Sedimentary Structure

Primary Features : Formed during the rock formation

Sedimentary Layers

Sedimentary structures
Bedding is most important feature of a Sed. Rocks Beds are usually > 1 cm Laminae < 1 cm Orientation of bedding helps in knowing the paleo-current direction of the old rivers

GRADED BEDDING
Top T

Bottom

Medium-coarse sandy litho-unit (cross stratified)

Fine gravelly litho-unit

Laminated layers of fine silt and clay

Cross-stratified sst. Paleo-flow from right to left

Sand Dunes Typical cross stratification in

Ripple marks

Biogenic structures

Foot prints

Snake Trails

Mud cracks

Sedimentary Structure
Unconformity : A substantial break or gap in geologic record where a rock unit is overlain by another that is not next in stratigraphic succession

Unconformities
Angular unconformity = Tilted or folded sedimentary rocks are overlain by other more flat-lying strata. Disconformity = An unconformity in which the bedding planes above and below the break are parallel Nonconformity = An unconformity developed between sedimentary rocks and loder rocks (Plutonic igneous rocks or massive metamorphic rocks) that had been exposed to erosion.