Sedimentary Environments Processes, Facies and Stratigraphy

by Reading, Harold G.

• ISBN13: 9780632036271
• ISBN10: 0632036273
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-12-09
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Sedimentary Environments is one of the most distinguished and influential textbooks in the earth sciences published in the last 20 years. The first and second editions both won universal praise and became classic works in sedimentology. Since the publication of the last edition, the study of sedimentary environments and facies has made great strides, with major advances in facies modelling, sequence stratigraphy and basin modelling. The 3rd edition of this classic text will likely set the benchmark even higher, and needless to say, will continue being the textbook of choice for sedimentology students. The latest edition of a classic text. Incorporates all the latest advances in dynamic stratigraphy. Will remain the textbook of choice for upper level undergraduate and graduate students in sedimentology.

Author Biography

Harold G. Reading is the author of Sedimentary Environments: Processes, Facies and Stratigraphy, 3rd Edition, published by Wiley.

Table of Contents

Contributors	xi
Preface	xiii
Introduction	1	(4)
H.G. Reading
Development of sedimentology and sedimentary geology	1	(1)
Scope and philosophy of this book	2	(1)
Organization of the book	3	(2)
Controls on the sedimentary rock record	5	(32)
H.G. Reading
B.K. Levell
Controlling factors	5	(13)
Sediment supply	5	(1)
Terrigenous systems	5	(1)
Biochemical and chemical systems	6	(1)
Climate	7	(4)
Tectonic movements and subsidence	11	(1)
Sea-level changes	11	(3)
Milankovitch processes and orbital forcing	14	(1)
Intrinsic sedimentary processes	15	(1)
Physical processes	15	(1)
Biological activity	16	(1)
Water chemistry	16	(1)
Volcanic activity	16	(1)
Normal vs. catastrophic sedimentation	17	(1)
Rates of sedimentation and preservation potential	17	(1)
Facies and sequences	18	(3)
Rock facies definitions	19	(1)
Facies relationships, associations and sequences	20	(1)
Facies in the subsurface	21	(4)
Seismic facies	22	(1)
Seismic-stratigraphic units and seismic sequences	22	(1)
Rocks from the subsurface	22	(1)
Wireline logs and log facies	23	(2)
Sequence stratigraphy	25	(10)
Models	35	(2)
Alluvial sediments	37	(46)
J.D. Collinson
Introduction	37	(1)
Alluvial processes	38	(4)
Erosional processes	38	(1)
Transport and depositional processes	38	(2)
Postdepositional alteration and pedogenesis	40	(2)
Present-day alluvial settings	42	(19)
River channel classification and controls	42	(2)
Coarse-grained bedload rivers	44	(1)
Sandy bedload rivers	45	(4)
Mixed-load rivers	49	(4)
Suspended-load rivers	53	(1)
Overbank areas	53	(1)
Levees and crevasse splays	53	(1)
Floodplains	54	(1)
Soils and their distribution	55	(2)
Alluvial fans	57	(2)
Gravity-flow fans	59	(1)
Fluvial fans	59	(2)
Terminal fans	61	(1)
Ancient alluvial sediments	61	(1)
Alluvial facies	61	(8)
Conglomeratic facies	62	(2)
Sandstone channel facies	64	(2)
Fine-grained facies	66	(1)
Palaeosols	67	(1)
Biological and biochemical sediment	68	(1)
Larger-scale geometry, organization and controls	69	(14)
Bounding surfaces	69	(1)
Architectural elements	69	(2)
Fan conglomerates	71	(1)
Channel conglomerates	72	(1)
Channel sandbodies	73	(3)
Overbank sequences and palaeosols	76	(2)
Channel-overbank relationships	78	(1)
Coal in alluvial settings	79	(1)
Incised palaeovalleys	80	(1)
Ephemeral stream and terminal fan deposits	81	(2)
Lakes	83	(42)
M.R. Talbot
P.A. Allen
Introduction	83	(1)
Diversity of present-day lakes	84	(1)
