Depositional Environments and

Sedimentary Facies

Depositional Environments
Clastic vs. Carbonate Depositional Systems
Short and Long
Depositional Systems
Facies
The sum of the characteristics of a sedimentary unit resulting from
some particular set of physical, chemical and biological parameters
that work to produce a unit with specific textural, structural, and
compositional properties
(after Boggs, 2001)
- Generally interpretive
- Not specific to a rock, but to a predicted set of characteristics
associated with some depositional environment
- Sometimes used differently
- E.g., To describe a rock unit in an outcrop
- sandstone facies
FACIES
The nature of the material deposited anywhere will be
determined by the physical, chemical or biological
processes which have occurred during the formation,
transport and deposition of sediment. Those processes also
define the environment of deposition
Nichols, 2001.

FACIES
Lithofacies
Based on lithology
Biofacies
Based on fossil assemblage
Ichnofacies
Based on trace fossil assemblage
Facies Types
Lithofacies
characteristics of a rock which are the products of PHYSICAL and
CHEMICAL processes
coarsening upward, fining upward
Biofacies
observations are based on fauna and flora present
Ichnofacies focuses on trace fossils
Examples
gray limestone rock = lithofacies
echinoid and crinoids = biofacies
burrows and tracks = ichnofacies

Environment of Deposition
Sedimentological analyses allow us to determine the
environment in which a sequence of sediments or rocks
accumulated
Texture
Composition/ Classification
Petrographic analyses (e.g., evaluate diagenesis)
Identify sedimentary structures
Compare results to modern environments
Also simulate conditions in laboratory experiments (Hjlstoms
curve)


Depositional Environments and Sedimentary
Facies

Depositional Environments
Areas of the Earths surface where distinct processes generate
specific geological (sedimentary) products
Physical
Biological
Chemical
Sedimentary (litho) Facies and
(litho) Facies Analysis
Sedimentary (litho) facies
Lithostratigraphic Units (time independent)
Defined by sum total of (relevant) rock
properties
Reflects processes during genesis and may
include
Lithology
Sedimentary Structures
Fossils
Bedding style and geometry (on various scales)
Paleo-sediment transport indicators
e.g.: hummocky cross stratified,
Zoophycus burrowed, fine- to
medium-grained, sandstone

Paleocurrents and Paleocurrent
Indicator Analysis
Paleocurrent indicators are oriented
sedimentary structures interpreted to have
been deposited by ancient flows
Cross-beds slip faces,
pebble imbrication,
parting lineation,
tool marks and groove casts, and
ripple crest orientation
Unidirectional Paleocurrent
Indicators
Cobble Imbrication
Bidirectional Paleocurrent
Indicators
Rose Diagram
Facies Analysis, Facies Associations,
Facies Sequences, and Facies Models
Reoccurring associations of sedimentary facies
(x-bdd channel fill sst with root mottled, mud cracked silt and clay stone see point-
bar model)

It is possible to more precisely
determine the sum total of
processes active at the site of
deposition and interpret
depositional environment
Facies sequences are recurring
(in the geological record) facies
associations which occur in a
particular order due to the
inherent temporal changes in
depositional conditions in
particular depositional
environments
Distinctive and Common Sedimentary
Facies Associations
Vertical successions principally identified by lithology, associations and
vertical arrangement of sedimentary structures
indicative of particular sedimentary depositional environments
DELTA
Distinctive and Common Sedimentary
Facies Associations
Vertical successions principally identified by lithology, associations and
vertical arrangement of sedimentary structures
indicative of particular sedimentary depositional environments
Distinctive and Common Sedimentary
Facies Associations
Vertical successions
principally identified by
lithology, associations and
vertical arrangement of
sedimentary structures
indicative of particular
sedimentary depositional
environments
Distinctive and Common Sedimentary
Facies Associations
Vertical successions principally identified by lithology, associations and
vertical arrangement of sedimentary structures
indicative of particular sedimentary depositional environments
Facies Analysis, Facies Associations,
Facies Sequences, and Facies Models
Facies Models are a general summary of a given depositional environment or
depositional system
Lithostratigraphic unit representing depositional processes and geographic location
The apparent existence of order
in Nature suggest that there are
(and have been through
geological time) a limited number
of different and recognizable
depositional systems
These depositional systems are
identified through the use of
Facies Models

