WACKESTONE

SHALE / LUTITA

PACKSTONE

SANDY SHALE / LUTITA ARENOSA

DOLOMITIC MUDSTONE
BENTONITE / BENTONITA

DOLOMITE / DOLOMIA
MARL / MARGA

HALITE / HALITA
SAND / ARENA

ANHYDRITE / ANHIDRITA
SANDSTONE / ARENISCA

FLINT/ PEDERNAL
CONGLOMERATE / CONGLOMERADO
GYPSUM / YESO

MUDSTONE

DESCRIPTION MANUAL FOR LITHOLOGY SAMPLES

Lithology: SAND / ARENA
Color: (white, gray, light gray, dark gray, greenish gray, amber, brown, light brown) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Sands.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Clarity: (transparent, translucent)
Granulometry: (very fine, fine, medium, thick, very thick)
Grain shape: (rounded, sub-rounded, sub-angular, angular)

Selection: (good, moderate, bad)

Accessories: (feldspars, muscovite, biotite, micas, plagioclase, fossils, glauconite, pyrite, olivine and others)
Hydrocarbon Presence: Fluorescence: (Color: Intensity, Distribution) / Cut: (Color, Intensity, Distribution)

Example:
SAND: white, gray* **, transparent, translucent, fine to medium grain, rounded to subangular, moderate selection, with
accessories of pyrite and mica, presence of light Brown to bright, uniform hydrocarbon, bluish-white, pale cut, quick reaction.
Lithology: SANDSTONE / ARENISCA
Color: (white, gray, light gray, dark gray, greenish gray, amber, coffee, light brown) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Sandstones.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Clarity: (transparent, translucent).
Consolidation: (friable, moderately consolidated, consolidated)
Granulometry: (very fine, fine, medium, thick, very thick).
Grain shape: (rounded, sub-rounded, sub-angular, angular).

Selection: (good, moderate, bad).

Matrix: (clayey, calcareous, kaolinitic, argillaceous).
Cementing: (calcareous, siliceous).
Accessories: (feldspars, muscovite, biotite, micas, plagioclase, fossils, glauconite, pyrite, olivine and others).
Hydrocarbon Presence: Fluorescence: (Color, Intensity, Distribution) / Cut: (Color, Intensity, Distribution).

Example:
SANDSTONE: white, gray, transparent, translucent, moderately consolidated* **, fine to medium grain, rounded to
subangular, moderate selection, clayey matrix, calcareous cement, with accessories of pyrite and mica, presence of light
brown, bright hydrocarbon, uniform, bluish-white, pale, quick reaction.

Lithology: CONGLOMERATE / CONGLOMERADO

Color: (white, gray, light gray, dark gray, greenish gray, amber, coffee, light Brown)* **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Conglomerates.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Clarity: (transparent, translucent)
Granulometry: (very fine, fine, medium, thick, very thick)
Grain shape: (rounded, sub-rounded, sub-angular, angular)

Selection: (good, moderate, bad)

Accessories: (feldspars, muscovite, biotite, micas, plagioclase, fossils, glauconite, pyrite, olivine and others).

Example:
CONGLOMERATE: white, gray* **, transparent, translucent, coarse to medium to fine, angular to subangular, poor selection,
with pyrite and mica accessories.

Lithology: SHALE / LUTITA

Color: (gray, light gray, dark gray, greenish gray, brown, light brown, dark brown, reddish brown) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Shales.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Compaction: (soft, moderately compact, compact).
Form: (block, fissile, subphysical, laminar, splinter). NOTE: optional.
Calcarity: (slightly calcareous, moderately calcareous, calcareous).
Inclusions: (mica, muscovite, biotite, fossils, glauconite, pyrite, organic matter and others)

Example:
LUTITA: light gray, dark gray, part greenish gray* **, moderately compact, partly laminar in block, slightly calcareous,
inclusions of pyrite and mica.

