3.

SEDIMENTARY
STRUCTURES
A key to the interpretation of
the “Depositional Setting” of
sedimentary
di t rocks
k
Sedimentaryy rocks are the pproduct
of the creation, transport,
deposition,, and diagenesis of
deposition
detritus and solutes derived from
pre--existing rocks.
pre
 Why Use Sedimentary Structures?

„ Sedimentaryy structures are used to identifyy depositional

p
setting of sedimentary rocks in conjunction with:
„ Lithology
„ Beddingg geometries
g
„ Subdividing surfaces
„ Fauna
„ Depositional setting of sedimentary rocks used to assess
& predict the fabric of the rocks at that locality
„ Extrapolate their distribution along & perpendicular to
strike or vertically within that geologic section
strike,
 Sedimentaryy Rocks
„ Detrital/Siliciclastic Sedimentary Rocks
„ conglomerates
l t & breccias
b i
„ sandstones
„ mudstones
„ Carbonate Sedimentary Rocks
„ carbonates Sedimentary
„ Other Sedimentary Rocks Structures
„ evaporites -
„ phosphates Found in All
„ organic--rich sedimentary rocks
organic
„ cherts
„ volcaniclastic rocks
 SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES
Primary
y Bedforms ((formed DURING deposition)
p )

Bed form 1. Internal Structures

1A-Plane Beds Planar laminations V i t:
Variant
1B-Ripples Ripples cross-lamination &
Small-scale cross-lamination • Swaley & Hummocky
1C-Dunes Large-scale cross-stratifications • Herringbone
• Flaser-wavy-lenticular
y
(cross bedding) • Symmetric & Asymmetric Ripple
1D Graded Bedding

2. Erosion Structures on 3. Erosion Structures on

the UNDER side the UPPER side
of beds (sole markings) of beds (sole markings)

2A-Flute casts 3A-Rill marks

2B-Tool Marks 3B-Wind erosion
Groove casts 3C-Raindrop imprints
P d marks,
Prod k bounce
b marks
k
Chevron marks

After Bjorlykke (1984)

 SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES
Secondary
y Bedforms ((formed AFTER deposition)
p )

4. Water Escape 6. Cracks

4A Dish structures 6A-Dessication mudcraks
(immediately after deposition) 6B-Shrinkage cracks, synaeresis
4B Sandstone dykes 6C-Frost cracks (polygons)
4C Sand
S d volcanoes
l

5. Load Structures
5 7. Deformation Structures
7
(inverse density gradient) (due to gravity)
5A-Load casts 7A-Slumping
5B-Ball & pillow structures G
Growth
th ffaults
lt
5C-Clay diapirs + convolute

+ Biogenic Structure
After Bjorlykke (1984)
 LAMINAE and BEDS

LAMINAE
LESS THAN 1 CM

The laminae result from changing

depositional conditions that cause
variations in:
(1) grain size,
(2) content of clay and organic material,
(3) mineral composition, or
(4) microfossil content of sediments.

BEDS
MORE THAN 1 CM
1.a. Primary Bedform:
Cross Stratification
 Cross Stratification
Bedform Hierarchyy
Cross lamination
/ ripple cross -lamination
/ small-scale cross-lamination

Cross lamination
= Mega ripples

Cross bedding
/ Large scale cross-stratification

Parallel lamination /
Parallel bedding

Cross bedding

There are two primary

sedimentary structure: cross,
parallel, (& graded)
Cross Stratification
Terminology

Fore set

B
Bottom set
 Cross Stratification
Ripple & Dune: See how they formed genetically

Let’s watch the movie …

 Cross Stratification
Ripple: Three Dimensional Form

Ripples and ripple stratification types as related to a range of flow conditions, grain size and
aggradation rate (From Harms, et al, 1975 )
Cross Stratification
Modern & Paleo feature
 Cross Stratification
Variant 1: Asymmetric Wave Ripple

L = 10 - 30m

L
= 5 - 15 M
2

Asymmetric wave ripple

breaker

Asymmetric wave ripple

= current ripple

Symmetric ripple
= wave ripple
 Cross Stratification
Variant 1: Swale & Hummocky Cross Stratification

STORM SURGE

MEAN SEA LEVEL

FAIRWEATHER WAVE BASE
HUMMOCKY DEPOSITION
STORM WAVE BASE

TURBIDITE DEPOSITION
GRADED RHYTHMITE DEPOSITION
(SIMPLE FALLOUT)
 Cross Stratification
Variant 1: Hummocky Cross Stratification
 Cross Stratification
Variant 1: Hummocky Cross Stratification
 Cross Stratification
Variant 1: Hummocky Cross Stratification
 Cross Stratification
Variant 3: Herringbone

