Advanced clastic sedimentology

Teaching semester

Spring. Intensive course

Objectives and Content

This course first gives a comprehensive review of sediment mobility under unidirectional, bidirectional and gravitational currents. It is explained how depositional processes are recognized and interpreted from the characteristics of sediment texture, bedform geometry and sedimentological structures. Next, a brief overview of how the various processes operate and their sedimentary products (facies) are spatially distributed in diverse depositional systems, such as fluvial and coastal environments, shallow- and deep-marine environments, and glacial environments is given. The subsequent lectures are combined with practical exercises to give a comprehensive background for facies analysis of sedimentary successions, including elementary principles of sequence-stratigraphic interpretation. The course as a whole gives students a good knowledge of physical sedimentology and a solid foundation for further work within the field of sedimentology.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student can:

• explain the physical processes behind transport and deposition of sediment
• explain fundamental processes within fluid dynamics relevant for sediment transport
• understand how processes within fluid dynamics lead to formation of different sedimentary structures
• explain physical processes behind different types of mass movement
• explain different processes which act in fluvial environments, and explain different models for such deposits
• explain different processes which act in fluvial environments, and explain different models for such deposits
• explain different processes which act in shallow-marine environments, and explain different models for such deposits
• explain different processes which act in shelf-, slope and deep marine environments, and explain different models for such deposits
• explain different processes which act in glacial environments, and explain different models for such deposits

Skills
The student can

• interpret sedimentological observation as expressions of different physical processes
• accurately describe sedimentological successions
• utilize many different data types in order to understand sedimentary deposits, such as outcrops, landscapes, aerial imagery, seismic data and cores

General competence
The student

• gets a foundation for independent work and learning in sedimentology

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures: 2 hours per week for13 weeks

Practicals: 3 days. 1 at the uib, two consecutive at Statoil¿s core store.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

Compulsory participation in all practicals.

• Practicals must be approved in order to sit the exam
• Oral presentation of given core interval must be approved in order to sit the exam

Forms of Assessment

Written exam (100%) - 4 hours. Digital examination, please visit: http://www.uib.no/en/student/87471/digital-assessment-students.

Examination Support Material

All calculators, according to the faculty regulations.

Assessment Semester

Examination both spring semester and autumn semester. In semesters without teaching the examination will be arranged at the beginning of the semester

Reading List

The reading list will be available within June 1st for the autumn semester and Deecember 1st for the spring semester.

Course Evaluation

The course will be evaluated by the students in accordance with the quality assurance system at UiB and the department

Programme Committee

The Programme Committee is responsible for the content, structure and quality of the study programme and courses.

Course Coordinator

The course coordinator and administrative contact person can be found on Mitt UiB, or you may contact studierettleiar@geo.uib.no

Course Administrator

The Faculty for Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Department of Earth Science has the administrative responsibility for the course and program