Sedimentation and Stratigraphy

Geology 5142
Dr. Thieme
Lecture 11: Facies and
Environments of Deposition
Facies
Sedimentary rocks or rock
characteristics which indicate a
particular depositional environment
Walther's Law
The vertical succession of facies in a
stratigraphic column through time
corresponds to a lateral migration of those
facies over space (also referred to as
space-time substitution)
Facies
Different sediments accumulate adjacent
to one another at the same time
Sediment facies (lithofacies) differ in
those characteristics which indicate the
depositional environment
physical (i.e. sedimentological)
chemical (salinity, pH, etc...)
The changes between adjacent lithofacies
tend to be gradual
Lithofacies
Lithofacies descriptions should include
sedimentary structures
dimensions (particularly thickness)
biogenic content (ooids, peloids, shells,
plant remains, etc... ) and its physical
condition
composition (minerals, rocks, other sed
particles)
grain size
Biofacies, Ichnofacies
Facies may also be identified and
described based upon:
the latter are most likely to directly
coincide with the lithofacies identified
Trace fossils present in the rock
(ichnofacies)
Fauna and/or flora present at the time
and place of deposition (biofacies)
Facies Models
general enough to indicate depositional
environment, but
specific enough to be applied in the
interpretation of stratigraphic sections
typically combine lithofacies, ichnofacies,
and biofacies (where applicable)
often define a lithofacies association
channel lag / overbank / buried soil are all
associated with "meandering stream" facies
Transgression (Onlap)
Regression (Offlap)
Depositional Environment
A geographic setting where sediment
is accumulating
Determines the nature of the
sediments that accumulate (grain
size, grain shape, etc.)
Depositional Environments
Continental
Dominated by erosion and deposition
associated with streams
Glacial
Wind (eolian)
Marine
Shallow (to about 200 meters)
Deep (seaward of continental
shelves)
Sedimentary Environments
Transitional (shoreline)
Tidal flats
Lagoons
Deltas
Transitional (Shoreline) Environments
Sedimentary structures tell us where we are on
the transect from mean high water across the
shoreface to offshore depositional environments
Calcite Compensation Depth (CCD)
Photic Zone -
Photosynthesis by
marine plants and
algae in the upper
part of the water
column provides
food for organisms
that build shells and
skeletons deposited
in limestones on the
sea floor.