Facies Analysis
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The laboratory activities, field activities and examples of case studies from the petroleum industry will provide students with the fundamental knowledge to apply what learned.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will acquire the knowledge to understand depositional processes, depositional environments, facies types and how they varied through time and space. Students will develop skills to describe and interpret sedimentary rocks and link them to the environment of deposition that can be applied in various fields of the Earth Sciences.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course focuses on the description an interpretation of physical processes controlling the formation of sedimentary rocks (weathering, erosion, transport, deposition and lithification). Attention will be paid to sedimentation in different depositional environments (marine and continental). Definition and operative use of facies and facies classifications in Sedimentary Geology. The course consist of class work and field excursions.
In particular, the topics addressed are the following:
FACIES AND SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS: GENERAL CONCEPTS AND METHODOLOGIES OF ANALYSIS
- Erosion and sedimentation: scale and hierarchy of the elements of sedimentary dynamics
- Control factors on sedimentary dynamics
- Introduction to the methods of facies analysis and the study of sedimentary environments
THE PROCESSES OF SEDIMENTARY DYNAMICS
- Type and origin of granules in sediments
- Erosion, transport and deposition: recall of fluid dynamics
- Sedimentation: settiling and transport in real fluids
THE PRODUCTS OF THE TRANSPORT OF SEDIMENTS
- Bedforms and structures generated by unidirectional and oscillatory flows
- Deposits of subsea landslides and gravity flows
- The erosional structures
FACIES, ASSOCIATIONS OF FACIES, DEPOSITION SYSTEMS AND SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS
- Sedimentary environments and depositional systems
- Continental environments
- Transitional environments
- Marine and oceanic environments
In particular, the topics addressed are the following:
FACIES AND SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS: GENERAL CONCEPTS AND METHODOLOGIES OF ANALYSIS
- Erosion and sedimentation: scale and hierarchy of the elements of sedimentary dynamics
- Control factors on sedimentary dynamics
- Introduction to the methods of facies analysis and the study of sedimentary environments
THE PROCESSES OF SEDIMENTARY DYNAMICS
- Type and origin of granules in sediments
- Erosion, transport and deposition: recall of fluid dynamics
- Sedimentation: settiling and transport in real fluids
THE PRODUCTS OF THE TRANSPORT OF SEDIMENTS
- Bedforms and structures generated by unidirectional and oscillatory flows
- Deposits of subsea landslides and gravity flows
- The erosional structures
FACIES, ASSOCIATIONS OF FACIES, DEPOSITION SYSTEMS AND SEDIMENTARY ENVIRONMENTS
- Sedimentary environments and depositional systems
- Continental environments
- Transitional environments
- Marine and oceanic environments
Prerequisites for admission
There are no prerequisites
Teaching methods
lessons, exercises, field trips
Teaching Resources
Lecture notes of teachers, also available in pdf format files.
The following textbooks:
Bosellini A., Mutti E. & Ricci Lucchi F. (1986) - Rocce e successioni sedimentarie. 395 pp. UTET
Miall A.D. (2000) - Principles of sedimentary basin analysis. Springer Verlag, 668 pp
Reading, H.G. (1996) - Sedimentary Environments: Processes, Facies and Stratigraphy. Blackwell, Oxford, 688 pp.
Nichols, G. (2009) - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Blackwell, Oxford, 419 pp.
Leeder (2005) - Sedimentology and Sedimetary Basins. Blackwell , Oxford, 592 pp.
Einsele (1992) - Sedimentary Basins. Springer, Verlag.
The following textbooks:
Bosellini A., Mutti E. & Ricci Lucchi F. (1986) - Rocce e successioni sedimentarie. 395 pp. UTET
Miall A.D. (2000) - Principles of sedimentary basin analysis. Springer Verlag, 668 pp
Reading, H.G. (1996) - Sedimentary Environments: Processes, Facies and Stratigraphy. Blackwell, Oxford, 688 pp.
Nichols, G. (2009) - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Blackwell, Oxford, 419 pp.
Leeder (2005) - Sedimentology and Sedimetary Basins. Blackwell , Oxford, 592 pp.
Einsele (1992) - Sedimentary Basins. Springer, Verlag.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam includes an oral test, which allows for a grade up to 30/30. The test is based on questions related to specific topics aimed at ascertaining the student's knowledge of the program and the capacity for synthesis and exposure.
Any additional information on the evaluation methods will be explained during the course.
Any additional information on the evaluation methods will be explained during the course.
GEO/02 - STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY - University credits: 6
Field activity: 12 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Felletti Fabrizio Bruno
Professor(s)