GEOLOGY 325

Sedimentology & Stratigraphy

Fall 2012 MWF 10:00-10:50 am

Instructor: Mr. Don Rehmer

Office: Parkinson 209
Office Hours: MWF 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM; or by appointment
E-mail: drehmer@siu.edu

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:
TITLE: Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, 4th Edition
AUTHOR: Sam Boggs, Jr.
PUBLISHER: Pearson Prentice Hall
Additional texts:
TITLE: Petrology: Igneous Sedimentary, Metamorphic, 3rd Edition
AUTHORS: Blatt, Tracy, & Owens
PUBLISHER: W.H. Freeman and Company
TITLE: Facies Models: Response to Sea Level Change
EDITORS: Walker, R. G. & James, N. P.
PUBLISHER: Geological Association of Canada
TITLE: Sequence Stratigraphy
EDITORS: Emery, D. & Myers, K.
PUBLISHER: Blackwell Science Ltd.
TITLE: Depositional Sedimentary Environments
AUTHORS: Reineck, H.E. & Singh, I. B.
PUBLISHER: Springer-Verlag

Course Requirements:
In addition to the text, from time to time I may assign additional reading material,
which I will provide. Four 1-hour exams will be given during the course of
the semester. All hour exams will be equally weighted. Only three exam scores will be counted
in the calculation of the final grade. If you take all four exams, you may drop the lowest score
or you may miss one exam excluding the final. Exams may be given during lab time. No make-

up exams will be given. The lab grade will account for 20% of your final grade. I reserve the
right to give short quizzes at any time. If you get an A on the final exam (approximately 90 %
or above), I will give you an A for the course regardless of other exam scores.
A research paper (10 pages) covering a relevant course topic and with prior approval of the
instructor will be due on Friday October 28th.

Course objectives:
The objectives of this course are for the student to obtain a basic understanding of how to obtain and
interpret basic sedimentological and stratigraphic data. Interpretations should rely on basic
understanding of:
1. The Origin and Depositional Characteristics of Sedimentary Rocks
2. Stratigraphic Units & Geologic Time
3. The Architecture of Sedimentary-Basin Fill: Stratigraphy & Sequence
Stratigraphy
4. Depositional Environments: Facies Distribution within a
Sequence-Stratigraphic Framework
5. Sedimentary Basins and Their Tectonic Setting

The following is a brief statement of the minimum ability that a student must demonstrate to
obtain the indicated grade:
A - demonstrate the ability to state basic definitions and principles and apply
them in a creative manner to solve newly encountered geological problems
B - demonstrate the ability to state the basic definitions and principles and
apply them to geological problems presented in class lecture or lab
C - demonstrate the ability to state all or most of the basic definitions and
principles presented
D - demonstrate the ability to state some of the basic definitions and principles
presented
F - demonstrate an inability to state many of the basic definitions and
principles presented

Obviously, the foregoing is subjective and overlap between grades is possible.

These criteria are presented not as a hard and fast rule but to give the student an
indication of my interpretation of the significance of the letter grades.

Lab-time field trips may be required during the semester. In addition to the textbook, paper, and pencils,
you should possess a hand lens. A rock hammer and hiking boots are also desirable.

Emergency Procedures:
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for
study and work. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you
become familiar with the SIUC Emergency Response Plan and Building Emergency Response Team
(BERT) program.
Emergency response information is available on posters in buildings on campus, available on BERT's
website at www.bert.siu.edu, Department of Safety's website www.dps.siu.edu (disaster drop down) and
in Emergency Response Guideline pamphlet. Know how to respond to each type of emergency.
. . . . The Building Emergency Response Team will provide assistance to your instructor in evacuating
the building or sheltering within the facility.

