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This course will focus on depositional facies as a result of sediment transport processes and on the techniques used in facies analysis. Examples of topics include debris flow vs. fluvial transport in alluvial fans; the role of avulsion; fluvial vs. wave vs. tidal transport in deltas and along coastlines; turbidity currents vs. debris flows in shallow to deep marine settings; biogenic controls on sediment transport and sediment production; aeolian vs. fluvial in arid environments. The balance between sediment supply, tectonic subsidence rate, and sea level change affects all of these.
This course will focus on depositional facies as a result of sediment transport processes and on the techniques used in facies analysis. The course will revolve around a field example of research in depositional facies analysis. The probable field site is the Pleistocene/Holocene cliff exposures at the mouth of the Conway River, North Canterbury. We will have a 1 day reconnaissance trip in the 1st weekend followed by an overnight trip later in the semester (exact date to be arranged, but some time before or during break). Seminar topics will vary depending on student interests and on the field site. Examples of topics include debris flow vs. fluvial transport in alluvial fans; the role of avulsion; fluvial vs. wave vs. tidal transport in deltas and along coastlines; turbidity currents vs. debris flows in shallow to deep marine settings; biogenic controls on sediment transport and sediment production; aeolian vs. fluvial in arid environments. The balance between sediment supply, tectonic subsidence rate, and sea level change affects all of these.
Seminars: will meet once a week, probably Monday 9-11 am in Room 315, to be confirmed.
Kari Bassett
Allen, P. A; Earth surface processes ; Blackwell Science, 1997.
Reading, H. G; Sedimentary environments : processes, facies, and stratigraphy ; 3rd ed; Blackwell Science, 1996.
This course will be run as a series of seminars in which class participation is encouraged. Responsibility for running the class will alternate between Dr Bassett and students. Students will each be responsible for organizing the reading and running at least one of the class lectures. The remaining students will have read the assigned reading and will come prepared to take part in a discussion. There will be 1 required field trip to be scheduled.
GEOL235 Earth Surface Processes or its equivalent is a prerequisite for this course.
Domestic fee $635.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Geological Sciences .