Sedimentary Basins

Chapter 5 of Historical Geology

geosyncline

a trough at the edge of continents that sank does and accumulated sediment (large, fairly linear basin)

who proposed the geosyncline

James Dwight Dana

miogeosyncline

edge on continent side with shallow-marine sandstones and shales

eugeosyncline

further offshore thicker edge of deep-water shales and sandstones

craton

stable part of continent that has not been deformed in a long time

flysch

deep marine sediments formed of alternating sandstone and shale, folded during oregeny

molasse

river and delta deposits, shallow water, post-orogeny sediments from mountains on top of flysch

eugeosyncline contained

volcanic rocks and sediments not derived from the nearest continent but from “tectonic land”