Properties of lake water	84	(1)
Kinetics of lake water	85	(3)
Surface waves	85	(2)
Currents in lakes	87	(1)
Seiches	87	(1)
Chemistry of lake waters	88	(1)
Clastic sedimentation	89	(3)
Beaches and other nearshore zones	89	(1)
Deltas	90	(1)
Offshore zones	91	(1)
Chemical and biochemical sedimentation	92	(8)
Lacustrine carbonates	92	(1)
Inorganic precipitation	93	(1)
Biogenic carbonate production	94	(2)
Siliceous deposits	96	(1)
Iron-rich deposits	97	(1)
Saline minerals	97	(3)
Organic matter	100	(1)
Rhythmites	100	(2)
Lake-level changes	102	(2)
Ancient lake deposits	104	(2)
Criteria for recognition of ancient lake deposits	105	(1)
Ancient lacustrine facies	106	(1)
Ancient clastic-dominated basins	106	(4)
Lakes with steep margins	106	(1)
The Ridge Basin Group	106	(2)
Wave-dominated lakes	108	(1)
The Kap Stewart Formation	108	(1)
Shallow, low-relief basins	109	(1)
The Mercia Mudstone Group	109	(1)
Ancient carbonate-dominated basins	110	(3)
Low energy water bodies	110	(2)
High energy margins	112	(1)
The Glenns Ferry Formation	112	(1)
Microbial build-ups	112	(1)
The Chalk Hills Formation	112	(1)
Mixed clastic-carbonate basins	113	(1)
The Devonian Orcadian Basin of northeast Britain	113	(1)
Evaporitic lake basins	114	(3)
The Green River Formation (Palaeogene) of Utah, Wyoming and Colorado	114	(2)
The Ebro basin (Oligocene-Miocene), Spain	116	(1)
Organic-matter-dominated basins	117	(3)
The Fort Union Formation	117	(2)
The Calaf and Mequinenza basins	119	(1)
Oil shales	119	(1)
Cycles in lake deposits	120	(3)
The Green River Formation	120	(1)
The Rubielos de Mora basin	121	(1)
The Newark Supergroup	121	(2)
Economic importance of lake deposits	123	(2)
Desert aeolian systems	125	(29)
G.A. Kocurek
Introduction	125	(1)
The desert aeolian system	126	(1)
Setting	126	(1)
Overview of processes	127	(1)
Aeolian processes and theory	127	(10)
Sediment transport	127	(1)
Dunes and airflow	128	(2)
Lee-face processes and stratification	130	(1)
Accumulation	131	(1)
Modelling of sets through space and time	132	(1)
Generation of bounding surfaces	133	(1)
Generation of aeolian sequences	134	(3)
Preservation of aeolian sequences	137	(1)
Present-day aeolian systems	137	(9)
Occurrence, accumulation and preservation	137	(2)
Variations	139	(1)
Classification of dunes	140	(2)
Dunes, airflow, stratification and cycles	142	(2)
Interdune areas	144	(1)
Sand sheets	144	(1)
Pleistocene-Holocene sequences	145	(1)
Ancient aeolian systems	146	(8)
The record	146	(1)
Sequences	146	(3)
System reconstruction	149	(3)
Dune reconstruction	152	(2)
Clastic coasts	154	(78)
H.G. Reading
J.D. Collinson
Introduction	154	(2)
Shoreline processes	156	(10)
Sediment supply	156	(1)
Sediment delivery to the basin	157	(3)
Zonation of the shoreline profile	160	(1)
Wave processes	161	(1)
Wave-induced nearshore currents	162	(1)
Fairweather vs. storm conditions	162	(2)
Tides	164	(2)
Wind	166	(1)
Gravitational processes	166	(1)
Coastal models and classifications	166	(5)
Rocky coasts	171	(1)
Coarse-grained gravel-rich coasts	172	(9)
Feeder systems	174	(1)
Reworking at the delta front	174	(1)
Resedimentation processes and slope failures	174	(1)
Coarse-grained coastal facies associations	175	(1)
Controls on coarse-grained coastal systems and sequences	176	(2)
Ancient coarse-grained coastal depositional systems	178	(1)
Coarse-grained systems in low-energy basins	178	(1)
Wave-affected coarse-grained systems	179	(2)
River deltas	181	(29)
Delta plain	183	(2)
Delta front	185	(1)
Prodelta	186	(1)
Deformational features on delta front and prodelta slope	187	(1)
Shallow-water resedimentation processes	187	(2)