‘Tide in’ and ‘Tide out’ are in opposite direction

Æ Wave & beach profile are in upright position

Cross Stratification
Variant 4: Structure caused by tidal
(Fl
(Flaser-Wavy-Lenticular)
W L ti l )

f
 supratidal
Cross Stratification
T
High tide level Variant 3: Structure caused by tidal
I
D
A
L
intertidal
(
(Flaser-Wavy-Lenticular))
R
A
supratidal
N
G
E
Low tide level
SALT
subtidal MARSH

MUD
intertidal FLATS Roofed
muds
MIXED
High tide
FLATS
l
levell Lenticular
subtidal
bedding
SAND
FLATS Wavy bedding

TIDAL
Low tide CHANNEL
Lateral
level accretion
bedding

Fioser
bedding

Location of Formation
• flaser beddingg - commonly
y forms in relatively
y high
g energy
gy environments ((sand flats))
• wavy bedding - commonly forms in environments that alternate frequently from higher to
lower energies (mixed flats)
• lenticular bedding - commonly forms in relatively low energy environments (mud flats)
1.b. Primary Bedform:
Non-Cross Stratification
 Traction Current
Bedforms – Parallel Structure

Note High Energy Planar Beds

Beach Face - South Carolina Foreshore Photo: G. Voulgaris

 Gravity Flow
Bouma Sequence:
q Graded Beds

Grain
Size
Fines
up
 Convolute & Slump

Fluvial Pulau Balang, East Kalimantan Bayah Fm, Sukabumi, W. Java

Deltaic for
Explorationis
t
 2. Primary Bedform:
2
Erosion Structures on
the UNDER side
of beds (sole markings)

Flute casts, Tool Marks, Groove casts,

Crescent, Prod marks, bounce marks,
Chevron marks
Erosion Structure on UNDER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Formation of Flute Cast

Erosion of bed Deposition Burial and Tectonic

lithification tilting

Subaerial Tectonic Subaerial

erosion overturning erosion
Erosion Structure on UNDER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Flute Cast
 Erosion Structure on UNDER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Tool Marks

¾The impression made on the

surface of a soft bed of sediment by
the impact of an object (tool),
(tool)

¾Or the dragging of an object over

the sediment by a current.

¾Tool marks include bounce, prod,

skip, groove, and chevron marks,
which develop by differing
interaction of the tools with the
sediment.

Fluvial
Deltaic for
Explorationis
t
Erosion Structure on UNDER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Groove Cast

Straight
g ridges
g the result of objects
j being
g dragged
gg on surface
Erosion Structure on UNDER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Groove Cast
Erosion Structure on UNDER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Groove Cast
Erosion Structure on UNDER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Crescent
Erosion Structure on UNDER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Crescent
 3. Primary Bedform:
Erosion Structures on
the UPPER side
of beds (sole markings)

Rill marks
marks, Wind erosion,
erosion
Raindrop imprints
Erosion Structure on the UPPER SIDE of BED
Sole Marking: Rain Drops
4 Secondary
4. S d B
Bedform:
df
Water Escape

Dish structures,
Sandstone dykes,
Sand volcanoes
 Secondary Structure
Water Escape: Dish Structure

Dish Structure - Pulubalang Fm

Dish Structure - Ordovician - KTy
5 Secondary
5. S d B
Bedform:
df
Load Structures

LLoadd Casts,
C t
Flame Structures,
B ll & Pillow
Ball Pill Structures,
St t
Clay Diapirs
 Secondary Structure
Load Structure: Load Cast Generation

> Sole marking generally

preserved on the lower side of
the sand layer overlying the
mud layer

¾Often associated with

turbidities with a thin layer of
coarser sediment on the top.

¾Can also be defined as a bulbous

depression formed on the base of
a bed of sediment

¾Developed by the differential

singking of the sediment,
sediment while
still soft, into less dense sediment
below.
 Secondary Structure
Load Structure: Load Cast & Flame Structure

Load Cast

Carbonate Load Cast –

Ordovician - Kty
Flame Structure
Secondary Structure
Load Structure: Flame Structure
 5 10cm
0
Secondary Structure
Load Structure: Ball & Pillow
Secondary Structure
Load Structure: Ball & Pillow
Secondary Structure
Load Structure: Ball & Pillow
 Secondary Structure
Load Structure: Ball & Pillow

Ball and Pillow in

Cincinnatian
6 Secondary
6. S d B
Bedform:
df
Cracks

Dessication mudcraks,
Shrinkage cracks,
cracks synaeresis
Frost cracks (polygons)
 Secondary Structure
Cracks: Mud Cracks

Mud Cracks – Edwards Lst - Texas

Product of desiccation & contraction of
muddy sediments Mud cracks demonstrate
drying-out of a thin layer of sediment fine
Ancient desiccation &
enough to have significant cohesion. Definite
proof of terrestrial setting or very shallow crack filling of muddy sediments
water marginal marine.
7. Secondary Bedform:
Deformation Structures

Sl
Slumping
i & Growth
G th faults
f lt
 Secondary Structure
Deformation Structures due to Gravity: Slumping

Bayah Fm, Sukabumi, W. Java

Bayah Fm, Sukabumi, W. Java

Bayah Fm, Sukabumi, W. Java

 Secondary Structure
Deformation Structures due to Gravity: Growth Fault

Gas
Oil
 Biogenic Structure
It destroyed
y the p
primaryy structures … !
Vertical & Lateral Succession
Three Types of Sediment
A
Accumulations
l ti
Vertical Change Succession

1. Progradation
Coarsening
upward
p

Lateral outbuilding, or progradation, of strata in a sea-ward direction.

