Geology 627 sec. 01 Sedimentology/Stratigraphy
Instructor: Dr. Colin D. Sumrall
Office: 101
Phone: 862-3168
e-mail: csumral@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu
Book: Sedimentary Geology - an Introduction to Sedimentary Rocks and Stratigraphy, by Prothero and Schwab.
Aug 27 Introduction to sedimentary rocks, p. 3-17
Aug 29 Facies, Walther's law, and related concepts, p. 327-330
Sep 1 NO CLASS (Labor day )
Sep 3 Clastic transport and fluid flow, p. 27-41
Sep 5 Sedimentary structures (Physical), p. 43-48
Sep 8 Sedimentary structures (Biogenic), p. 58-65
Sep 10 Sandstone and conglomerate, p. 69-101
Sep 12 Mud Rocks, p. 103-119
Sep 15 Siliciclastic diagenesis, p. 121-135
Sep 17 Glacial deposition, Outside reading
Sep 19 Eolian depositional systems, p. 157-167
Sep 22 Alluvial sedimentation, p. 137-142
Sep 24 Fluvial sedimentation, p. 142-155
Sep 26 Deltas, p. 169-180
Sep 29 Peritidal environments and barrier complexes, p. 180-195
Oct 1 Shelf slope and basin terrigenous sedimentation, p. 198-227
Oct 3 Test I
Oct 6 Biotic and abiotic formation of carbonate, p. 231-237
Oct 8 Carbonate rock classification, p. 237-249
Oct 10 Carbonate diagenesis, p. 245-249
Oct 13 Dolomite, p. 249-253
Oct 15 Cyclic deposition of carbonate, Outside reading
Oct 17 Sabkha systems, p. 255-262
Oct 20 GSA guest lecturer, TBA
Oct 22 GSA guest lecturer, TBA
Oct 24 Carbonate shelf facies, p. 262-270
Oct 27 Reefs and buildups, p. 270-281
Oct 29 Non-carbonate biogenic sedimentary rocks, p. 283-295
Oct 31 Chert, Outside reading
Nov 3 Chemical sedimentary rocks, p. 297-322
Nov 5 Pelagic carbonate and siliceous sedimentation, Outside reading
Nov 7 Test II Nov 10 Basin analysis, p. 459-474
Nov 12 Cratonic sedimentation, p. 474-478
Nov 14 Lacustrine depositional systems, p. 155-157
Nov 17 Divergent and convergent margin sedimentation, p. 478-492
Nov 19 Temporal changes in sedimentation, p. 492-496
Nov 21 Lithostratigraphy, p. 327-367
Nov 24 Biostratigraphy, p. 369-385
Nov 26 NO CLASS (Thanksgiving)
Dec 1 Geophysical and Chemostratigraphic correlation, p. 387-392, 417-421
Dec 3 Sequence stratigraphy, p. 392-417
Dec 5 Geochronology and chronostratigraphy, p. 423-457
Dec ? Final Exam
Aug 28 Introduction to the lab
Sep 4 Sedimentary structures
Sep 11 Terrigenous sediments
Sep 18 Course grained sedimentary rocks
Sep 25 Terrigenous rocks and environments
Oct 2 Coarsening and fining sequences in terrigenous rocks
Oct 9 Carbonate grains
Oct 16 Carbonate rocks
Oct 23 NO LAB (GSA)
Oct 30 Carbonate diagenesis
Nov 6 Temporal changes in carbonates
Nov 13 My own personal rock lab part 1
Nov 20 My own personal rock lab part 2
Nov 27 NO LAB (Thanksgiving)
Dec 4 Lab Practical
The class will be divided into a lecture and laboratory. Your grade will be based on the following:
Test I 25%, Test II 25%, Final Exam 25%, Lab Assignments 15%, Lab Practical 10%
Tests will consist of short answer, compare and contrast, diagram the following, problem solving, and other similar types of questions. The tests will not be cumulative, except that in a course such as this, new knowledge is built upon existing knowledge (questions involving stratigraphy of sandstone and limestone obviously require knowing what sandstone and limestone are). Outside readings will be assigned weekly and discussion of these papers will be done in the lab. In addition, there well be one or two weekend field trips (dates yet to be assigned) to show you what depositional environments look like in the "REAL WORLD." Start considering your schedule and when these mandatory field trips will be most convenient. The field trip schedule needs to be finalized VERY soon.