72 Field Sedimentology, Facies and Environments

Current ripple Bivalves Vertebrates

Claystone Limestone cross-lamination

Planar cross- Gastropods Undifferentiated

bedding fossil material
Shale Limestone
(e.g. grainstone)
Trough cross- Cephalopods Plant material
bedding

Siltstone Limestone
(e.g. wackestone) Wave ripple Brachiopods
cross-lamination Tree stumps

Horizontal Solitary corals

Mudstone Dolomite lamination Logs

Hummocky/swaley Colonial corals

cross-stratification Roots
Sandstone Gypsum or
anhydrite
Ooids
Echinoids Indicates fragmented
Peloids material

Conglomerate Halite
(clast-support) Mudcracks Crinoids Bioturbation
(moderate)

Convolute beds Foraminifera Bioturbation

Conglomerate Volcaniclastic or lamination
(matrix-support) sediment (intense)

Water escape Algae

structures Bed boundaries:
Coal Volcanic rock sharp
(lava)
gradational
Load casts Bryozoa
erosional

Chert Intrusive rock Nodules and Palaeocurrent

Stromatolites
concretions direction

Fig. 5.2 Examples of patterns and symbols used on graphic sedimentary logs.

By convention the symbols used to represent sedi-
mentary structures bear a close resemblance to the
appearance of the feature in the field or in core
(Fig. 5.2). This representation is somewhat stylised
for the sake of simplicity and, again, symbols can be
adapted to suit individual circumstances. Where
space allows symbols can be placed within the bed
but may also be drawn alongside on the right. Bed
boundaries may be sharp/erosional, where the upper
bed cuts down into the lower one, or transitional/
gradational, in which there is a gradual change
from one lithology to another. Any other details
about the succession of beds can also be recorded on
the graphic log (Fig. 5.1). Palaeocurrent data may
be presented as a series of arrows oriented in the
direction of palaeoflow measured or summarised for
a unit as a rose diagram (5.3.3) alongside the log.
Colour is normally recorded in words or abbreviations
and any further remarks or observations may be
simply written alongside the graphic log in an appro-
priate place.
5.2.2 Presentation of graphic sedimentary
logs
It is common practise to draw a log in the field and
then redraft it at a later stage. The field log can be
drawn straight on to a proforma log sheet (such as
Fig. 5.3), but it can be more convenient to draw a
sketch log in a field notebook. The field log does not
have to be drawn to scale, but the thickness of every
bed must be recorded so that a properly scaled version
of the log can be drawn later. Sketch logs in the field
notebook are also a quick and convenient way of
recording sedimentological data, even when there
are no plans to present graphic logs in a report. As
is usually the case in geology, sketches and graphical
 Graphic Sedimentary Logs 73

REFERENCE:
LIMESTONES TEXTURE

LITHOLOGY

wacke

bound
Grain size and

rud &
grain
pack
mud
SCALE

PROCESS ENVIRONMENT
other notes
INTERPRETATION INTERPRETATION
MUD SAND GRAVEL (structures,
palaeocurrents,

gran

boul
vf m vc
clay

peb
cob
silt
f c fossils, colour)

Fig. 5.3 A proforma sheet for constructing graphic sedimentary logs.