TOPIC

READING*

page

Aug. 22 Sept. 7: Origin & Depositional Characteristics

Introduction

Intro.

xvii xix

Topic 1:

The Origin of Sedimentary Rocks

Ch. 1

3 - 13

Topic 2:

Transport and Deposition

Ch. 2

21-47

Topic 3:

Physical Properties of Sedimentary Rocks

Ch. 3

49-73

Topic 4:

Sedimentary Structures

Ch. 4

74-115

Topic 5:

Siliciclastic Sedimentary Rocks

Ch. 5

119-157

Ch. 12
Ch. 14
Ch. 15

399 - 432
478 - 512
513 - 517

Ch. 15
Ch. 13
Ch. 15
Ch. 15

533 - 538
462 - 476
518 - 532
538 - 549

Ch. 13

433 - 442

Ch. 13

442 - 4 51

Ch. 13

451 - 462

Research Paper Topics due Sept. 7th

First Exam: Friday, Sept. 9th
Sept. 9 Oct. 5: Stratigraphy and Basin Analysis
Topic 6:

Topic 7:

Stratigraphic Units
Lithostratigraphic Units
Biostratigraphic Units
Chronostratigraphic Units
Integrative Stratigraphy
Event Stratigraphy
Magnetostratigraphy
Isotope Geochronology
Chemostratigraphy
Seismic stratigraphy
Seismic reflection: basics
Seismic sequences
Reflector geometries

Outline due September 14th

Topic 8:

Sequence stratigraphy
Definition
Sequence boundaries
Unconformities in space time
Siliciclastic sequences
Parasequences
Parasequence sets & stacking patterns
Systems tracts

*Ch.
*Ch.
*Ch.

Boundaries
Sequence drivers
Carbonate sequences
Parasequences
Parasequence sets & stacking patterns
Systems tracts
Boundaries & stacking patterns
Sequence drivers
Sequence Ranking
Sequences in time space

*Ch.
*Ch.
*Ch.
*Ch.
*Ch.
*Ch.

Second Exam: Friday, October 7th

Papers due Friday March 11th
Fall Break: Saturday, October 8th to Tuesday, October 11th
October 7 November 14: Environments of Deposition (EoD)
Introduction
Topic 9:
Non-marine Environments of Deposition
Fluvial environments
Eolian environments
Topic 10:
Transitional (coastal) Environments of Deposition
Littoral environments
Deltaic environments
Estuarine environments
Sabkha environments
Topic 11:
Marine Environments of Deposition
Siliclastic Marine Environments
Marine-shelf environments
Deep-water environments
Carbonate Marine Environments
Shelf & platform environments
Reef environments
Topic 12:
Environments of Deposition in a SequenceStratigraphic Framework

Pt IV

241- 243

Ch. 8
Ch. 8

245 - 258
258 - 268

Ch. 9
Ch. 9
Ch. 9
Ch. 11

306 - 317
289 - 306
317 - 333
390 - 395

Ch. 10
Ch. 10

334 - 349
349 - 365

Ch. 11
Ch. 11

366 - 382
352 - 390

**Ch.

Third Exam: Wednesday, November 16th

November 18 Dec. 5: Sedimentary Basins
Topic 13:
Plate-tectonic review
Plates & plate boundaries
Topic 14:
Sedimentary basins in a plate tectonic setting
Lithospheric structure
Driving mechanisms
Topic 15:
Sedimentary basins: Characteristics & classification
Extensional-setting basins
Contractional- setting basins

**Ch.
**Ch.
**Ch.
#Ch.
#Ch.

Transform-setting basins
#Ch.
* Wheeler paper plus PowerPoint presentation <Geoserver/Marzolf/courses/2009/325>
** PowerPoint presentation only <Geoserver/Marzolf/courses/2009/325>
# Dickinson paper
Fourth Exam: December 7th
The preceding schedule is not cast in stone. Changes may be made to topics during the semester.
Final Exams begin December 12th (325 final exam date & time to be announced)

Magnetostratigraphy
Isotope Geochronology
Chemostratigraphy
Stable isotopes
Trace elements