduetoforcefulinjectionofliquifiedsandintofractures;rangeinthicknessfromafew
centimeterstomorethan10meters

6.SlumpStructures(Text,p.108*)
duetodisplacementanddeformationofunconsolidatedmaterialdownslopeduetogravity;may
producechaoticbedsortightlyfoldedstructures

F.ErosionalStructures

1.Channels(Text,p.109*orp.98**orp.83***)
withUorVshapedcrosssectionandcutacrosspreexistingbedsorlaminations;rangefroma
fewmeterstomanymetersinoutcrop

2.ScourandFill(CutandFill)Structures(Text,p.110*orp.98**orp.84***)
small,asymmetricaltroughsformedbyscouring(andfillingscourswithsediments)by
currents;withlongaxespointingdowncurrentandoftenoccuringroups

3.SoleMarks
seeA.3.dabove

G.MiscellaneousBeddingPlaneMarkings

1.Mudcracks(Text,p.125*ORp.112**orp.96***)
downwardtaperingVshapedfractureswithpolygonalpatterninplanview

2.SyneresisCracks
 SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE6

shrinkagecracksformedinsubaqueousenvironmentsduetodewateringofclays

3.RaindropPrints
craterlikepitsformedbyimpactofrain

4.SaltCasts
cubiccastsduetodissolutionofsaltandinfillingofmoldsbysediment

H.Stromatolites(Text,pp.110111**orpp.9495***)
laminated,usuallyfinegrained(silt,clay,micrite)structuresduetothetrappingofsediment
uponthestickysurfaceofmucoidbluegreenalgae(cyanobacteria)

I.Ichnology(Text,pp.114122*orpp.102110**orp.8793***)
studyoftracefossils(ichnofossils,lebensspuren;=tracks,trails,andburrowsoforganisms)
tracefossilsmaybedescribedbymeansofdescriptivegeneticclassification,Ethological
classificationorbymorphology(seeichnogenerabelowandintheText,pp.117121*orpp.
104109**orpp.8893***)

Ichnogenusmorphologicaltypeofatracefossil(themorphologyofichnogenerareflectthe
environment,oftenmoresothantheircreator)

Ichnofaciescorrelationbetweendepositionalenvironmentsandtracefossilassemblages

1.Tracefossilsareusefulduetotheir:

a.longtimerange

b.narrowfaciesrange

c.nosecondarytransport

d.preferclasticsediments

2.Sedimentologicalusesoftracefossils

a.Rateofdeposition

Slow,continuousdepositioncompletebioturbation

Rapid,continuousdepositionnotracefossilsexceptescapestructures

b.Substrateconsistency
Siltyandmuddysubstrateshavedepositfeeders
 SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE7

Clean,wellsorted(highenergy)sedimentshavespecializedsuspensionfeeders

Softsubstratessoftbodiedforms

Firmsubstratescrustaceans(withclawmarks)

Hardsubstratesmechanicalorchemicalborers

c.Paleobathymetry
determiningancientwaterdepth
studiesofpaleobathemetryarethemajoruseoftracefossils

Ichnofaciesusefulfordeterminingpaleobathymetryinclude(Text,p.118*orpp.104109**or
pp.8893***):

c1.ScoyeniaIchnofacies
curvilinearrodswithwrinkledorstriatedsurfaces;horizontaltovertical;insectburrows?;
foundinnonmarineenvironments

c2.SkolithosInchofacies
intertidalenvironments(zoneofsuspensionfeeders);vertical"piperocks"insandysediments

GlossifungitesIchnofaciesearshapedspreitedevelopedonintertidalfirmmudbodies

c3.CruzianaIchnofacies
crawlingtraces(Cruziana)orinclinedspreitefilledUshapedburrows(Rhizocorallium)
developedonthecontinentalshelf(zoneofgeneralizedsedimentfeeders)

c4.ZoophycosIchnofacies
largespreitefilledfeedingloopsfoundbelowwavebaseandaboveturbiditezone(zoneof
churners;alsowithwormlikePhycosiphoninmuds)

c5.NereitesIchnofacies
zoneofsystematicgrazersandfarmerswithdenselymeanderinghorizontalfeedingtraces
(Nereites)orleafliketraces(Oldhamia);zoneofsystematicgrazersandfarmers

II.Secondary(Chemical)Structures

formedbytheprecipitationofmineralsubstanceswithintheporesofsedimentsorsedimentary
rocks,orbymeansofchemicalreplacement

A.Concretions(Text,p.127*orp.152**orp.128***)
pureordominantlysinglemineralsegregationswhichappeartohavereplacedthesurrounding
sediment
 SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE8

1.Calcareousconcretions
variedshapedbodiesduetolocalizationofcarbonatecementinsediments

2.ChickenwireStructures(Text,p.213*orp.201**orp.171***)
gypsumandanhydritenodulespushapartthesurroundingsediments

B.Nodules
formedbyfillingvoidsinthesedimentandincorporationofsedimentarymaterialswithinthe
sedimentarybody

1.ChertNodules(Text,p.222*orp.210**orp.178***)
microcrystallinequartz;typicallyfoundalongbeddingplanesinlimestone

2.ClayIronstones
consistofmicrocrystallinesideriteandclay;commonlyfoundinblackshaleassociatedwith
deltaicsequences

3.Septaria
largenoduleswithradialandconcentriccracksintheircenters

Melikariaareboxworkpatternsofmaterialfillingseptariancracks;maybeallthatisleftafter
weatheringoftheseptaria

4.Rosettes
radiatingmacrocrystallinebodiesofdiscoidalorsphericalshape,consistingessentiallyofone
mineral(typicallypyrite,marcasite,barite,orgypsum)

5.Geodes
hollowsubsphericalbodieswitharindofchalcedony/micriteandfilledwithcrystals(usually
quartz/sparitebutrarelywithsulfides)

6.GeopetalStructures
thelowerpartofahollowgrain(esp.fossils)becomesfilledwithmicrite(limemud),theupper
partwithcrystallinecalcite(sparite);canbeusedtodeterminewhichwayisupintectonically
deformedunits

7.StromatactisStructure
infillingofflatbottomedcavities;withirregulartops;commonlyoccuralongdiscretehorizons
inlimestonesequences(ofteninmicrite"mudmounds")

C.SolutionStructures

1.Stylolite(Text,p.128*orp.194**orp.163***)
 SEDIMENTARYSTRUCTURESLAB,PAGE9

interpenetratingtoothlikestructuresinlimestones;approximatelyparalleltobedding;formed
throughdissolutionandcompactionoflimestone

2.ConeinCone(Text,p.128*)
calcareousstructuresinshalethatresemblestacksoficecreamcones;arebelievedtoformdue
tostressfieldsetupbythegrowthoftheconcretionarycement

D.Dendrites
chemicalstructuresresemblingplantleavesorstemsduetoprecipitationofprecipitates
(especiallymanganeseoxides)alongbeddingplanesorfractures