Sedimentary Petrology 2(1-1) (GLO 2202)
Course Level:
2
Course Credit:
2 CU
Description
The course introduces the student to the different geological aspects of sediments and
sedimentary rocks including classification, composition, textures, structures, genesis and
sedimentary environments.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course students should be able to:
1. Identify sedimentary rocks, textures and common sedimentary minerals in hand
specimen.
2. Identify sedimentary rocks and sediments under a polarizing microscope.
3. Interpret and make deductions on the genesis and economic significance of the different
rocks based on mineralogy and texture/structure.
4. Describe the process of diagenesis leading to rock formation, Porosity, permeability,
storage and transmission of fluids in rock strata.
Course Outline
Content
Hours
Introduction: Classification of sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary structures: 15
Fabrics and structures of sediments and sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary
textures
Terrigenous sedimentary rocks:
Genesis and characterisation of 10
conglomerates, breccias, sandstones and mudrocks.
Allochemical sedimentary rocks: Genesis and characterisation of limestones 10
and dolomite.
Orthochemical sedimentary rocks: Genesis, characterisation, composition of
evaporites and ironstones. Porosity, permeability storage and transmission of 10
fluids.
Mode of Delivery
The course will be lecture-oriented with tests, assignments, and practicals
Assessment
Assignments, practicals and tests
Final examination
40%
60%
Reading List:
• ADAMS, A. E., MACKENZIE, W. S. & GUILFORD, C., (1991). Atlas of sedimentary
rocks under the microscope, 3rd edition, Longman Sci. ech., N. Y. 104p.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ALLEN J. R. L., (1984). Sedimentary structures: Their character and physical basis (In:
Developments in petrology, vol. 30). Elsiever Science publication, Amsterdam, 663p.
BLATT, H., MIDDLETON, G. & MURRAY, R., (1980). Origin of Sedimentary Rocks.
Second Edition. Prentice Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
CATT, J. A., (1986). Soils and Quaternary Geology: A Handbook for Field Scientists.
Clarendon Press, Oxford.
GREENSMITH, J. T., HATCH, F. N. & RASTALL, R. H., (1973). Petrology of the
sedimentary rocks: Text book of petrology, vol. 2 (5th edition) Thomas Marby Co. 502
MOORE, D. M. & REYNOLDS, R. C. Jr., (1997). X-Ray Diffraction and the
Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals. 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford.
TUCKER, M. E., (1991). Sedimentary petrology: An introduction to the origin of
sedimentary rocks, Blackwell Sci. Ltd (2nd edition), USA, 260p.
TUCKER, M. E., 2003. Third Edition. Sedimentary Rocks in the field. The Geological
Field Guide Series, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, England.
WHITTIG, L. D. & ALLARDICE, W. R., (1986). X-ray diffraction techniques. In:
KLUTE, A. (ed) Methods of Soil Analysis, Part I. Physical and Mineralogical Methods,
Soil Science Society of America, Madison.
•
TUCKER, M. E (2001): Sedimentary Petrology: An Introduction to the Origin of
Sedimentary Rocks Wiley-Blackwell (Paperback) 272p.
•
DORRIK A.V. (2005): Sedimentary Rocks in the Field: A Color Guide. Academic Press.
352p.