Conglomerates

The conglomerates can be divided into three groups by their composition. The
volcaniclastic conglomerates, termed agglomerates, have already been described (see Section
8.4). The other two groups are the carbonate conglomerates (known sometimes as the
calcirudites) and the terrigenous conglomerates (silicirudites).
Continental carbonate conglomerates are rare because of their solubility in acid
groundwaters. Marine carbonate conglomerates are more common. The best known examples are
probably the "coral rock" boulder beds that form submarine screes around reef fronts. Thin layers
of carbonate clasts, often phosphatized, overlie chalk "hardground" horizons (see Section
9.2.5.1). The following account is concerned primarily with the terrigenous conglomerates.
Texturally, conglomerates may be conveniently divided into two types: grain-supported and
mud-supported conglomerates (Fig. 8.39). The mud-supported rudaceous rocks are properly
termed the "diamictites." In these the pebbles are seldom in contact with one another, but are
dispersed through a finer grained matrix like currants in a bun. The origin of these rocks was
discussed earlier in Section 4.4. It is apparent that the diamictites, or pebbly mudstones, originate
from various processes that are not well understood. Some are due to mud flows that occur both
in subaerial environments and underwater,

Figure 1. Photographs illustrating different conglomerate textures. (A) Matrix-supported

conglomerate from the Hassaouna Sandstone Group (Cambrian), Jebel Mourizidie, southern
Libya. (B) Clast-supported conglomerate with very well-rounded cobbles. The Budleigh
Salterton Pebble Bed (Triassic), Devon.

and mud-supported conglomerates (Fig. 8.39). The mud-supported rudaceous rocks are properly
termed the "diamictites." In these the pebbles are seldom in contact with one another, but are
dispersed through a finer grained matrix like currants in a bun. The origin of these rocks was
discussed earlier in Section 4.4. It is apparent that the diamictites, or pebbly mudstones, originate
from various processes that are not well understood. Some are due to mud flows that occur both
in subaerial environments and underwater, where they are sometimes termed "fluxoturbidites."
Other diamictites are glacial in origin. Notable examples are the Pleistocene boulder clays.
The second class of conglomerates, defined by texture, are grain supported. In these the
individual pebbles touch one another, but the intervening spaces are generally infilled by a
matrix of poorly sorted sand and clay. In fluvial conglomerates it is quite likely that this was a
primary depositional feature. In marine conglomerates, on the other hand, such as those beach
gravels that mark marine transgressions, it is more likely that there was no depositional matrix.
The matrix that is commonly present is probably due to infiltration from overlying sediment.
Conglomerates are deposited with high porosities but, because of their large throat passages, they
have excellent permeability.This high permeability enables porosity to be quickly destroyed by
matrix infiltrationeven before any cementation can occur.
Two further classes of conglomerate are defined according to the compositions of their
pebbles. Polymictic conglomerates are composed of pebbles of more than one type. Oligomictic
conglomerates have pebbles of only one rock type. Whereas the polymictic conglomerates are of
diverse composition, the oligomictic conglomerates are generally quartzose. This is because of
the chemical stability of silica. Thus the conglomerate of polycyclic sediments is commonly
made of pebbles of vein quartz, quartzite, and chert. Polymictic conglomerates are generally the
product of aggradation where tectonically active source areas shed wedges of fanglomerates.
Oligomictic conglomerates, by contrast, are generally the product of degradation where tectonic
stability allows extensivereworking to produce the laterally extensive basal conglomerates at
unconformities.
A third bipartite division of conglomerates is according to the source of the pebbles.
Extraformational or exotic conglomerates are composed of pebbles that originated outside the
depositional basin. Intraformational conglomerates contain pebbles of sediment that originated
within the depositional basin. The majority of limestone conglomerates are intraformational in
origin for the reason already stated. Intraformational sand conglomerates are rare because
unconsolidated sand lacks cohesion and disaggregates on erosion. Occasionally, however,
intraformational conglomerates of sand occur adjacent to petroleum seeps, where the oil acts as a
binding agent, allowing sand cobbles to be transported for some distance.
Mud intraformational conglomerates are commonly called "shale flake" or "shale pellet"
conglomerates. These are volumetrically insignificant, occurring in beds generally only one or
two clasts thick. Sedimentologically they are significant, however, because they indicate
penecontemporaneous erosion close to the site of deposition. Intraformational shale pellet
conglomerates are often present at the base of turbidite units and of channels.

This brief review of conglomerates shows that there is no consistent scheme of

nomenclature and classification.
Table 8.4 shows how descriptive terminology is based on divisions of texture, composition, and
source.

REFERENCES
Selley, R. C. (2000). Applied sedimentology. San Diego: Academic Press.