Course

Sedimentology & Stratigraphy

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Earth & Environmental Sciences
Course Code
EAES 2340
Credits
4.00
Semester Length
15 weeks
Max Class Size
35
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Lab
Field Experience
Typically Offered
Fall

Overview

Course Description
This course investigates the sedimentary rock record with the aim of determining depositional environments and their ages. The principles of stratigraphy and sedimentology will be used to show how environmental information can be interpreted from the rocks. Field trips will be required.
Course Content

1. Overview of sedimentary rocks and environments

2. Weathering, transport and deposition

3. Diagenesis

4. Sedimentary textures

5. Sedimentary structures

6. Siliciclastic rocks and their depositional environments

7. Carbonates

8. Evaporites

9. Sedimentary facies and their distribution in space and time

10. Lithostratigraphy

11. Biostratigraphy

12. Chemostratigraphy

13. Magnetostratigraphy

14. Sequence stratigraphy

15. Geochronology

16. Basin analysis and tectonics

17. Depositional environments of oil, gas and coal

Labs may include:

  • Common sedimentary minerals
  • Textural analysis of clastic materials
  • Sedimentary structures
  • Classification of sedimentary rocks
  • Sandstones and conglomerates in hand sample and thin section
  • Carbonates and evaporites in hand sample and thin section
  • Stratigraphic correlations and facies relationships
  • Core analysis and stratigraphic column construction
  • Sequence stratigraphy and oil
  • Depositional environments of coal and oil
Learning Activities

2 hours lecture and 4 hours lab. Field trips will be scheduled where appropriate.

Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy.  The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.  Evaluation will be based on the following:

Lab assignments             20-25%

Lab exam                       15-20%

Term paper                    10-15%

Midterm Exam                20%

Final Exam                     25-30%

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Use composition, grain size, textures, fossils and sedimentary structures to reconstruct sedimentary environments.
  • Apply stratigraphic principles and techniques to correlate rocks in space and time (including magnetostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy).
  • Interpret the geological history of an area by examining a column, outcrop or core of sedimentary rock.
  • Construct a stratigraphic column and log core.
  • Relate sedimentary processes and environments to tectonic settings.
  • Use petrographic techniques to identify, classify, determine the origin and describe the diagenetic history of carbonates, evaporites and siliciclastic rocks.
  • Describe and interpret environments of fossil fuel deposition.
Textbook Materials

Students should consult the bookstore for the latest required course materials, including the textbook.

Boggs Jr., S. Principles of Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, latest edition, or an equivalent text.

Requisites

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for EAES 2340
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX SOSC 2XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU GEOL 3XX (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU SCEL 2XX (4)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR GEOL 2XX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG GEOL 2XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU EASC 201 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU GEOL 2290 (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW SCIE 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO EESC_O 356 (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV EOSC_V 222 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC GEOG 2XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV GEOG 2XX (4)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC EOS 201 (1.5)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC EVSC 2XXX (3)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) No credit
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU GEOL 201 (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025