|
Paleocurrent
A paleocurrent or paleocurrent indicator is a geological feature (typically a sedimentary structure) that helps one determine the direction of flowing water in the geologic past. This is an invaluable tool in the reconstruction of ancient depositional environments. There are two main types of paleocurrent indicators: *''Unidirectional'', which give a clear, single direction of flow *''Bidirectional'', which give a good linear direction, but it is unclear which direction along the linear trend the water flowed. Paleocurrents are usually measured with an azimuth, or as a rake on a bedding plane, and displayed with a Rose Diagram to show the dominant direction(s) of flow. This is needed because in some depositional environments, like meandering rivers, the paleocurrent resulting from natural sinuosity has a natural variation of 180 degrees or more. Below are a partial list of common paleocurrent indicators: Unidirectional * Cross-bedding – the axis of a trough cross bed or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cross-bedding
In geology, cross-bedding, also known as cross-stratification, is layering within a stratum and at an angle to the main bedding plane. The sedimentary structures which result are roughly horizontal units composed of inclined layers. The original depositional layering is tilted, such tilting not being the result of post-depositional deformation. Cross-beds or "sets" are the groups of inclined layers, which are known as cross-strata. Cross-bedding forms during deposition on the inclined surfaces of bedforms such as ripples and dunes; it indicates that the depositional environment contained a flowing medium (typically water or wind). Examples of these bedforms are ripples, dunes, antidunes, sand waves, hummocks, bars, and delta slopes.Collinson, J.D., Thompson, D.B., 1989, Sedimentary Structures (2nd ed): Academic Division of Unwin Hyman Ltd, Winchester, MA, XXX p. Environments in which water movement is fast enough and deep enough to develop large-scale bed forms fall into ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Parting Lineation
Parting lineation (also known as current lineation or primary current lineation) is a subtle sedimentary structure in which sand grains are aligned in parallel lines or grooves on the surface of a body of sand (or lithified as a sandstone). The orientation of the lineation is used as a paleocurrent indicator, although the precise flow direction (i.e. upstream vs. downstream) is often indeterminable. They are also the primary indicator of the lower part of the upper flow regime bedform. Description Parting lineation is a sedimentary structure commonly found on the surface of parallel-laminated sandstones. It is aligned with the current direction, the alignment holding out in places over several square meters. The lineation is formed by flat, parallel ridges which are separated by depressions or grooves. The height of the ridges rarely exceeds several grain diameters. In profile the depressions are flat-bottomed and the ridges are rounded. Ridges and depressions are arranged en e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sedimentary Structure
Sedimentary structures include all kinds of features in sediments and sedimentary rocks, formed at the time of deposition. Sediments and sedimentary rocks are characterized by bedding, which occurs when layers of sediment, with different particle sizes are deposited on top of each other. These beds range from millimeters to centimeters thick and can even go to meters or multiple meters thick. Sedimentary structures such as cross-bedding, graded bedding, and ripple marks are utilized in stratigraphic studies. They help indicate the original position of strata in geologically complex terrains. They also provide insight into the depositional environment of the sediment. Flow structures There are two kinds of flow structures: bidirectional (multiple directions, back-and-forth) and unidirectional. Flow regimes in single-direction (typically fluvial) flow, which at varying speeds and velocities produce different structures, are called bedforms. In the ''lower flow regime'', the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Imbrication (sedimentology)
In sedimentology, imbrication is a primary depositional Fabric (geology), fabric consisting of a preferred orientation of clasts such that they overlap one another in a consistent fashion, rather like a run of toppled dominoes. Imbrication is observed in Conglomerate (geology), conglomerates and in some volcaniclastic deposits. Types : In conglomerates the shape of many clasts can be approximated to an ellipsoid, with a long axis (A), an intermediate axis (B) and a short axis (C). * ''A-axis imbrication'' where the long axes of the clasts are oriented parallel to the flow direction. This fabric is characteristic of clasts carried in suspension and this is only preserved in the case of a fast-waning flow in which the clasts are deposited without any significant rolling. This fabric is typical of conglomerates at the base of turbidite beds but is also occasionally observed in alluvial fan deposits reworked by flash floods * ''AB-plane imbrication'' where the long axes of the clast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tool Mark
Sole marks are sedimentary structures found on the bases of certain strata, that indicate small-scale (usually on the order of centimetres) grooves or irregularities. This usually occurs at the interface of two differing lithologies and/or grain sizes. They are commonly preserved as casts of these indents on the bottom of the overlying bed (like flute casts). This is similar to casts and molds in fossil preservation. Occurring as they do only at the bottom of beds, and their distinctive shapes, they can make useful way up structures and paleocurrent indicators. Sole markings are found most commonly in turbidite deposits, but are also often seen in modern river beds and tidal channels. History Sole markings were first recognized in the Devonian rocks of New York State by James Hall in 1843. Originally, the features found on the undersides of beds were called ''hieroglyphs'', ''fucoids'', and ''bio hieroglyphs'', because of their structure and how they were thought to be cr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ripple Mark
In geology, ripple marks are sedimentary structures (i.e., bedforms of the lower flow regime) and indicate agitation by water (Ocean current, current or wind wave, waves) or directly by wind. Defining ripple cross-laminae and asymmetric ripples * ''Current ripple marks'', ''unidirectional ripples'', or ''asymmetrical ripple marks'' are asymmetrical in profile, with a gentle up-current slope and a steeper down-current slope. The down-current slope is the angle of repose, which depends on the shape of the sediment. These commonly form in fluvial and Aeolian processes, aeolian depositional environments, and are a signifier of the lower part of the Lower Flow Regime. * Ripple cross-laminae forms when deposition takes place during migration of current or wave ripples. A series of cross-laminae are produced by superimposing migrating ripples. The ripples form lateral to one another, such that the crests of vertically succeeding laminae are out of phase and appear to be advancing ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Geological
Geology (). is a branch of natural science concerned with the Earth and other astronomical objects, the rocks of which they are composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Earth sciences, including hydrology. It is integrated with Earth system science and planetary science. Geology describes the structure of the Earth on and beneath its surface and the processes that have shaped that structure. Geologists study the mineralogical composition of rocks in order to get insight into their history of formation. Geology determines the relative ages of rocks found at a given location; geochemistry (a branch of geology) determines their Geochronology, absolute ages. By combining various petrological, crystallographic, and paleontological tools, geologists are able to chronicle the geological history of the Earth as a whole. One aspect is to demonstrate the age of the Earth. Geology provides evidence for plate tectonics, the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