Lithology: SANDY SHALE / LUTITA ARENOSA

Color: (gray, light gray, dark gray, greenish gray, brown, light brown, dark brown)* **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Sandy Shales.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Hardness: (soft, moderately hard, hard)
Form: (block). NOTE: optional.
Calcarity: (slightly calcareous, moderately calcareous, calcareous).
Inclusions: (mica, muscovite, biotite, fossils, glauconite, pyrite, organic matter and others)
Example:
SANDY SHALE: light gray, dark gray, part greenish gray* **, moderately compact, partly laminar in block, slightly calcareous,
inclusions of pyrite and mica.

Lithology: BENTONITE / BENTONITE

Color: (green, olive green, bluish green, blue, light blue, white) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Bentonites.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Hardness: (soft, moderately hard, hard).
Inclusions: (mica, muscovite, biotite, fossils, glauconite, pyrite, organic matter and others)

Example:
BENTONITE: green part olive green* **, moderately hard, with inclusions of pyrite and mica.

Lithology: MARL / MARGA

Color: (coffee, reddish brown, gray) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Marls.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Hardness: (soft, moderately hard, hard).
Inclusions: (calcite, fossils, glauconite, pyrite, organic matter and others).

Example:
MARL: reddish, dark Brown * **, moderately hard, with inclusions of calcite and organic matter.

Lithology: LIMESTONE / CALIZA

Type:
(MUDSTONE, WACKESTONE, PACKSTONE, GRAINSTONE, BOUNDSTONE).
Color: (white, gray, light gray, dark gray, greenish gray, brown, light brown, dark brown, black)* **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Sandstones.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Appearance: (clayey, bentonitic, brechoid)
Crystal Size: (cryptocrystalline, microcrystalline, macrocrystalline).
Fracture: (sealed by calcite microfractures, organic matter).
Porosity: (secondary).
Particles: (oolites, pellets, lithoclastos, pisolitas, skeletal). NOTE: Applies to Wackestone, Packstone, Grainstone, Boundstone.
Inclusions: (fossils, pyrite "with inclusions or disseminated", organic matter).
Hydrocarbon Presence: Fluorescence: (Color, Intensity, Distribution) / Cut: (Color, Intensity, Distribution).

Example:

90% MUDSTONE: light gray to dark gray* **, clay-like appearance, microcrystalline, sealed by calcite microfractures,
secondary porosity, with pyrite inclusions and organic matter, presence of light brown hydrocarbon, bright, uniform, bluish-
white, pale, fast cut .
10% WACKESTONE: cream, white* **, microcrystalline, microfractured, secondary porosity, pellets, with pyrite inclusions and
organic matter, presence of light brown hydrocarbon, bright, uniform, bluish-white, pale, quick reaction.

• Classification used to describe Carbonates will be Dunham classification.

• Dolomite Mudstone which will be described separately and will be given with a percentage

Example:
DOLOMITE MUDSTONE: light brown, cream, partly white* **, microcrystalline, microfractures sealed by calcite, secondary
porosity, with inclusions organic matter, presence of light brown hydrocarbon, bright, uniform, bluish-white, pale, quick
reaction.

Lithology: DOLOMITE / DOLOMIA

Color: (white, light brown, dark brown, gray, black) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Marls.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Crystal Size: (mesocrystalline).
Fracture: (microfractures "sealed by calcite, organic matter).
Porosity: (intercrystalline, intracrystalline).
Inclusions: (fossils, pyrite: inclusions or disseminated occurency, organic matter).
Hydrocarbon Presence: Fluorescence: (Color, Intensity, Distribution) / Cut: (Color, Intensity, Distribution).

Example:
DOLOMITE: Brown* **, mesocrystalline, microfractures sealed by calcite, intercrystalline porosity, with inclusions of pyrite
and organic matter, presence of light brown hydrocarbon, bright, uniform, bluish-white, pale, quick reaction.

Lithology: FLINT / PEDERNAL

Color: (white, amber, smoky gray, black) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Marls.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Clarity: (transparent, translucent)
Fracture: (conchoidal)

Example:
PEDERNAL: amber, white* **, translucent, conchoidal.

Lithology: HALITE / HALITA

Color: (white, milky white) * **

* Color example, usually appreciated on Marls.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Clarity: (transparent, semi-transparent)
Hardness: (soft, moderately hard, hard)
Shape: (irregular)

Example:
HALITA: white, milky White* **, semitransparent, moderately hard, irregular.

