Mudstones and their diagenesis

Where have red coloured mudstones usually been deposited?

Intracontinental basin (eg. the interior of Australia today)

Importance of mudstones in CCS

Act as a seal to stop upwards CO2 leakage and escape

Importance of mudstones for petroleum

Act as seals and source rocks for oil and gas

Importance of mudstones in engineering and landslips

Weak planes so slope failures and landslips are common

Importance of mudstones in nuclear disposal facilities

Will host the UK Geological Disposal Facility which will be 1000m deep and will stop the escape of dangerous radioactive materials

What is the difference between mudstone and shale?

Mudstones break into blocky pieces whereas shales break into thin chips with roughly parallel tops and bottoms

What are clays?

Grains less than 4 micrometers (microns)

What are clay minerals?

Hydrous alumino-silicates with a sheet-like crystal structure

What is mudstone a mixture of?

Clay and silt

What is calcareous?

With carbonate

What is carbonaceous?

With organic material