Sedimentary Processes, Environments and Basins

Sedimentology is a core discipline of earth and environmental sciences. It enquires the origins, transport and deposition of mineral sediment on the Earth's surface. The subject is a link between positive effects arising from the building of relief by tectonics and the negative action of denudation in drainage catchments and tectonic subsidence in sedimentary basins. The author addresses the principles of the subject, emphasising the advantages of a general science approach and the importance of understanding modern processes. Sedimentology and Sedimentary Basins is not an encyclopaedia, but attempts to stimulate interdisciplinary thought across the whole subject area and related disciplines. The book has been designed to meet the needs of earth and environmental science undergraduates.

The motivation for this volume came from the idea that the Precambrian is the key, both to the present, and to the understanding of the Earth as a whole. The Precambrian constitutes about 85% of Earth's history, and of that, about 3.75 billion years of Precambrian time, represented by rocks, are accessible to geoscientists. Ancient atmospheric and environmental conditions can be traced back to the time when the Earth was only about 250 million years old. Precambrian rocks supply almost 75% of important mineral resources such as Fe, Mn, Au, Pt and Cr. Many of these elements are associated with sedimentary rocks and some important hydrocarbon, coal and graphite deposits are also hosted by Precambrian rocks. This volume is aimed at geoscientists interested in Precambrian sedimentary rocks and at students of Earth history. It contains review articles discussing Precambrian conditions and case studies from Precambrian shields and successions of North and South America, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia and India. The introductory papers, written by experts on Precambrian environments, treat comprehensively the application of actualism to the Precambrian, the evolution and influence of life on the sedimentary rock record, the genesis of Banded Iron Formations, the Precambrian sulphur cycle and the significance of Precambrian chemical carbonate precipitates. The case studies include depositional settings and processes in Archean terranes, in Paleoproterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on the lack of vegetation and weathering, and in late Proterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on glacial deposits. The contributions demonstrate that Precambrian sedimentary deposits are commonly similar to their Phanerozoic counterparts in terms of composition, sedimentary processes, and depositional setting, but may differ significantly as a result of lack of vegetation, climatic and biological constraints, composition and circulation of seawater, and the secular involvement of continental crust. Contains review articles discussing Precambrian conditions and case studies from Precambrian shields and successions of North and South America, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia and India. The introductory papers, written by experts on Precambrian environments, treat comprehensively the application of actualism to the Precambrian, the evolution and influence of life on the sedimentary rock record, the genesis of Banded Iron Formations, the Precambrian sulphur cycle and the significance of Precambrian chemical carbonate precipitates. Detailed case studies include depositional settings and processes in Archean terranes, in Paleoproterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on the lack of vegetation and weathering, and in late Proterozoic sequences, with some emphasis on glacial deposits. Written for geoscientists interested in Precambrian sedimentary rocks and students of Earth history. If you are a member of the International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS), for purchasing details, please see: http://www.iasnet.org/publications/details.asp?code=SP33

Investigating the complex interplay between tectonics and sedimentation is a key endeavor in modern earth science. Many of the world's leading researchers in this field have been brought together in this volume to provide concise overviews of the current state of the subject. The plate tectonic revolution of the 1960's provided the framework for detailed models on the structure of orogens and basins, summarized in a 1995 textbook edited by Busby and Ingersoll. Tectonics of Sedimentary Basins: Recent Advances focuses on key topics or areas where the greatest strides forward have been made, while also providing on-line access to the comprehensive 1995 book. Breakthroughs in new techniques are described in Section 1, including detrital zircon geochronology, cosmogenic nuclide dating, magnetostratigraphy, 3-D seismic, and basin modelling. Section 2 presents the new models for rift, post-rift, transtensional and strike slip basin settings. Section 3 addresses the latest ideas in convergent margin tectonics, including the sedimentary record of subduction intiation and subduction, flat-slab subduction, and arc-continent collision; it then moves inboard to forearc basins and intra-arc basins, and ends with a series of papers formed under compessional strain regimes, as well as post-orogenic intramontane basins. Section 4 examines the origin of plate interior basins, and the sedimentary record of supercontinent formation. This book is required reading for any advanced student or professional interested in sedimentology, plate tectonics, or petroleum geoscience. Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/busby/sedimentarybasins.

The application of multibeam and sediment transport measurement technologies and the adoption of multi-faceted research methodologies have greatly advanced our understanding of the sedimentary processes on continental shelves in the last decade. This book uniquely blends cutting-edge research and state-of-the art review articles that take stock of new advances in multibeam mapping and sediment transport technologies, spatial analysis and modelling, and the applications of these advances to the understanding of shelf sediments, morphodynamics, and sedimentary processes. Case studies are also presented to illustrate the utilization of seabed property and process knowledge in habitat mapping and ocean management With its mix of papers focusing on technological advances, integration of shelf morphology and processes, and the application of these advances to coastal and ocean management, this Special Publication volume will serve as a milestone reference for professional marine scientists and as advanced text for students in marine geology, sedimentology and oceanography. This book is part of the International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS) Special Publications. The Special Publications from the IAS are a set of thematic volumes edited by specialists on subjects of central interest to sedimentologists. Papers are reviewed and printed to the same high standards as those published in the journal Sedimentology and several of these volumes have become standard works of reference.

