Lithofacies

Lithofacies

This series of articles deals with the description and interpretation of sedimentary rocks. The focal point in each article is the lithofacies, the basic descriptive unit for all sedimentary rocks; it is the starting point for any investigation. The key elements of lithofacies descriptions are that they derive from reasonably objective criteria, and they simplify the complex geology.

Lithofacies are the cornerstone for a hierarchy of analytical tools: Bounding surfaces, lithofacies assemblages, architectural elements, and facies models.

Sandstone lithofacies

Sedimentary lithofacies – An introduction

Ripple lithofacies: Ubiquitous bedforms

Climbing ripple lithofacies

Ripple lithofacies influenced by tides

Tabular and trough crossbed lithofacies

Laminated sandstone lithofacies

Low-angle crossbedded sandstone

Hummocky and swaley cross-stratification

Antidune lithofacies

Lithofacies beyond supercritical antidunes

Subaqueous dunes influenced by tides

The three pycnals: Hypo-, homo-, and hyper

Storms and storm surges: Forces at play

Storm surges and tempestites

Evolving tempestite lithofacies models

Graded-bedding lithofacies

Gravel lithofacies

Introducing coarse-grained lithofacies

Crossbedded gravel lithofacies

Beach and shoreface gravels

Debris flow lithofacies

The lithofacies of mountain streams

The lithofacies of colluvium

Three posts on tempestites

3 Evolving tempestite lithofacies models

2 Storm surges and tempestites

1 Storms and storm surges: Forces at play

Seagrass, mangrove, and salt marsh lithofacies

Seagrass meadows and ecosystems

Seagrass lithofacies in the rock record

Mangrove ecosystems

Mangrove lithofacies

Geological models

Geological models: An introduction

Model dimensions and dimensional analysis

Analogue models

Analogue models of faults: scaling the materials

Strike-slip analogue models