Lithology: ANHYDRITE / PEDERNAL

Color: (white, milky white) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Marls.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Clarity: (transparent, semi-transparent)
Hardness: (soft, moderately hard, hard)
Shape: (irregular)

Example:
ANHYDRITE: white* **, semitransparent, moderately hard, irregular.

Lithology: GYPSUM / PEDERNAL

Color: (white, greenish) * **
* Color example, usually appreciated on Marls.
** Use Munsell Color Chart for being accurate with color interpretation.
Clarity: (transparent, semi-transparent)
Hardness: (soft, moderately hard)
Shape: (irregular)

Example:
GYPSUM: white partly greenish* **, semitransparent, soft, irregular.

GLOSARIO EXPRESIONES

-nish (greenish, bluish, brownish, yellowish) verdoso, azulado, parduzco, amarillento

Chalky: calcareo, cretoso
Slightly: ligeramente
Clayey: arcilloso
Chert: esquisto
Chitin (nous): quitinos
 Brachiopod Brach Considerable cons
A Brackish brak Consolidated consol
About abt Branching brhg Conspicuous conspic
Above ab Break Brk, brk Contact Ctc
Absent abs Breccia(-ted)Brec, brec Contamination (-ed) contam
Abundant abd Bright btr Content cont
Acicular acic Brittle brit Contorted cntrt
Agglomerate aglm Brown brn Coquina (oid) Coq, coqid
Aggregate agg Bryozoa Bry Coral, coralline Cor, corln
Algae, algal alg Bubble Bubl Core c
Allochem Allo Buff bu Covered cov
Altered alt Burrow (-ed) Bur, bur Cream crm
Alternating altg Crenulated cren
Ammonite amm Crinkled crnk
Amorphous amor Crinoid (-al) crin, crinal
Amount Amt C Cross x
Angular ang Calcarenite Clcar Cross-bedded x-bd
Anhedral ahd Calcilutite Clclt Cross-laminated x-lam
Anhydrite (-ic) Anhy, anhy Calcirudite Clcrd Cross-stratified x-strat
Anthracite anthr Calcisiltite Clslt Crumpled crpld
Aphanitic aph Calcisphere Clcsp Crystocrystalline crpxln
Appears ap Calcite (-ic) Calc, calctc crystal (-line )Xl, xln
Approximatea pprx Calcareous calc Cube, cubic Cub, cub
Aragonite arag Caliche cche Cuttings Ctgs
Arenaceous aren Carbonaceous carb
Argillaceous arg Carbonized cb
Arkose(-ic) ark, Cavern (-ous) Cav, cav
Asphalt (-ic) asph, asph Caving Cvg D
Assemblage assem Cement (-ed, -ing) Cmt, cmt Dark (-er)dk, dkr
Associated assoc at@ Cephalopod Ceph Dead dd
Authigenic authg Chalcedony (-ic) Chal, chal Debris Deb
Average av Chalk (-y)Chk, chky Decrease (-ing) Decr, decr
Charophyte Char Dense dns
Chert(-y) Cht, cht Depauperate depau
B Chitin (-ous) Chit, chit Description Descr
Band(-ed)Bnd, bnd Chlorite (-ic) Chlor, chlor Detrital detr
Basalt Bas, bas Chocolate choc Devitrified devit
Basement Bm Circulate circ Diabase Db
Become (-ing) bcm Clastic clas Diagénesis (-etic) diagn
Bed (-ed)bd, bd Clay (-ey) Cl, cl Diameter dia
Bedding Bdg Claystone Clst Disseminated dissem
Bentonite (-ic) bent Clean cln Distillate Dist
Bitumen (-inous) Bit, bit Clear clr Ditto “ or do
Bioclastic biocl Cleavage Clvg Dolomite (-ic) Dol, dol
Bioherm( -al)Bioh, bioh Cluster Clus Dominant (-ly) dom
Biomicrite Biomi Coal C Drilling drlg
Biosparite Biosp Coarse crs Drill stem test DST
