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Content
1. Introduction- Definition and History of facies
2. Types of facies- Lithofacies, ichnofacies, biofacies, seismic facies.
3. Facies sequence and facies association
4. Facies tools
5. Sedimentary log
6. Facie model
7. Facies analysis and environment
8. Applications and limitations of facies
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Definition and History of Facies
Facies is the aspect, appearance, and characteristics of a rock unit, usually
reflecting the conditions of its origin; especially as differentiating it from
adjacent or associated units.
The word facies was first introduced by a Swiss geologist, Amanz Gressly in
1838, as part of his contribution to the foundation to mordern stratigraphy.
Facies analysis refers to the interpretation of rocks and sediments for the
purpose of reconstructing the processes that were responsible for the original
deposition
4. Walther`s law of facies succession
In 1894, a German geologist in the person of Johannes walther
proposed that Facies that occur in conformable vertical successions of
strata also occur in laterally adjacent environments. Thus, facies
boundaries may shift so that the deposits of an adjacent environment may
lie directly atop those of a laterally related environment
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5. Types of facies
Lithofacies: These facies are characterized by sedimentary
attributes, such as grain-size, sedimentary structures, bedding,
color
Biofacies: These facies are Characterized by fossil content
(body fossils ) such as shell and tooth.
Seismic facies: These facies are Characterized by seismic
reflection amplitude and continuity. (Interpreted in terms of
large-scale lithologic characteristics).
Ichnofacies: The assemblage of trace fossils like foot prints
and burrow traces.
7. Facies Sequence and Facies Association
Facies association that reflect a particular depositional
environment is said to be formed when a group of different
individual facies caused by different processes all occur in the
same environment. These facies all share the same
environment.
Facies sequence or facies succession is a facies association in
which facies occur in a particular order. They occur when there
is a repetition of a series of processes as a response to regular
changes in conditions.
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11. Facies Tools
Facies tools are devices from which data associated with
facies analysis are acquired. They include :
Outcrops
Core samples
Wire line log
Seismic section
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14. Sedimentary Log
Sedimentary log also referred to as litholog is a graphical
representation of a series of beds in a sediment or
sedimentary rock.
Litho logs consist of the following sections:
Vertical and horizontal scale section
Lithology section
Facies name and facies code section
Process interpretation section
Environment interpretation section
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16. Facies model
Facies model is the general summary given to a depositional
system. It`s usually an interpretative device erected to explain a
facie assemblage.
Facies models could take the following form:
2D VERTICAL SUCCESSION DIAGRAM
3D BLOCK DIAGRAM
4D MODEL(SIMPLY 3D ADDED WITH PREVAILING
PROCESSES)
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3D BARRIER ISLAND BLOCK DIAGRAM
2D VERTICAL SUCCESSION
DIAGRAM FOR A DELTA
ENVIRONMENT
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4d facies model (adds understanding of process)
19. Facies analysis and environment
Deltaic facies and environment:
Delta can be classified based on energy into:
river dorminated delta
wave dorminated delta
tide dorminated delta
Deltas are generally characterized by top set bed, fore set bed,
and bottom set bed
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21. River dorminated delta
These are deltas in which river activities are prevalent at the delta ,
with the effects of wind and tides being minor at the delta front.
Examples include : Mississippi delta
River dominated deltas are usually characterized by :
distributary channel
interdistributary bay
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)
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River dominated: birds-foot delta(Mississippi-type)p
prodelta
Delta front
Delta plain
24. Distributary channel fill facies
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Ripple-laminated, fine-grained sand- & siltstone,
plant-rich & with palaeosol-coal units
… representing filling of shallow channel after avulsion
Trough & planar x-bedded sandstone
with unidirectional palaeocurrents
… representing migrating dunes/bars in channel
Massive, locally x-stratified sandstone with internal
erosion surfaces & some soft-sediment deformation
… representing main channel subject to flooding
Basal coarse lag deposit above erosional surface
… representing channel avulsion & erosion
into delta front progradation succession
25. Wave dorminated delta
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These deltas are dominated by wave action at the delta front .
Examples inlcude : Nile delta
A wave-dominated delta formed where wave activity reworks
the sediment brought to the delta front to form coastal sand
bars and extensive mouth-bar deposits.
27. Wave-dominated delta front succession
Medium-grained sand, plane-parallel lam. & low-
angle x-strat., passing into sand/mud with plant roots
... representing beach to non-marine deposit
Fine- to medium-grained, cross-bedded sand
... representing wave-modified mouth
bar deposit on upper shoreface
Fine-grained, bioturbated sand with
HCS & plane-parallel lamination
... representing wave-swept lower shoreface deposit
CU mud to sandy mud to sand with pervasive
bioturbation, storm beds & hummocky x-strat.
... representing regressive shelf deposit
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28. Tide dominated deltas
These deltas are dominated by tidal activities
Coastlines with high tidal ranges experience onshore and offshore
tidal currents that move both bed load and suspended load. A delta
building out into a region with strong tides will be modified into a
pattern that is different to both river- and wave-dominated deltas
Examples include: Gnages delta,
These deltas are characterized by :
tidal flat
tidal sand bar
tidal channel
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32. Why is Facies analysis essential to a
sedimentologist?
Advantages and Application:-
1. simplifies and standardizes
observations-permits rapid logging of field
sections and drill core.
2.Facies analysis is useful in hydrocarbon exploration.
3. it is also useful in paleogeography.
4. it also finds its importance in paleoecological reconstruction.
5.Facies analysis is also useful in groundwater exploration
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33. Disadvantages include:
1) Discourages observations of the rare or unusual-may lead to
inappropriate simplifications
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