Depositional Environments (Paleogeography) Enter Enter

Depositional Environments (Paleogeography) Sedimentary rocks are composed of sediments formed by the weathering of older rocks. The process of erosion transports each piece of sediment to a new location where the sediment is deposited. If conditions are right, the deposited sediments will eventually become sedimentary rock. Different sediments accumulate in different geographic environments. Since the “present is the key to the past” observations of modern environments show that fine-grained particles (mud) are deposited in swamps, marshes, or on floodplains. Sand-sized particles are observed to accumulate in areas of higher energy, like beaches and sand bars. The precursor to limestone can be seen accumulating in shallow, warm, marine waters. The geology principle of uniformitarianism suggests we can use our understanding of today’s processes to decipher those of the past. With that in mind, each picture or illustration is accompanied by two questions: 1. What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? 2. What kinds of sedimentary rocks might these sediments ultimately produce? The goal is to begin to think of a sedimentary rock as more than just a rock. Instead, begin to see it as evidence of what the geography of the area was like in the geologic past. In this way, images of ancient environments, and changes in those environments demonstrated by vertical changes in rock type, become class discussion points. Back Next

DEI 01 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 01 Back Next

DEI 02 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 02 Back Next

DEI 03 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 03 Back Next

DEI 04 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 04 Back Next

DEI 05 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 05 Back Next

DEI 06 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 06 Back Next

DEI 07 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 07 Back Next

DEI 08 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 08 Back Next

DEI 09 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 09 Back Next

DEI 10 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 10 Back Next

DEI 11 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 11 Back Next

DEI 12 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 12 Back Next

DEI 13 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 13 Back Next

DEI 14 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 14 Back Next

DEI 15 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 15 Back Next

DEI 16 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 16 Back Next

DEI 17 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 17 Back Next

DEI 18 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 18 Back Next

DEI 19 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 19 Back Next

DEI 20 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 20 Back Next

DEI 21 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 21 Back Next

DEI 22 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 22 Back Next

DEI 23 What kinds of sediment might accumulate in this environment? What kinds of sedimentary rocks would these sediments produce? DEI 23 Back