Sedimentary Rock Diagenesis and Environmental Record
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Students will acquire a detailed knowledge and deep understanding of the diagenetic processes and products in carbonate rocks and sandstone and the use of geochemical proxies for solving issues related to rock diagenesis, geochemical proxies, environmental analysis, climatology and paleogeography.
The numerous laboratory activities and examples of case studies will provide students with the fundamental knowledge to apply what learned in professional and scientific activities. Through written reports about specific issues and case studies, students will develop skills in communication, critical thinking and problem solving.
The numerous laboratory activities and examples of case studies will provide students with the fundamental knowledge to apply what learned in professional and scientific activities. Through written reports about specific issues and case studies, students will develop skills in communication, critical thinking and problem solving.
Expected learning outcomes
The numerous laboratory activities and examples of case studies will provide students with the fundamental knowledge to apply what learned in professional and scientific activities of the Earth Sciences from energy resources, to paleoenvironmental and paleoclimate reconstructions to the application in present-day environmental remediation. Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge in their work environment and to develop critical thinking, problem solving attitude and communication skills.
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
tteaching activated every other year: active in the a.y. 2024-25
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
1. Fundamental concepts of diagenesis, diagenetic environments, processes and products, paragenetic sequences.
2. Diagenesis of carbonate rocks in marine, meteoric and burial environments: processes of cementation, dissolution, neomorphism, recrystallization, dolomitization, and silicification. Diagenesis of sandstone and mudstone: cementation by carbonate and clay minerals, compaction, dissolution, authigenic mineral formation, compaction, pressure solution.
3. Geochemistry of sedimentary rocks: principles of stable isotope geochemistry. The use of stable Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulphur isotopes in diagenesis, paleoclimatology and paleoceanography. The use of Sr isotopes and trace elements for the study of sedimentary rocks.
4. Techniques for diagenetic and geochemical investigations of sedimentary rocks: petrographic analysis, staining, cathodoluminescence, SEM, microprobe EDS and WDS, fluid inclusions, and stable isotope geochemistry.
2. Diagenesis of carbonate rocks in marine, meteoric and burial environments: processes of cementation, dissolution, neomorphism, recrystallization, dolomitization, and silicification. Diagenesis of sandstone and mudstone: cementation by carbonate and clay minerals, compaction, dissolution, authigenic mineral formation, compaction, pressure solution.
3. Geochemistry of sedimentary rocks: principles of stable isotope geochemistry. The use of stable Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulphur isotopes in diagenesis, paleoclimatology and paleoceanography. The use of Sr isotopes and trace elements for the study of sedimentary rocks.
4. Techniques for diagenetic and geochemical investigations of sedimentary rocks: petrographic analysis, staining, cathodoluminescence, SEM, microprobe EDS and WDS, fluid inclusions, and stable isotope geochemistry.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge on sedimentology, stratigraphy, petrography of sedimentary rocks and chemistry.
Teaching methods
Lectures and laboratory activities (polarized light microscopy, SEM, cathodoluminescence, stable isotope carbon and oxygen geochemistry) that will be held in presence.
Teaching Resources
- Lecture notes available on Ariel; pdf files provided by lecturer. At the end of each lecture some specific publications (articles from journals and book chapters) will be also suggested as reading list or provided as pdf.
- To refresh your understanding of carbonate rock components, diagenesis and microfacies visit the website
https://carbonateworld.com/
A web Atlas for the petrographic analysis of carbonate rocks
- Tucker, M. and Wright, V.P., 1990. Carbonate Sedimentology. Blackwell Science
- Moore, C.H., 2001. Carbonate Reservoirs: Porosity, Evolution & Diagenesis in a sequence stratigraphic framework Developments in Sedimentology Vol. 55, Elsevier.
- Flügel, E., 2004. Microfacies of carbonate rocks. Springer.
- McIlreath, I. A., and Morrow, D. W., 1990. Diagenesis. Vol. 4. Geological Assn of Canada.
- Ahr, W. M., 2008. Geology of carbonate reservoirs: the identification, description, and characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs in carbonate rocks. Wiley, 277 pp.
- Burley, S.D. and Worden, R.H., 2003. Sandstone diagenesis: recent and ancient. Blackwell Publishing.
- Hoefs, J., 2008. Stable isotope geochemistry. Springer Science & Business Media.
- Morse, J. W., & Mackenzie, F. T., 1990. Geochemistry of sedimentary carbonates (Vol. 48). Elsevier.
- Swart, P. K., 2015. The geochemistry of carbonate diagenesis: The past, present and future. Sedimentology, 62(5), 1233-1304.
- Scholle, P. A., & Ulmer-Scholle, D. S. (2003). A Color Guide to the Petrography of Carbonate Rocks: Grains, Textures, Porosity, Diagenesis, AAPG Memoir 77 (Vol. 77).
- To refresh your understanding of carbonate rock components, diagenesis and microfacies visit the website
https://carbonateworld.com/
A web Atlas for the petrographic analysis of carbonate rocks
- Tucker, M. and Wright, V.P., 1990. Carbonate Sedimentology. Blackwell Science
- Moore, C.H., 2001. Carbonate Reservoirs: Porosity, Evolution & Diagenesis in a sequence stratigraphic framework Developments in Sedimentology Vol. 55, Elsevier.
- Flügel, E., 2004. Microfacies of carbonate rocks. Springer.
- McIlreath, I. A., and Morrow, D. W., 1990. Diagenesis. Vol. 4. Geological Assn of Canada.
- Ahr, W. M., 2008. Geology of carbonate reservoirs: the identification, description, and characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs in carbonate rocks. Wiley, 277 pp.
- Burley, S.D. and Worden, R.H., 2003. Sandstone diagenesis: recent and ancient. Blackwell Publishing.
- Hoefs, J., 2008. Stable isotope geochemistry. Springer Science & Business Media.
- Morse, J. W., & Mackenzie, F. T., 1990. Geochemistry of sedimentary carbonates (Vol. 48). Elsevier.
- Swart, P. K., 2015. The geochemistry of carbonate diagenesis: The past, present and future. Sedimentology, 62(5), 1233-1304.
- Scholle, P. A., & Ulmer-Scholle, D. S. (2003). A Color Guide to the Petrography of Carbonate Rocks: Grains, Textures, Porosity, Diagenesis, AAPG Memoir 77 (Vol. 77).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The assessment and final mark in 30/30 will consist of two parts: 1) Individual research essay on a selected topic supported by published literature, figures and individual processing of information. Students have to demonstrate capacity of elaborating published literature and developing critical thinking. The topic could be selected according to the Master Thesis project or personal/scientific interest.
2) Written test or oral colloquium with questions relative to the teaching programme topics.
2) Written test or oral colloquium with questions relative to the teaching programme topics.
GEO/02 - STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours