Sedimentary Environments

2-1-6 units. Partial Lab · Undergraduate

Covers the basic concepts of sedimentation from the properties of individual grains to large-scale basin analysis. Lectures cover sediment textures and composition, fluid flow and sediment transport, and formation of sedimentary structures. Depositional models, for both modern and ancient environments, are a major component and are studied in detail with an eye toward interpretation of depositional processes and reconstructing paleoenvironments from the rock record. Satisfies 6 units of Institute Laboratory credit. May be taken simultaneously with 12.110B , which includes an off-campus field trip over spring break. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.