Post on 16-Dec-2015
Sedimentary Geology186-455
Introduction
Professor
Bruce Hart
Earth and Planetary Sciences, FDA 332, Telephone: 398-3677
e-mail: hart@eps.mcgill.ca Office Hours: By appointment
T.A.s
Tim McCullagh (timothy.mccullagh@mcgill.ca)
Dirk Schumann (schumann@eps.mcgill.ca)
Time Classes: Monday and Wednesday,
11:30am-12:30pm, FDA 348-49 Laboratories: Wednesday, 2:30-
5:30pm, FDA 348-49 N.B. Two field trips will be held
during term, requiring extended time periods on these days (to be discussed in class).
Grading
30 % laboratory exercises/field reports
10 % term projects/presentations 0-20 % mid-term examination 40-60 % final examination
Academic Integrity
McGill University values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures (see http://www.mcgill.ca/integrity for more information).
Text
Boggs, S. Jr., Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice Hall, 4th edition
Why Sedimentary Geology?
Resources Most of the world’s energy supply
comes from fossil fuels derived from sedimentary rocks
Mineral deposits (e.g., stratabound ores, MVT deposits)
Water in aquifers Construction materials
The Hydrocarbon Society
In 2001, about 39% of Canada's primary energy production was from natural gas, followed by oil (25%), hydropower (20%), coal (11%), and nuclear power (5%) ~3/4 from sedimentary rocks
Oil is the world’s most important energy source (~36% of total consumption)
Why Sedimentary Geology?
Employment
Why Sedimentary Geology?
Earth and Life History Sedimentary record contains
information about past tectonic movements, sea-level change, climates, etc.
Sedimentary record hosts the history of life on Earth
Sponge
Encrusting algae
Marine cement
Capitan Limestone Reef Reconstruction
Why Sedimentary Geology?
Environment Sedimentary record contains most of
what we know about global change on geologic timeframes
Modern sediments can record recent physical/chemical/biological environmental changes
Geosphere<->biosphere interactions Contaminants in aquifers
Why Sedimentary Geology?
Hazards/Engineering Sediment transport/erosion affect
engineering works (e.g., harbours, navigation routes)
Sediment transport/erosion affect structural stability
Sediment texture (e.g., grain size) affects mechanical properties
Slope instability
Mis
siss
ipp
i D
elta
It was predicted: "When we get the big hurricane
and there are 10,000 people dead, the city government's been relocated to the north shore of Lake Ponchartrain, refugee camps have been set up and there $10 billion plus in losses, what then?"
Shea Penland, Geologist, Dec. 2000
Why Sedimentary Geology?
Book Cliffs, Utah
Reef front – Red Sea
100 msec
One km
Posamentier, 2005Posamentier, 2005
Course Objectives
Teach basic concepts of sedimentary geology Stuff all geologists should know
Sediment transport Sedimentary structures Rock types Diagenesis Depositional environments Etc.
Course Objectives
Introduce advanced topics in sedimentary geology Get you interested in other courses
Field camp(s) Sequence stratigraphy/basin analysis Subsurface mapping