Deep-water resedimentation processes	189	(1)
Delta facies sequences and their boundaries	190	(1)
Progradational sequences	191	(2)
Transgressive sequences, the abandonment phase	193	(4)
Ancient river deltas	197	(1)
Ancient fluvial-dominated and fluvial - wave-interaction deltas	197	(5)
Ancient wave-dominated deltas	202	(4)
Ancient tide-dominated deltas	206	(2)
Ancient delta deformation	208	(2)
Non-deltaic siliciclastic coasts	210	(22)
Beach-ridge strandplains	210	(1)
Chenier plains	211	(2)
Tidal flats	213	(1)
Barrier-island/lagoons	213	(3)
Estuaries	216	(3)
Coastal sequences	219	(1)
Progradational sequences	219	(1)
Transgressive sequences	220	(1)
Incised-valley sequences	221	(4)
Ancient non-deltaic siliciclastic coasts	225	(1)
Ancient progradational sequences	226	(2)
Ancient transgressive sequences	228	(4)
Shallow clastic seas	232	(49)
H.D. Johnson
C.T. Baldwin
Introduction	232	(3)
Definition	232	(1)
Historical background	233	(2)
Clastic shelf models and classification	235	(4)
Process-response models and shelf hydraulic regimes	235	(1)
Dynamic stratigraphic models	236	(2)
Modern vs. ancient shelf seas	238	(1)
Modern tide-dominated shallow seas	239	(6)
Tides and tidal currents	239	(1)
Tide-dominated sand deposition	240	(1)
Tidal current transport paths: processes, bedforms and facies	240	(3)
Offshore tidal sandridges	243	(2)
Modern wave- and storm-dominated shallow seas	245	(6)
Wave- and storm-generated processes	245	(1)
Storm-dominated deposition on transgressive shelves	246	(2)
Characteristics of modern shelf storm deposits	248	(1)
Hydrodynamic models of modern shelf storm deposits	249	(2)
Modern oceanic current-dominated shelves	251	(2)
Modern mud-dominated shelves	253	(4)
Ancient shallow clastic seas: facies recognition and interpretation	257	(11)
Ancient tide-dominated offshore facies	257	(2)
Sedimentary structures and facies in offshore tidal deposits	259	(4)
Ancient wave- and storm-dominated offshore facies	263	(1)
Sedimentary structures and facies in wave- and storm-dominated deposits	263	(2)
Ancient offshore storm sand models	265	(1)
Ancient mud-dominated offshore facies	266	(1)
Shelf mudstone facies oxygenation models	267	(1)
Ancient offshore shallow marine clastic sedimentation patterns: interaction of physical processes and relative sea-level fluctuations	268	(13)
Tide-storm interaction on Late Precambrian and Lower Palaeozoic shelves	268	(2)
Offshore tide-storm depositional models	270	(2)
Sand supply to Late Precambrian-Lower Palaeozoic shelves	272	(1)
Shallow marine sand deposition in an elongate, intracratonic rift basin: Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous of Greenland	272	(2)
Shallow marine sand deposition along an active fault-controlled shelf margin: Bohemian Cretaceous Basin, Central Europe	274	(2)
`Offshore bars' vs. lowstand shoreface deposits in the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America	276	(1)
Sandbody characteristics	276	(1)
`Offshore bar' facies model	276	(1)
Shoreface sequences in relation to relative changes in sea level	277	(4)
Marine evaporites: arid shorelines and basins	281	(44)
A.C. Kendall
G.M. Harwood
Introduction	281	(2)
Conditions of marine evaporite formation	283	(4)
Marine brines and their precipitates	283	(1)
Climatic controls on sea-water evaporation	284	(1)
Controls on evaporite deposition within basins	285	(2)
General features of evaporites	287	(2)
Basin-marginal and basin-central evaporites	287	(1)
Brine depths and evaporite facies	288	(1)
Sabkhas	289	(6)
Sabkha evaporite facies	290	(1)
Modern supratidal sabkhas	291	(3)
