Sedimentology

The sedimentology first deals with the description and classification of the different sediments and sedimentary rocks (eg sandstone or limestone ) on their composition and their relevant properties (eg porosity).

In addition, processes and conditions of the sediment formation ( rock destruction and transport) and the subsequent diagenesis ( rock formation) are explored. It 's about the rock formations and their lateral ( areal ) differences ( facies ) and vertical ( temporal ) differences ( in undisturbed storage, the lower layers Lying older than the upper layers ( hanging wall ): Storage rule of Nicolaus Steno ) to capture, understand and ultimately predict. One important approach is to close on the formation conditions of certain sediment types on today's deposition areas and climatic conditions in the geological past (the principle of uniformity ); In this way, geological processes are reconstructed.

Under a sediment is meant loose material ( geologically spoken of " loose rock "), which mobilized by physical or chemical weathering, transported by water, air or ice and then deposited ( " sedimented " ) or chemically / biochemically precipitated. The processes involved are dependent on the deposition area ( from the high mountains to deep -reaching ) and the climate is highly appreciated. If the unconsolidated material ( collectively referred to as " diagenesis " ) by various physical and chemical processes solidified arise sedimentary rocks. The formation of a sediment takes place in a relatively short period, however, may diagenetic processes the rock up to the present day over and over again throughout the following sections of the Earth's history - often in highly variable sequence - capture and change. While the educational processes play at or near the earth's surface, diagenetic processes can run up to depths of several thousand meters.