Exam 1 Sed Strat

Physical Weathering

The process (wet/dry, thermal, overburden release, etc.) that breaks down rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Chemical Weathering

The process (hydrolysis, hydration, redox, ion exchange, etc.) that alters the chemical structure of minerals, producing secondary minerals and soluble materials.

Goldich Stability Series

A series that ranks minerals based on their stability under weathering conditions, influencing weathering rates.

Paleosols

Ancient soil horizons that indicate past environmental conditions, often diagnosed by their soil horizons, bioturbation, and secondary minerals.

Fluid Properties

Characteristics like viscosity that describe the behavior of fluids in geological processes.

Laminar Flow

A type of fluid flow where fluid moves in smooth paths, typically occurring at lower velocities and viscosity.

Turbulent Flow

A chaotic fluid flow where mixing occurs, usually at higher velocities and lower viscosities.

Entrainment

The process of incorporating sediment particles into a fluid flow for transport.

Sediment Gravity Flows

Sediment movement driven by gravity, such as debris flows, slumps, and turbidites.

Sed Descriptor

Terms related to sediment characteristics including size, shape, sorting, and texture that provide insights into sedimentary environments.

Diagenesis

The physical and chemical changes that sediments undergo to form sedimentary rocks after deposition.

Facies

Distinctive features of sedimentary rock bodies that represent specific depositional environments.

Deltas

Landforms created by sediment deposition at river mouths, characterized by topsets, foresets, and bottomsets.

Beach Dynamics

Processes involving beach zones, tidal ranges, and wave actions that influence sediment deposition and movement.

Shelf Environments

Continental shelf areas where normal and event sedimentation processes occur, influenced by various depositional events.

Reef Environments

Marine areas dominated by coral reefs, their zones, and evolution with changes in base level.

Walther’s Law

A principle stating that sedimentary deposits reflect changes in environments, with adjacent facies appearing in vertical successions.

Braided Fluvial Systems

Rivers characterized by multiple interlacing channels that are often unvegetated, resulting in specific sedimentary structures.

Meandering Fluvial Systems

Rivers with sinuous channels, forming various features like cut banks, point bars, and floodplains.

Transgression

The process where sea levels rise and ocean water floods land; reflected in sedimentary layers.

Regression

The process where sea levels fall and land emerges from the ocean; also influences sedimentary environments.