Department of Petroleum Geology & Sedimentology,
Faculty of Earth Sciences,
King Abdulaziz University,
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
EPS 421
CLASTIC SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
Lecture 01: General plan of the course,
References, Introduction on the rock cycle,
Economic Importance of Sedimentary Rocks
Prof. Dr. Mahmoud A. M. Aref
Syllabus for the Lectures Course
EPS 421: Clastic sedimentary rocks
„
Lecture 1: Introduction on the rock cycle, Clastic sedimentary
rocks, General plan of the course, References, Economic
Importance of Sedimentary Rocks
„
Lecture 2: Classification of clastic sedimentary rocks, Weathering,
Sediment, and Sedimentary Rocks.
„
Lecture 3: Sediment Texture; grain size and grain size parameter,
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Lecture 4: Grain morphology, grain-surface texture, grain fabric,
textural maturity).
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Lecture 5: Primary sedimentary structures – part I: erosional,
depositional and post-depositional. Monthly Test No. 1.
„
Lecture 6: Primary sedimentary structures – part II: erosional,
depositional and post-depositional. Distribution of the report.
„
Lecture 7: Detrital components of clastic sediments, compositional
maturity.
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Syllabus for the Lectures Course
EPS 421: Clastic sedimentary rocks (Continue …)
„
Lecture 8: Classification of conglomerates and breccias; part I, Monthly
Test No.2.
„
Lecture 9: Classification of conglomerates and breccias; part II.
„
Lecture 10: Classification of sandstones (arenites, arkoses, litharenites,
greywackes).
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Lecture 11: Sandstone provenance and tectonic setting.
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Lecture 12: Sandstone diagenesis (compaction, cementation, authigenesis,
porosity and permeability). Monthly Test No. 3
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Lecture 13: Mudrocks; Introduction, textures and structures..
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Lecture 14: Mineral constituents of mudrocks, diagenesis of clay minerals
and mudrocks. (Receiving the report).
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Lecture 15: Volcaniclastic sediments; composition, classification and
diagenesis.
„
Lecture 16: Final Exam.
EPS 421 Lecture 01
References
„
1) M. Tucker (2001). Sedimentary Petrology. 3rd edition, Blackwell
Publishing Company
„
2) F. J. Pettijohn, Potter and R. Siever, (1987). Sand and Sandstones.
2nd edition, Springer-Verlag,
Additional References
„
1) J. R. Marshall (1987). Clastic particles. Van Nostrand Reinhold,
New York
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http://www.sepm.org/
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http://jsedres.sepmonline.org/
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http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0037-0746
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http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/235/d
escription#description
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Rock Cycle
™
™
Shows the interrelationships among the three rock types
Earth as a system: the rock cycle
• Magma
• Crystallization
• Igneous rock
• Weathering, transportation, and deposition
• Sediment
• Lithification
• Sedimentary rock
• Metamorphism
• Metamorphic rock
• Melting
• Magma
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Rock Cycle
™
Earth as a system: the rock cycle
•
Full cycle does not always take place due to "shortcuts" or
interruptions
•
e.g., Sedimentary rock melts
•
e.g., Igneous rock is metamorphosed
•
e.g., Sedimentary rock is weathered
•
e.g., Metamorphic rock weathers
EPS 421 Lecture 01
CLASSIFICATION OF ROCKS
Rock-forming
process
Source of
material
IGNEOUS
SEDIMENTARY
METAMORPHIC
Molten materials in
deep crust and
upper mantle
Weathering and
erosion of rocks
exposed at surface
Rocks under high
temperatures
and pressures in
deep crust
Crystallization
(Solidification of melt)
Sedimentation, burial
and lithification
Recrystallization due to
heat, pressure, or
chemically active fluids
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Relative abundance of sedimentary rocks in the Earth
™Most of the surface of the Earth is covered by sediment or sedimentary
rocks.
™Humans interact with the Earth largely at or near its surface.
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Why study clastic sediment?
Sedimentary rocks make up only 7.9% of the Earth’s crust.
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Sedimentary Rocks on Earth
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Economic Importance of Sedimentary Rocks
™Coal
™Petroleum
and
natural gas
™Sources
of iron
and aluminum
Bauxite: ore of aluminum
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Sedimentary Rock…..
1. Hide garbage and other
waste material in it.
2. Grow food on it.
3. Build structures on it.
4. Take resources from it.
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Reading the Story in
Sedimentary Rocks
„
Fossils-Remains and
Traces of Ancient Life
„
Most organisms are
uniquely adapted to their
habitat, and the structure of
fossil organisms and
comparison to any living
relatives is useful in
determining ancient
depositional environments
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Are There More Important Resources in
Sedimentary Rocks?
„
Petroleum and Natural Gas
„
„
Hydrocarbons that originate from the microscopic remains of marine
organisms
They migrate upward through porous rock until they encounter a structural
or stratigraphic trap
EPS 421 Lecture 01
Are There More Important Resources in
Sedimentary Rocks?
„
Uranium
„
„
Most uranium used in
North American nuclear
reactors comes from
carnotite, a mineral found
in sedimentary rocks
Banded Iron Formation
„
Alternating layers of
chert and iron oxide
account for most of the
iron mined today
EPS 421 Lecture 01