Modern depression sabkhas	294	(1)
Shallow-water evaporites	295	(8)
Shallow-water evaporite facies	295	(1)
Evaporative carbonates	295	(1)
Gypsum crusts	295	(1)
Clastic gypsum	296	(1)
Halite	297	(1)
Potash salts	297	(1)
Modern salinas and Holocene salina sequences	298	(5)
Deep-water evaporites	303	(4)
Deep-water evaporite facies	303	(1)
The Dead Sea--a modern deep-water evaporite basin	304	(3)
Ancient sabkha/salina evaporites	307	(3)
Ancient basin-marginal platform evaporites	310	(2)
Ancient basin-central evaporites	312	(6)
Evaporites and sequence stratigraphy	318	(7)
Basin-marginal evaporites	318	(2)
Basin-central evaporites	320	(5)
Shallow-water carbonate environments	325	(70)
V.P. Wright
T.P. Burchette
Introduction	325	(2)
History of research	325	(1)
The role of organisms in carbonate systems	326	(1)
Major components of carbonate sediments	326	(1)
Controls on carbonate production and sedimentation	327	(4)
Variations in carbonate production and accretion	328	(2)
Sea-level changes and carbonate production/accumulation	330	(1)
Carbonate platforms	331	(17)
Epeiric platforms	331	(2)
Isolated platforms	333	(1)
Modern example--Great Bahama Bank	333	(2)
Ancient example--The Triassic of the Dolomites, Italy	335	(2)
Shelves	337	(3)
Ramps	340	(6)
Drowned platforms	346	(2)
Carbonate depositional environments	348	(30)
Platform interiors (low energy)	348	(1)
Shoreline deposystems	349	(3)
Peritidal cyclothems and stacking	352	(3)
Platform interior (high-energy) and platform margin carbonate sandbodies	355	(1)
Platform interior sandbodies	355	(2)
Platform margin sandbodies	357	(3)
Offshore carbonate deposystems	360	(1)
Carbonate slope deposystems	361	(1)
Carbonate slope types	362	(3)
Lithofacies	365	(1)
Facies models	365	(1)
Carbonate fans	365	(1)
Slope aprons and base-of-slope aprons	366	(2)
Reefs	368	(1)
Reef classification	368	(1)
Reef processes	369	(1)
Controls on reef growth	370	(2)
Reef facies and environments	372	(4)
Reefs vs. sea level	376	(2)
Carbonate platforms and relative sea-level changes	378	(17)
General controls on carbonate sequence geometry	378	(1)
Carbonates vs. siliciclastic systems	378	(1)
Productivity variations with sea-level changes	379	(2)
Sequence and parasequence stacking patterns	381	(2)
Ramps	383	(1)
Systems tracts	383	(2)
Rimmed shelves	385	(1)
Systems tracts	386	(1)
Isolated build-ups	387	(1)
Systems tracts	388	(1)
Relative sea-level lowstands--carbonate, evaporite and siliciclastic sediment partitioning	389	(3)
Evolutionary trends between platform types	392	(3)
Deep seas	395	(59)
D.A.V. Stow
H.G. Reading
J.D. Collinson
Introduction	395	(2)
Processes and products	397	(21)
Pelagic and hemipelagic sedimentation	397	(1)
Pelagic fallout	397	(2)
Pelagites	399	(2)
Hemipelagic advection	401	(1)
Hemipelagites	402	(1)
Cyclicity and the Milankovitch mechanism	402	(1)
Black shales and their origin	403	(1)
Semi-permanent ocean bottom currents (contour currents)	404	(1)
Contourites	405	(2)
Resedimentation processes and deposits	407	(1)
Rock falls	408	(1)
Sediment creep	408	(1)
Slides and slumps	408	(2)
Debris flows	410	(2)
Liquified and fluidized flows	412	(1)
Turbidity currents	413	(2)
Turbidites	415	(3)
Facies description	418	(1)
Deep-water clastic systems	418	(29)
Controls on deep-water sedimentation	418	(1)
Classifications, terminology, elements and sequences	419	(1)
Hierarchical schemes and elements	420	(4)
An environmental classification	424	(1)
Submarine fans	424	(10)
Submarine ramps	434	(4)
Slope aprons	438	(4)
Basin plains	442	(3)
Contourite drifts	445	(2)
Deep-water pelagic and hemipelagic systems	447	(7)
Ocean basins and abyssal hills	448	(2)
