12
a CONTINENTAL, LACUSTRINE
OF DIFFERENT TECTONIC SETTINGS
b
VARYING
SUBSIDENCE BASE LEVEL
OF EROSION
SEDIMENT SOURC~
(PLAN VIEW).---j
---,
ONE,
TWO-OR MULTIONE,
NEARBY SOURCE SYSTEM DISTANT
NEARBY
,
, I
"
-,'
Fig, 1.7 a-d. Overview of various depositional environments, based primarily on basin morphology (a and c)
and peri-basin characteristics (b and d)_ All these
1.4.3 Depositional Environments (Overview)
On the surface of our present-day globe, on land and
below the sea, hundreds of depositional areas are
known which meet the defmition of sedimentary basins as described in Seetion 1.1. If we add to this list
medium to large ancient sedimentary basins whose fill
is stilliargely preserved, we have some thousand sedimentary basins. Taking into account this large number
and the many factors controlling a sedimentary environment, it appears at first glance that an enormous
number of differing depositional environments should
exist. This is in fact the case, but nevertheless it is possible to subdivide this great quantity into a limited
number of distinct groups which have many characteristics in common.
Chapter 1 Basin Classification
C ADJACENT SEA BASINS
OF DIFFERENT TECTONIC SETTING AND
SUBSIDENCE
SHALLOW
DEEP
SHALLOWDEEP
ASYMMETRie
SYMMETRie SYMMETRie
,~-er ·<~t~
OPENING~
d
NARROW,
SHALLOW
WIDE ,
DEEP
VARYING
SHALLOW
SEGMENTED BASIN
BA
~
-
OR DEEP
OPEN DEEP
SEA
UNDER VARIOUS CLiMATES AND
WITH DIFFERING INPUT OF
TERRIGENOUS SEDIMENTS
basins are strongly affected by variations in terrigenous
input under differing conditions of relief and climate.
For further explanation see text
their depositional environment and basin morphology.
However, peri-basin geomorphology and climate also
playa role. One can distinguish between several principal groups, for example:
- Continental (fluvial, glacial, eolian), lacustrine, and
deltaic environments.
- Adjacent sea basins and epicontinental seas of varying salinity.
- Marine depositional areas of normal salinity_
As an alternative, a group of "transitional" environments may be defined between continental and marine
environments (e.g., Davis 1983). This group includes
marine deltas, intertidal environments, coastal lagoons,
estuaries, and barrier island systems (cf. Chap. 3). In
Part 11 of this book, a more diversified classification is
used with the following main groups:
Such depositional environment models have been extensively described in several textbooks (e.g., Reineck and
Singh 1980; Blatt et al. 1980; Walker 1984a; Walker and
James 1992; Selley 1985a and b; Reading 1986a, 1996;
Boggs 1987), and single groups of environments have been
dealt with repeatedly in special publications, memoirs, short . -
- Continental sediments.
Coastal and shallow sea sediments (including carbonates).
course notes, etc. (cf. Chaps. 2 and 3).
In Figures 1.7 and 1.8 the various types of sedimentary basins are predorninantly classified according to
- Sediments of adjacent seas and estuaries.
- Oceanic sediments.
- Special sediments and environments.
a CONTINENTAL, LACUSTRINE
OF DIFFERENT TECTONIC SETTINGS
b
VARYING
SUBSIDENCE BASE LEVEL
OF EROSION
SEDIMENT SOURC~
(PLAN VIEW).---j
---,
ONE,
TWO-OR MULTIONE,
NEARBY SOURCE SYSTEM DISTANT
NEARBY
,
, I
"
-,'
Fig, 1.7 a-d. Overview of various depositional environments, based primarily on basin morphology (a and c)
and peri-basin characteristics (b and d)_ All these
1.4.3 Depositional Environments (Overview)
On the surface of our present-day globe, on land and
below the sea, hundreds of depositional areas are
known which meet the defmition of sedimentary basins as described in Seetion 1.1. If we add to this list
medium to large ancient sedimentary basins whose fill
is stilliargely preserved, we have some thousand sedimentary basins. Taking into account this large number
and the many factors controlling a sedimentary environment, it appears at first glance that an enormous
number of differing depositional environments should
exist. This is in fact the case, but nevertheless it is possible to subdivide this great quantity into a limited
number of distinct groups which have many characteristics in common.
Chapter 1 Basin Classification
C ADJACENT SEA BASINS
OF DIFFERENT TECTONIC SETTING AND
SUBSIDENCE
SHALLOW
DEEP
SHALLOWDEEP
ASYMMETRie
SYMMETRie SYMMETRie
,~-er ·<~t~
OPENING~
d
NARROW,
SHALLOW
WIDE ,
DEEP
VARYING
SHALLOW
SEGMENTED BASIN
BA
~
-
OR DEEP
OPEN DEEP
SEA
UNDER VARIOUS CLiMATES AND
WITH DIFFERING INPUT OF
TERRIGENOUS SEDIMENTS
basins are strongly affected by variations in terrigenous
input under differing conditions of relief and climate.
For further explanation see text
their depositional environment and basin morphology.
However, peri-basin geomorphology and climate also
playa role. One can distinguish between several principal groups, for example:
- Continental (fluvial, glacial, eolian), lacustrine, and
deltaic environments.
- Adjacent sea basins and epicontinental seas of varying salinity.
- Marine depositional areas of normal salinity_
As an alternative, a group of "transitional" environments may be defined between continental and marine
environments (e.g., Davis 1983). This group includes
marine deltas, intertidal environments, coastal lagoons,
estuaries, and barrier island systems (cf. Chap. 3). In
Part 11 of this book, a more diversified classification is
used with the following main groups:
Such depositional environment models have been extensively described in several textbooks (e.g., Reineck and
Singh 1980; Blatt et al. 1980; Walker 1984a; Walker and
James 1992; Selley 1985a and b; Reading 1986a, 1996;
Boggs 1987), and single groups of environments have been
dealt with repeatedly in special publications, memoirs, short . -
- Continental sediments.
Coastal and shallow sea sediments (including carbonates).
course notes, etc. (cf. Chaps. 2 and 3).
In Figures 1.7 and 1.8 the various types of sedimentary basins are predorninantly classified according to
- Sediments of adjacent seas and estuaries.
- Oceanic sediments.
- Special sediments and environments.