Associating ice masses with the transport and deposition of sediments has long formed a central theme in glaciology and glacial geomorphology. The reason for this focus is clear, in that ice masses are responsible for much of the physical landscape which characterizes the Earth's glaciated regions. This association also holds at a variety of scales, for example, from the grain-size characteristics of small-scale moraines to the structural architecture of large-scale, glacigenic sedimentary sequences in both surface and subaqueous environments. This volume brings numerous state-of-the-art research contributions together, each relating to a different physical setting, spatial scale, process or investigative technique. The result is a diverse and interesting collection of papers by glaciologists, numerical modellers and glacial geologists, which are all linked by the theme of investigating the relationships between the behaviour of ice masses and their resulting sedimentary sequences.

Written by a multidisciplinary group of soil and environmental scientists, Biophysico-Chemical Processes of Heavy Metals and Metalloids in Soil Environments provides the scientific community with a critical qualitative and quantitative review of the fundamentals of the processes of pollutants in soil environments. The book covers pollutants' speciation, mobility, bioavailability and toxicity, and impacts on development of innovative restoration strategies. In addition, the development of innovative remediation strategies for polluted soils is covered.

This book describes the paleomagnetism of sediments and sedimentary rocks, how sediments and sedimentary rocks become magnetized, and how the physical and chemical processes involved can affect the accuracy of paleomagnetism. Topics covered include depositional and post-depositional remanence acquisition, the detection and correction of compaction-caused inclination shallowing, reduction diagenesis of magnetic minerals, chemical remagnetization, and rotation of remanence by grain-scale rock strain. The book also has a chapter on environmental paleomagnetism, including examples of the new technique of high-resolution rock magnetic cyclostratigraphy and its application to sedimentary sequences. By emphasising the accuracy of sedimentary paleomagnetism and the magnitude of post-depositional processes that can affect it, the book will be invaluable in the geologic interpretation of sedimentary paleomagnetic data. Paleomagnetism of Sedimentary Rocks will be welcomed by paleomagnetists, students of paleomagnetism and all Earth scientists who use sedimentary paleomagnetic data in their research. Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/kodama/paleomagnetism.

The coastal zone is one of the most dynamic environments on our planet and is much affected by global change, especially sea-level rise. Coastal environments harbour valuable ecosystems, but they are also hugely important from a societal point of view. This book, which draws on the expertise of 21 leading international coastal scientists, represents an up-to-date account of coastal environments and past, present and future impacts of global change. The first chapter of the book outlines key principles that underpin coastal systems and their behaviour. This is followed by a discussion of key processes, including sea level change, sedimentation, storms, waves and tides, that drive coastal change. The main part of the book consists of a discussion of the main coastal environments (beaches, dunes, barriers, salt marshes, tidal flats, estuaries, coral reefs, deltas, rocky and glaciated coasts and coastal groundwater), and how these are affected by global change. The final chapter highlights strategies for coping with coastal change. Readership: final year undergraduate and postgraduate-level students on coastal courses in a wide range subjects, including geography, environmental management, geology, oceanography and coastal/civil engineering. The book will also be a valuable resource for researchers and applied scientists dealing with coastal environments. Additional resources for this book can be found at: www.wiley.com/go/masselink/coastal

The Almer?a Province of SE Spain, a semi-arid, tectonically active region, is the focus of a wide range of scientific teaching and research in the earth sciences by universities and associated bodies from around the world. This field guide provides an up-to-date and integrated approach to the geology and geomorphology of Almer?a Province, compiled by active scientific researchers in the region. The guide assumes a basic knowledge of geology and geomorphology and will be of interest to earth scientists at all levels from the keen amateur through to undergraduate/postgraduate students and academics visiting the region. The guide provides general background on the area, followed by a selection of specialized trips that progressively explore the structure and development of the basins, the shallow marine sedimentation, the continental sedimentation and finally the uplift, dissection and geomorphic evolution of the sedimentary basins. This is the first widely published field guide on the Almer?a Province and it is unique in both its coverage and integrated earth science approach, providing valuable support for both teaching and research in the region. If you are a member of the International Association of Sedimentologists, for purchasing details, please see: http://www.iasnet.org/publications/details.asp?code=FG1

Professor Li’s World Atlas of Oil and Gas Basins is a fresh and comprehensive treatise of the distribution of the world’s hydrocarbon reserves. The Atlas highlights the geographical, sedimentary and geological features of the basins, using a combination of maps and stratigraphic diagrams to depict the history, prospectivity and commercial production capacity of the reserves on a continental and country-by-country basis. The Atlas is an essential reference source for petroleum geologists and reservoir engineers working in hydrocarbon exploration and production. It is also a valuable and original teaching aid for university graduate and postgraduate courses. The Atlas provides a welcome addition to the global database of the world’s energy resources and is therefore an indispensable source of information for the formulation of future strategies to exploit oil and gas reserves. Written by one of China’s foremost petroleum geologists, the Atlas provides a rare analysis of the industry from the perspective of the country whose demand for oil and gas is set to become the largest in the next few decades. It is an important and vital scholarly work.