Continental margins, banks and basins	450	(1)
Chalk	451	(3)
Glacial sediments	454	(31)
J.M.G. Miller
Introduction	454	(1)
Characteristics of glaciers	455	(2)
Mass balance	455	(1)
Thermal regime	455	(1)
Types of glaciers	456	(1)
Processes	457	(3)
Mechanics of ice flow	457	(1)
Glacial erosion	457	(1)
Glacial sediment transport	458	(1)
Glacial deposition	458	(1)
Glaciotectonism	459	(1)
Related processes: water, resedimentation, wind	459	(1)
Modern glacial environments and facies	460	(9)
Subglacial zone	460	(1)
Supraglacial zone	461	(1)
Ice-contact proglacial zone	461	(2)
Glaciofluvial environments	463	(1)
Glaciolacustrine environments	463	(2)
Glaciomarine environments	465	(3)
Periglacial zone	468	(1)
Ancient glacial facies	469	(14)
Characteristics and recognition	469	(1)
Glacio-eustasy and glacio-isostasy	469	(3)
Glacial facies zones	472	(1)
Terrestrial glacial facies zones	472	(1)
Marine glacial facies zones	473	(2)
Stratigraphic architecture	475	(1)
Ancient glacial facies associations	476	(1)
Terrestrial associations	477	(3)
Marine associations	480	(3)
Ice ages in Earth history	483	(2)
Volcanic environments	485	(83)
G.J. Orton
Introduction	485	(3)
Development of concepts	486	(2)
Distribution and products of volcanism	488	(3)
Relation to global tectonic processes	488	(1)
Types of magma and their origin	489	(2)
Magmatic processes and their effect	491	(2)
The physical behaviour of magma	492	(1)
Ascent and storage of magma	492	(1)
Eruption processes and facies	493	(20)
Volcanic fragmentation processes and their products	493	(5)
The eruption and dispersal of pyroclastic sediment	498	(4)
Pyroclastic fall	502	(1)
Pyroclastic gravity currents: flow and surge deposits	503	(1)
Pyroclastic transport and deposition: general considerations	504	(1)
Subaerial pyroclastic surges	505	(2)
Subaerial pyroclastic flows	507	(1)
Subaqueous pyroclastic flows	508	(1)
Lava flows	509	(1)
Explosion craters, calderas and volcanotectonic basins	510	(2)
Caldera facies	512	(1)
Caldera tectonics	513	(1)
Sedimentary processes in volcanic terranes	513	(7)
Volcanic landslides and debris avalanches	513	(3)
Lahars	516	(4)
Coastal processes	520	(1)
The stratigraphic record of volcanism	520	(6)
Syn-eruptive versus inter-eruptive periods	521	(3)
Geometry of volcanic successions and their controls	524	(2)
Classification of volcaniclastic deposits	526	(2)
Volcanic landforms	528	(1)
Monogenetic basaltic volcanoes	529	(5)
Scoria cones and lava fields	530	(1)
Tuff rings and maars	530	(2)
Tuff cones	532	(2)
Flood-basalt volcanic fields	534	(1)
Monogenetic silicic volcanoes	534	(2)
Polygenetic basaltic volcanoes	536	(7)
Oceanic spreading ridges and abyssal plains	537	(3)
Oceanic seamounts and lava-shields	540	(3)
Oceanic plateaux and aseismic ridges	543	(1)
Polygenetic intermediate volcanoes	543	(19)
Sites of deposition	544	(2)
Effect of regional stress regime	546	(2)
Types of intermediate volcano	548	(1)
Subaerial convergent-margin sedimentation	549	(1)
High-standing stratovolcanoes without calderas	549	(3)
Intermediate caldera volcanoes	552	(2)
Marine sedimentation within and adjacent to volcanic arcs	554	(1)
Deep-sea trenches	555	(1)
Forearc basins	556	(3)
Island arcs and intra-arc basins	559	(1)
Backarc basins	560	(2)
Polygenetic silicic volcanoes	562	(2)
Analysis of ancient volcanic successions	564	(4)
Reconstructing volcanic landscapes	564	(2)
Facies models in volcanic settings	566	(2)
Problems and perspectives	568	(6)
H.G. Reading
Historical review	568	(1)
Economic aspects	569	(1)
Environmental aspects	570	(1)
Future studies	570	(4)
References	574	(94)
Index	668