Facies Analysis and Walthers Law
It is a basic statement of far reaching significance that only
those facies and facies areas can be super imposed primarily that
can be observed beside each other at the present time
Facies Analysis and Walthers Law
Gradational (vertical) transitions from one facies to another indicate original
adjacency and genetic relationship during formation.
Sharp/erosional (vertical) contacts between facies provides NO evidence of
contemporaneous genetic relationship of depositional environments
Depositional Systems Analysis
Depositional Systems:
(lithostratigraphic units)
Three dimensional
assemblages of lithofacies,
which are interpreted to be
genetically linked by process
and environment
Environments of Deposition
Continental
Fluvial alluvial fan, braided stream, meandering stream
Desert dunes, playa lakes, salinas
Lacustrine
Glacial
Deltaic delta plain, delta front, prodelta
Marginal- Marine
Beach/ barrier island
Estuary/ lagoon
Tidal Flat
Neritic continental shelf, organic reef
Marine
Pelagic continental slope and rise, deep- ocean floor

Environment of Deposition
Modern Analogue
Key to interpretting transport history of sediments and
rocks
Process/ Response Model
Based on idea that a particular set of environmental
conditions operating at a particular intensity will
produce a sedimentary deposit with a unique set of
properties that will identify if as the product of a
particular environment Boggs, 2001
Unique solution is overly optimistic!
Very useful nonetheless!
Process/ Response Model
Examples
Process Element
Ocean Basin
Deep water; low current velocity; settling dominates
Response Element
Laminated mudstone with abundant microfossils
As geologists, often have to work backwords
Obtain process from response
leads to set of predictions
what types of sedimentary structures/ associations will be deposited in
different environments
sedimentary structures/ associations aregenerally not unique to a single
environment
Loose definition for facies
Facies Analysis
The interpretation of strata in terms of depositional
environments
How?
Recognize sedimentary environments
Interpret rocks based on facies
Because there are no unique solutions cant simply analyze one
outcrop and understand it!
Rely heavily on facies associations
Vertical
Horizontal
Can use idealized model to assist in analysis
Facies Models
How facies models are created
NICHOLS FLOW CHART (FIG 5.1)
assign all beds in a succession to facies
look at patterns of distribution of facies
develop facies association and interpret in terms of
depositional environment
e.g., fining upwards is associated with turbidite
there are OTHER environments that have fining up!
need multiple criteria!
some of the criteria
look at associations of facies within basin
Facies Models
CAVEATS!
function as GUIDES for INTERPRETATION!
cant be SO inclusive to include everything
also may find that not everything is included
e.g., Bouma sequence!

How to perform a Facies
Analysis
Procedure
1. Measure the section
2. Develop detailed graphic sedimentary log
use standard symbols
3. Evaluate associated section
Quantitatively or qualitatively
4. Compare to facies models
5. Assess regional associations


How to make a stratigraphic column
Look at the rocks
This may seem obvious, but it is important before you begin to get
a general sense of the rocks in front of you. It will make it easier to
make a description of the rocks later if you get a good overview
first.
Look for changes in rock type
If the rocks in one part of the outcrop appear very different, then it
is possible that they should be their own "unit". Dividing the rock
outcrop into units is based on changes either in fossils, color, rock
type, and other factors, or all of these factors combined.
Measure the section
Once you have determined different units, you may then measure
the thicknesses of these units. (Geologists are generally not
particularly interested in the length of the rocks, only the widths.)
Start describing!
Now it's time to make specific observations about the rock you are
looking at. What fossils do you see? What is the color? What kind
of rock is it (sandstone, shale, limestone, or something else)?

STRATIGRAPHIC LOG
STRATIGRAPHIC LOG