GEOL478-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025

Sedimentary Facies and Basin Analysis

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 14 July 2025
End Date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 27 July 2025
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 28 September 2025

Description

This course will focus on depositional facies in different types of sedimentary basins. Sedimentary systems respond to tectonically controlled basin structures which also affect subsidence and basin geometry. Tectonic setting also determines the prevalence of volcanism which can interact with sedimentary processes. Seminar topics will be based on depositional settings and put into the context of tectonic setting with an emphasis on how it can be applied to petroleum systems. As such, understanding basin geometry and the response of sedimentary processes to basin bounding structures will frame the discussion. Day trips in the field will look at outcrop from a petroleum systems perspective. Seminars will be structured around topics that will vary depending on student interests.

This course will focus on depositional environments in different types of sedimentary basins from different tectonic settings. Sedimentary systems respond to tectonically controlled basin structures which also affect subsidence and basin geometry.  Tectonic setting also determines the prevalence of volcanism which can interact with sedimentary processes.  Seminar topics will be based on depositional settings and put into the context of tectonic setting with an emphasis on how it can be applied to reconstructing past landscapes and tectonic reconstruction.  As such, understanding basin geometry and the response of sedimentary processes to basin bounding structures will frame the discussion.  Day trips in the field will look at outcrop.  Seminars will be structured around topics that will vary depending on student interests.

Learning Outcomes

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. We will have two field trips to see basins in outcrop.  

Learning goals are focussed around professional skills such as public speaking, writing clearly, reviewing others’ writing, and independent reading and literature review in the context of sedimentary environments, basin analysis, and petroleum systems.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Employable, innovative and enterprising

Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

Globally aware

Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Head of Department.

Timetable 2025

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Monday 15:00 - 17:00 Ernest Rutherford 460
14 Jul - 24 Aug
8 Sep - 19 Oct
Field Trip A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Sunday 08:00 - 18:00 Ilam fields
28 Jul - 3 Aug
Field Trip B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Sunday 08:00 - 18:00 Ilam fields
15 Sep - 21 Sep

Timetable Note

One two-hour seminar per week (timetabled centrally)
Two weekend fieldtrips (currently timetabled 8-9 Aug and 19 Sept)

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Kari Bassett

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Journal Article 10% Informal Presentation of journal article
Written Manuscript 50% Journal style written manuscript
Review 20% Review of classmate's paper
Final Exam 20% Final written exam on readings during semester

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

Allen, P. A. , Allen, John R; Basin analysis : principles and application to petroleum play assessment ; Third edition; Wiley-Blackwell, 2013 (http://site.ebrary.com/lib/uofcanterbury/detail.action?docID=10713576).

Busby, Cathy , Ingersoll, Raymond V; Tectonics of sedimentary basins ; Blackwell Science, 1995.

Dalrymple, Robert W. , James, Noel P., Geological Association of Canada; Facies models 4 ; Geological Association of Canada, 2010.

Posamentier, Henry W. , Walker, Roger G; Facies models revisited ; Society for Sedimentary Geology, 2006.

Recommended textbook(s):
These are on reserve in the library or can be purchased from book websites.

Notes

Prerequisites: GEOL243 Depositional Environments and Stratigraphy, and GEOL331 Principles of Basin Analysis, or equivalents or with permission.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,253.00

* 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 School of Earth and Environment .

All GEOL478 Occurrences

  • GEOL478-25S2 (C) Semester Two 2025