1.2 SEDIMENTOLOGY AND THE EARTH SCIENCES
3
properties of sediments. Improved analytical techniques, including isotope geochemistry and fluid inclusion analysis, gathered new chemical data which improved understanding of sedimentology in general, and diagenesis in particular (Lewis and McConchie, 1994).
The renaissance of petrography enhanced our understanding of the relationship between diagenesis and pore fluids and their effects on the evolution of porosity and permeability in sandstones and carbonates. Similarly, it is now possible to begin to understand the relationships between clay mineral diagenesis and the maturation of organic
matter in hydrocarbon source beds.
Macrosedimentology has undergone a revolution in the last 30 years due to geophysics and sequence stratigraphy. Geophysical techniques can image sedimentary structures around a borehole, determine paleocurrent direction, and identify and measure
the mineralogy, porosity, and pore fluid composition of sediments. On a larger scale,
seismic data can now image the subsurface, revealing reefs, deltas, sandbars, and submarine fans several kilometers beneath the surface. As mentioned in the preface, however, this book is devoted to sensual sedimentology, not remotely sensed sedimentology.
A firm grounding in sensual sedimentology is essential before endeavoring to interpret
remotely sensed images of borehole walls and polychromatic 3D seismic pictures.
1.2 SEDIMENTOLOGY AND THE EARTH SCIENCES
Figure 1.1 shows the relationship between sedimentology and the basic sciences of biology, physics, and chemistry. The application of one or more of these fundamental sciences to the study of sediments gives rise to various lines of research in the earth sciences. These are now reviewed as a means of setting sedimentology within its context
of geology. Biology, the study of animals and plants, can be applied to fossils in ancient
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Fig. 1.1. Triangular diagram that shows the relationship between sedimentology and the fundamental
sciences.
3
properties of sediments. Improved analytical techniques, including isotope geochemistry and fluid inclusion analysis, gathered new chemical data which improved understanding of sedimentology in general, and diagenesis in particular (Lewis and McConchie, 1994).
The renaissance of petrography enhanced our understanding of the relationship between diagenesis and pore fluids and their effects on the evolution of porosity and permeability in sandstones and carbonates. Similarly, it is now possible to begin to understand the relationships between clay mineral diagenesis and the maturation of organic
matter in hydrocarbon source beds.
Macrosedimentology has undergone a revolution in the last 30 years due to geophysics and sequence stratigraphy. Geophysical techniques can image sedimentary structures around a borehole, determine paleocurrent direction, and identify and measure
the mineralogy, porosity, and pore fluid composition of sediments. On a larger scale,
seismic data can now image the subsurface, revealing reefs, deltas, sandbars, and submarine fans several kilometers beneath the surface. As mentioned in the preface, however, this book is devoted to sensual sedimentology, not remotely sensed sedimentology.
A firm grounding in sensual sedimentology is essential before endeavoring to interpret
remotely sensed images of borehole walls and polychromatic 3D seismic pictures.
1.2 SEDIMENTOLOGY AND THE EARTH SCIENCES
Figure 1.1 shows the relationship between sedimentology and the basic sciences of biology, physics, and chemistry. The application of one or more of these fundamental sciences to the study of sediments gives rise to various lines of research in the earth sciences. These are now reviewed as a means of setting sedimentology within its context
of geology. Biology, the study of animals and plants, can be applied to fossils in ancient
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Fig. 1.1. Triangular diagram that shows the relationship between sedimentology and the fundamental
sciences.