6
1 INTRODUCTION
Table 1.1
Some of the Applications of Sedimentology
Application
Related fields
I. Environmental
II. Extractive
Sea-bed structures
Pipelines
Coastal erosion defenses
Quays, jetties, and
harbors
Opencast excavations
and tunneling
Foundations for
motorways
Airstrips and tower
blocks
Oceanography
Identification of
nuclear waste sites
Engineering geology
Soil mechanics and
rock mechanics
Sand and gravel
aggregates
Clays
Quarrying
A. Whole
Limestones
rock
Coal
removed
Phosphate
Mining geology
Evaporites
Sedimentary ores
B. Pore
~ Water
Hydrology
fluid
~ Oil
Petroleum geology
removed
Gas
First, however, some of the other uses of sedimentology are briefly reviewed. The emphasis throughout this book is on sedimentology and its relationship to ancient lithified
sedimentary rocks. It is important to note, however, that a large part of sedimentology
is concerned with modern sediments and depositional processes. This is not just to better interpret ancient sedimentary rocks. These studies are of vital importance in the manipulation of our environment (Bell, 1998). For example, the construction of modern
coastal erosion defenses, quays, harbors, and submarine pipelines all require detailed
site investigation. These investigations include the study of the regime of wind, waves,
and tides and of the physical properties of the bedrock. Such studies also include an
analysis of the present path and rate of movement of sediment across the site and the
prediction of how these will alter when the construction work is completed. It is well
known how the construction of a single pier may act as a trap for longshore drifting sediment, causing coastal erosion on one side and beach accretion on the other. The important interplay between sediments and the fluids that flow through them was mentioned
earlier. This topic is of great environmental importance. Porosity and permeability are
typically found in sediments, rather than in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Thus hydrogeology is principally concerned with evaluating the water resources of sedimentary
aquifers (Ingebritsen and Sanford, 1998). An increasingly important aspect of hydrogeology is the study of the flow of contaminants from man-made surface pollution into
the subsurface aquifer (Fetter, 1993).
1 INTRODUCTION
Table 1.1
Some of the Applications of Sedimentology
Application
Related fields
I. Environmental
II. Extractive
Sea-bed structures
Pipelines
Coastal erosion defenses
Quays, jetties, and
harbors
Opencast excavations
and tunneling
Foundations for
motorways
Airstrips and tower
blocks
Oceanography
Identification of
nuclear waste sites
Engineering geology
Soil mechanics and
rock mechanics
Sand and gravel
aggregates
Clays
Quarrying
A. Whole
Limestones
rock
Coal
removed
Phosphate
Mining geology
Evaporites
Sedimentary ores
B. Pore
~ Water
Hydrology
fluid
~ Oil
Petroleum geology
removed
Gas
First, however, some of the other uses of sedimentology are briefly reviewed. The emphasis throughout this book is on sedimentology and its relationship to ancient lithified
sedimentary rocks. It is important to note, however, that a large part of sedimentology
is concerned with modern sediments and depositional processes. This is not just to better interpret ancient sedimentary rocks. These studies are of vital importance in the manipulation of our environment (Bell, 1998). For example, the construction of modern
coastal erosion defenses, quays, harbors, and submarine pipelines all require detailed
site investigation. These investigations include the study of the regime of wind, waves,
and tides and of the physical properties of the bedrock. Such studies also include an
analysis of the present path and rate of movement of sediment across the site and the
prediction of how these will alter when the construction work is completed. It is well
known how the construction of a single pier may act as a trap for longshore drifting sediment, causing coastal erosion on one side and beach accretion on the other. The important interplay between sediments and the fluids that flow through them was mentioned
earlier. This topic is of great environmental importance. Porosity and permeability are
typically found in sediments, rather than in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Thus hydrogeology is principally concerned with evaluating the water resources of sedimentary
aquifers (Ingebritsen and Sanford, 1998). An increasingly important aspect of hydrogeology is the study of the flow of contaminants from man-made surface pollution into
the subsurface aquifer (Fetter, 1993).