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This module introduces the basic principles and concepts of sedimentology. Building on existing knowledge on stratigraphy and mineralogy from the first year, sediments will be followed from their origin (precursor rocks that experienced weathering and erosion) through diverse modes of transport to their final place of deposition on land and in the sea. The formation of sedimentary textures and structures and their interpretation in terms of sedimentary environments, as well as post-depositional diagenetic processes, will be discussed. Furthermore, some economic aspects of sedimentology will be covered, such as placer deposits and conventional and renewable energy sources. Later parts in the course will concentrate on basin-forming processes and provide an overview of modern basin analysis. An introduction to sequence stratigraphy and sedimentary geochemistry will be offered as part of this, both of which are important applications of sedimentology for interpreting sea level variations and climatic changes.

Practical sessions: During the hands-on practicals, participants will learn how to classify rocks using a wide spectrum of different techniques while developing an appreciation of the processes that result in the formation of sediments, sedimentary rocks, and entire sedimentary sequences.
This will include presenting the fundamentals of optical mineralogy and how to examine some of the major minerals that comprise sedimentary rocks in thin sections using transmitted light microscopy. Further aspects of the practical sessions will focus on grain size/sieve analysis and basic statistical analysis. Sedimentary geochemistry will be used to identify the degrees of alteration and help interpret climatic and environmental conditions during the time of sediment emplacement. Furthermore, field data acquisition from sedimentary rocks, interpretation of sedimentary profiles and core logs, and writing of reports and oral presentations will be practiced.