Biostrom (-al) Biost, biost coated (-ing) cotd, cotg Drusy dru
Biotite Biot Coble Cbl
Birdseye Bdeye Color (-ed) Col, col
Black (-ish)blk, blksh Common com
Blade (-ed) Bld, bld Compact cpct
E
Blockyblky blue (-ish)bl, blsh Compare cf Earthy ea
Bored (-ing) Bor, bor Concentric cncn East E
Bottom Btm Conchoidal conch Echinoid Ech
Botryoid (-al) Bot, bot Concretion Conc, conc Elevation Elev
Boulder Bld Conglomerate (ic) Cgl, cgl Elongate elong
Boundstone Bdst Glauconite(-ic) Glauc Embedded embd
Equant eqnt Globigerina Glob J
Equivalent Equiv Gloss (-y) glos Jasper Jasp
Euhedral euhd Gneiss (-ic) Gns, gns joint (-ed, -ing) Jt, jt
Euxinic eux Good gd
Evaporite (-itic)Evap Grading grad
Excellent ex Grain (-ed)Gr, gr
Exposed esp Grainstone Grst
K
Extraclast (-ic) exclas Granite Grt kaolin (-itic)
Extremely extr Granule (-ar) Gran, gran Kao, kao
Extrusive exv Grapestone grapst
Graptolite Grap
Gravel Grv L
Gray, grey (-ish) gry, grysh
F Graywacke Gwke
Lacustrine lac
Facet (-ed)Fac, fac Lamina (-tions) Lam, lam
Greasy gsy Large lge
Faint fnt Green (-ish) gn, gnsh
Fair fr Laterite (-itic)Lat, lat
Gypsum Gyp lavender lav
Fault (-ed) Flt, flt
Fauna Fau layer Lyr
Feet Ft leached lchd
Feldspar (-athic) Fspr H lens, lenticular Len, lent
Fenestra (-al) Fen, fen Hackly hkl Light lt
Ferruginous ferr Halite Hal lignite (-itic) Lig, lig
Fibrous fibr Hard hd limestone Ls
Fine (-ly) f, fnly Heavy hvy limonite (-itic) Lim, lim
Fissile fis Hematite (-ic) Hem, hem limy lmy
Flaggy flg Heterogeneous hetr lithic lit
flake, flaky Flk, flk High (-ly) hi lithology (-ic) Lith, lith
Flat fl Homogeneous hom littleL tl
Floating fltg Horizontal hor littoral litt
Flora Flo Hydrocarbon Hydc local loc
Fluorescence (-ent) fluo long lg
Foliated fol loose les
Foot Ft lower l
Foraminifer Foram
I lustre Lstr
Formation Fm Igneous Ig lutite Lut
Fossil (-iferous) Foss, foss Impression Imp
Fracture (-d) Frac, frac Inclusion (-ded) Incl, incl
increasing incr
Fragment (-al)Frag, frag
Indistinct indst
M
Frequent freq Macrofossil Macrofos
Fresh frs Indurated ind in parti/p or I.P.
Insoluble insl magnetite (-ic) Mag, mag
Friablefri manganese Mn
Fringe (-ing) Frg, frg Interbedded intbd
Intercalated intercal Marble Mbl
Frosted fros marl (-y) Mrl, mrl
Fucoid (-al) Fuc, fuc intercrystalline intxln
intergranular intgran marine marn
Fusulinid Fus massive mass
intergrown intgn
interlaminated intrlam material Mat
interparticle intpar matrix Mtrx
G Intersticies (-itial) Intst, intst máximum max
Gabbro Gab intraclast (-ic) Intclas, intclas médium m or med
Gastropod Gast Interval Intvl member Mbr
Gas G intraparticle intrapar metamorphic Meta
Generally gen intrusive intr mica (-ceous) Mic, mic
Geopetal gept intervertebrate Invtb micrite (-ic)Micr, micr
Gilsonite Gil irregular (-ly) irr microcrystalline microxln
Glass (-y) Glas, glas isopachous iso micrograined micgr
petroleum pet S
middle Mid phosphate Phos Saccharoidal sacc
miliolid Milid phyllite Phyl salt (-y) Sa, sa
Milky mky phreatic phr same as above a.a.
mineral (-ized)Min, min pink (-ish) pk, pkish sample Spl
