Advanced Carbonate Sedimentology

In this course students will study: General introduction to carbonate rocks, Carbonate components and related textural and compostional classifications. Comparative Sedimentology; Definitions and Principles. Sedimentary structures (Layering-Algal features: mats and stromatolites, Desiccation features: fenestral fabrics and mud cracks, Current features: cross-beds, ripples, flaser bedding and other structures). General principles of carbonate production. Carbonate Facies Models: Modern tidal flats Shelf, Tdal flats, Shallow shelf, Shelf margin: reefs and shoals, Slope and basin setting, Cool water carbonates, Non-marine settings: caliche, arid lakes, and playas. Diagenesis and related interpretations.

Genesis of Evaporites, Review of process controlled, Genetic units in evaporite sedimentology, Lateral versus vertical accretion. Classic versus Modern stratigraphic principles, Classification of environments and processes, Brines origin and migration of sedimentary brines, Geochemical complications and thermodynamics, Chemical and physical properties of brines, Flow regimes and fluid mechanics of high salinity brines, Depositional settings of evaporates, Composition of selected evaporites.

Coal and Petroleum: Modern and ancient organic deposists, Coals and the coals series, Coal petrology, Coal formation and rank, Ocuurence of coal, Oil shales, Formation of kerogen, petroleum (composition, occurrence and formation).

Chert: Chert petrology, Bedded cherts, The origin of chert, Nodular cherts, and non-marine siliceous sediments and cherts.

Ironstones: Source and transportation of iron, the formation of iron minerals, Occurrence and petrography of the iron minerals, Iron ores.

Phosphates: Mineralogy, Nodular and bedded phosphates, Bioclastic and pebble-bed phosphorites, Guano and ocean-island phosphorites.