Progradation can occur as a result of a sea-level rise accompanied by a high
sediment flux (causing a regression).

Example c/u:
Delta (in general), Delta front (mouth bar),
Bar (open marine), alluvial fan, crevasse
splay, submarine fan
Vertical Change Succession

2. Aggradation

Blocky

Vertical build up of a sedimentary sequence. Usually occurs when there is a relative rise
in sea level produced by subsidence and/or eustatic sea-level rise, and the rate of
sediment influx is sufficient to maintain the depositional surface at or near sea level.

Example Aggradation:
Massive, no structure: turbid / mass flow
Massive ≤1m
(sediment grain size are all the same) Æ all
to be sedimentation directly
Vertical Change Succession

3. Retrogradation
Fining upward

The movement of coastline land-ward in response to a transgression.

This can occur during a sea
sea-level
level rise with low sediment flux.

Example f/u: winning current normal process

Æ Channel fill to be abandonment
 LATERAL CHANNEL
MIGRATION
Accomodation is nil, no fluvial
aggradation occurse and the laterally
migrating thick sand section of laterally
amalgamated channel-fill deposits,

AMALGAMATED FLUVIAL
NO SUBSIDENCE CHANNELS FORM A SAND
SHEET ONE CHANNEL THICK

LATERAL CHANNELS
MIGRATION
As the rate of accommodation and fluvial
aggradation inreases, the sandy channel-fill
deposits become more isolated within
floodplain muds.

FLUVIAL CHANNELS
ISOLATED IN FLOODPLAIN MUDS

SUBSIDENCE

AGGRADING
ALLUVIAL PLAIN

RISING BASE
LEVEL
FLUVIAL
AGGRADATION
INCISED VALLEY
If fluvial incision occurs, accommodation
is negative and the river incises the floodplain
Effect of accommodation rates on
fluvial aggradation
gg and sand/shale
/
(Allen, 1996)
FALLING
BASE LEVEL
FLUVIAL
INCISION
 Lateral Change Succession
Lateral Accretion Surfaces A B

(lateral progradation)

A B
1
.. .. . .
. .......
. Lag Deposit (i
(i.e.
e
conglomerate, pebbles /
. ..
cobbles in sandstone
..
.

A B
1
..2.. . . .. .. . . .. .. .. .
3
Lateral Accretion
. ........ . ........ . .......

Lateral accretion indicate meandering (subaerial & / subaquaeous)

Sedimentation Proces Æ Lateral Accretion Surfaces

Lateral
Accretion
Some Clues … !
 Comparing Bouma w/ Allen Sequence
Grain Size Fines up
Where does turbidite happen?

Turbidite =
High energy + suspension mixed (mud,
(mud
mass flow), + SLOPE

Æ alluvial fan, crevasse splay,

submarine
b i fan,
f thalweg
th l (lag
(l deposit),
d it)
pro delta, continental shelf.
 Some Clues
Normal Process

FLUVIAL TIDAL WAVE

Climbing Ripple a. Flaser-
Flaser-Wavy
Wavy--Lenticular a. Hummocky (HCS) –Swale
(ripple bed form) b. Wave Ripple –
interference ripple

Through cross-
cross-bed b. Clay doublete / couplette Low angle cross stratification
(foreshore sandstone)

c. Clay drapes (should be on

fore set)
Rare burrow d. Lots burrow Fair burrow
 Some Clues
Tidal Process Clues: clay doublette / couplette

Finer-grained
5 – 10 cm

Finer-grained
 Some Clues
Tidal Process Clues: Mud drapes

1m

Mud drapes Æ typical of tidal channel deposit

 Some Clues
Abnormal process

FLUVIAL Æ TIDAL Æ WAVE Æ

FLOOD TSUNAMI STORM
Graded bedding (turbidite) Hummocky (HCS) –
distal floodplain Æ climbing Swale (?)
???
ripple on flood plain
(covered by suspension ?)
 Some Clues
Climbing Ripple on Flood Plain

Flood
A B
Climbing
g ripple
pp
normal
The Genetic of Sand-
Sand-Shale Striping Form

1. Clay drape cause of tide Æ ripple & clay

2 Classical flysch Æ graded bedding & clay
2.
3. Big Lake Æ algal blooming when lake
level rise & down
4. Flood Plain deposit Æ when flood
 Sand--Shale Striping Outcrop
Sand

Tenggarong, East Kalimantan

End of Chapter 3