minor mnr pisoid (-al) Piso, piso sand (y) Sd, sdy
moderate mod plagioclase Plag sandstone Sst
mold (-ic)Mol, mol plant Plt saturation (-ated) Sat, sat
mollusc Moll Plastic plas scarce scs
Mosaic mos Platy plty scattered scat
Mottled mott polish (-ed) pol schist (-ose) Sch, sch
mud (-dy) md, mdy pollen Poln secondary sec
mudstone Mdst polygonal poly sediment (-ary) Sed, sed
muscovite Musc poercelaneous porcel selenite Sel
nacreous nac porosity, porous por, Φ shale (-ly) Sh, sh
nodule (-ar) Nod, nod possible (-ly) poss Shell Shl
north predominant (-ly) pred Show Shw
preserved pres siderite (-itic) Sid, sid
primary prim silica (-iceous) Sil, sil
probable (-ly) prob silky slky
N production Prod silt (-y) Slt, slty
no sample n.s. prominent prom siltstone Sltst
no show n/s pseudo-ps similar sim
novaculite Novac purple purp skeletal skel
no visible porosity n.v.p. pyrite (-itic) Pyr, pyr slabby slb
numerous num pyrobitumen Pybit slate (-y) Sl, sl
pyroclastic pyrcl slight (-ly) sli, slily
small sml
O Smooth sm
Soft sft
Occasional occ Q solution, soluble Sol, sol
Oil O quartz (-ose) Qtz, qtz
Olive olv somewhat smwt
quartzite (-ic) Qtzt, qtzt sorted (-ing) srt, srtg
Ooid (-al) Oo, oo
Oolite (-itic) Ool, ool south S
Oncolite (-oidal) Onc, onc spar (-ry) Spr, spr
opaque op R sparse (-ly) sps, spsly
orange (-ish) or, orsh radial (-ating) Rad, rad speck (-led) Spk, spkld
Orbitolina Orbit range rng spherule (-itic) Spher, spher
Organic org rare r spicule (-ar) Spic, spic
Orthoclase Orth recemented recem splintery Splin
orthoquartzite O-Qtz recovery (-ered) Rec, rec sponge Spg
ostracod Ostr recrystallized rexlzd spore Spo
overgrowth ovgth red (-ish)rd, rdsh spotted (-y) sptd, spty
oxidized ox reef (-al, -oid) Rf, rf stain (-ed, -ing) Stn, stn
oyester Oyst remains Rem stalactitic stal
replaced rep strata strat
residue (-ual) Res, res streak (-ed) Strk, strk
resinous rsns striae (-ted) Stri, stri
P ripple Rpl stringer strgr
Packstone Pkst rock Rk stromatolite Stromlt
part (-ly) Pt, pt round (-ed) rnd, rndd structure Str
particle Par, par rubble (-bly) Rbl, rbl stylolite (-itic) Styl, styl
parts per million ppm rudist Rud subangular sbang
patch (-y) Pch, pch sublithic sblit
pebble (-ly) Pbl, pbl subrounded sbrndd
pelecypod Pelec sucrosic suc
pellet (-al) Pel, pel
permeability Perm, k
sulphur Su
W
Surface Surf Wackestone Wkst
Syntaxial syn washed residue W.R.
wáter Wtr
wavy wvy
waxy wxy
T weak wk
tabular (-ate) tab weathered wthd
tan tn well Wl, wl
terriginous ter west W
texture (-d) Text, text White wh
thick thk With w/
thin-bedded t.b. Without w/o
through out thru Wood wd
tight ti
top Tp
tough tgh
trace Tr
Y
translucent trnsl yellow (-ish) yel, yelsh
transparent trnsp
tuff (-aceous) Tf, tf
type (-ical) Typ, typ
Z
zirconZr
U
unconformity Unconf
unconsolidated unscons
underclay Uc
underlying undly
iniform uni
upper u

V
Vadose Vad, vad
variation (-able) var
varicolored varic
varved vrvd
vein (-ed, -ing) Vn, vn
verticalvert veryv
violet vi
visible vis
vitrous vit
volatile volat
volcanic volc
vug (-gy) Vug, vug