Courses:

Course Info

• Course Number / Code:
• 12.11 (Spring 2007) 
• Course Title:
• Sedimentary Geology 
• Course Level:
• Undergraduate 
• Offered by :
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  Massachusetts, United States  
• Department:
• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences 
• Course Instructor(s):
• Prof. John Southard 
• Course Introduction:
•  
• 
  
  12.110 Sedimentary Geology
  
  
  
  

  Spring 2007

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Course Highlights

  
  
  

  
  
  12.110 Sedimentary Geology
  
  
  
  

  Spring 2007

  
  
  

  

  Block diagram of cross-stratification produced by 3-D dunes in unidirectional flows. (Image by Prof. John Southard.)

  
  
  

  Course Description

  
  
  

  Survey of the important aspects of modern sediments and ancient sedimentary rocks. Emphasis is on fundamental materials, features, and processes. Textures of siliciclastic sediments and sedimentary rocks: particle size, particle shape, and particle packing. Mechanics of sediment transport. Survey of siliciclastic sedimentary rocks: sandstones, conglomerates, and shales. Carbonate sediments and sedimentary rocks; cherts; evaporites. Siliciclastic and carbonate diagenesis. Paleontology, with special reference to fossils in sedimentary rocks. Modern and ancient depositional environments. Stratigraphy. Sedimentary basins. Fossil fuels: coal, petroleum.