The course aims to provide basic knowledge of Sedimentology and
Stratigraphy to interpret depositional systems in sedimentary
environments.
At the end of the course student should be able to:
- know marine and coastal depositional systems;
- interpret geologic time based on signals contained in sedimentary
rocks.

Basic knowledge of Geology and Palaeontology

Module SEDIMENTOLOGY (4 CFU – Prof. Giorgio Fontolan)
• Textural properties of sediments: Introduction. Particle size,
classifications, shape (roundness, sphericity), porosity, permeability;
Exercise on particle size data.
• Fluid mechanics: erosion, transport, and sediment deposition.
• Unidirectional flows, oscillatory flows, gravity flows, modes of transport
• Sedimentary structures: Bedforms and stratification from unidirectional
flows and from oscillatory flows; other types of sedimentary structures
(chemical, deformation, loading)
• Sedimentary environments: examples of continental (fluvial, glacial,
aeolian, lacustrine) and marine (coastal and deep) sedimentary
environments, with associated facies and depositional palimpsests

Module STRATIGRAPHY (4 CFU – Prof. Carlo Corradini)
• Introduction to Stratigraphy.
Definitions. Stenone's principles: original horizontality; original continuity,
overlapping of the layers. Cross cutting relationship. Discontinuity.
Concept of faunal succession. Relative dating and construction of the
geological time scale. The “International Commission on Stratigraphy”
and its subcommissions.
• Principles of stratigraphic classification
The International Stratigraphic Code. Stratigraphic categories;
stratigraphic procedures; stratotypes.
Lithostratigraphic units and their hierarchy. Examples from the FVG.
Biostratigraphic units. Various types of biozone. The biostratigraphic
resolution. The concept of FAD / LAD and FO / LO. Biostratigraphic correlations. Applications. Exercises
Chronostratigraphic and geochronological units. Definitions and reports.
The GSSP concept. Geochronological methods and dating.
Relations between lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and
chronostratigraphic units. Biozonation schemes. Applications in the field
and in the core samples. (Micro)fossils important for stratigraphy in the
various time intervals. Applications.
Outline of Magnetostratigraphy. Paleomagnetism, applications of the
methodology, examples. The geomagnetic scale.
Chemostratigraphy: Basics of geochemistry of stable isotopes (O, C, S
and Sr). Isotope stratigraphy: meaning and applications.
• Introduction to sequence stratigraphy.
Introduction. Absolute and relative sea level variation, transgressions and
regressions. The Depositional Sequence (definition). Hierarchy of
depositional sequences. System Tracts. Sequence boundary,
transgressive, regressive surfaces, maximum flooding and their dynamic
interpretation.

Module CARBONATES (1 CFU – Prof. Marco Franceschi).
• Introduction to carbonate sedimentology. Carbonate sedimentation
environments; main macro- and micro- characteristics of carbonate
rocks; principles for the description and classification of carbonate rocks.

Nichols G. - Sedimentology and Stratigraphy. Blackwell, Oxford.

Wezel – Compulsare gli archivi storici della Terra – Boringhieri

Dispense preparate dal docente (Powerpoint delle lezioni)

ICS Timescale (app per Android

Module SEDIMENTOLOGY (4 CFU – Prof. Giorgio Fontolan)
• Textural properties of sediments: Introduction. Particle size,
classifications, shape (roundness, sphericity), porosity, permeability;
Exercise on particle size data.
• Fluid mechanics: erosion, transport, and sediment deposition.
• Unidirectional flows, oscillatory flows, gravity flows, modes of transport
• Sedimentary structures: Bedforms and stratification from unidirectional
flows and from oscillatory flows; other types of sedimentary structures
(chemical, deformation, loading)
• Sedimentary environments: examples of continental (fluvial, glacial,
aeolian, lacustrine) and marine (coastal and deep) sedimentary
environments, with associated facies and depositional palimpsests

Module STRATIGRAPHY (4 CFU – Prof. Carlo Corradini)
• Introduction to Stratigraphy.
Definitions. Stenone's principles: original horizontality; original continuity,
overlapping of the layers. Cross cutting relationship. Discontinuity.
Concept of faunal succession. Relative dating and construction of the
geological time scale. The “International Commission on Stratigraphy”
and its subcommissions.
• Principles of stratigraphic classification
The International Stratigraphic Code. Stratigraphic categories;
stratigraphic procedures; stratotypes.
Lithostratigraphic units and their hierarchy. Examples from the FVG.
Biostratigraphic units. Various types of biozone. The biostratigraphic
resolution. The concept of FAD / LAD and FO / LO. Biostratigraphic correlations. Applications. Exercises
Chronostratigraphic and geochronological units. Definitions and reports.
The GSSP concept. Geochronological methods and dating.
Relations between lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and
chronostratigraphic units. Biozonation schemes. Applications in the field
and in the core samples. (Micro)fossils important for stratigraphy in the
various time intervals. Applications.
Outline of Magnetostratigraphy. Paleomagnetism, applications of the
methodology, examples. The geomagnetic scale.
Chemostratigraphy: Basics of geochemistry of stable isotopes (O, C, S
and Sr). Isotope stratigraphy: meaning and applications.
• Introduction to sequence stratigraphy.
Introduction. Absolute and relative sea level variation, transgressions and
regressions. The Depositional Sequence (definition). Hierarchy of
depositional sequences. System Tracts. Sequence boundary,
transgressive, regressive surfaces, maximum flooding and their dynamic
interpretation.

Module CARBONATES (1 CFU – Prof. Marco Franceschi).
• Introduction to carbonate sedimentology. Carbonate sedimentation
environments; main macro- and micro- characteristics of carbonate
rocks; principles for the description and classification of carbonate rocks.

Lectures; laboratories; field excursions.

Reception hours: to be agreed upon with the student on a as needs basis.

Oral exam with questions on all parts of the programme.