1. Rivers and fluvial channel type
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
2. Sediment transport and bedforms
Files: Lecture video (sed. transport), lecture video (bedforms), exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx for sed. transport, pptx for bedforms)
3. Unidirectional sedimentary structures
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf only), lecture slides (pptx)
4. Fluvial facies interpretation
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
5. Base level and accommodation
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
6. Provenance
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
7. Alluvial fans
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
8. Basin analysis
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
9. Aeolian processes and facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
10. Submarine fan processes and facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
In-class debate: origin of deep-water sandstone deposits
Link to exercise: here
11. Submarine fan facies cyclicity
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
12. Deep sea biogenic sediment
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
13. Sequence stratigraphy (systems tracts)
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
14. Wave-dominated coastal facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
15. Tidal flat facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
16. Coastal facies - practice 1
17. Delta facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
18. Estuary facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
19. Barrier island facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
20. Coastal facies - practice 2
21. Trace fossils and ichnofacies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
22. Coastal siliciclastic wrap-up
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
23. Carbonate depositional processes
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
24. Carbonate ramp facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
25. Carbonate platform facies
Files: Lecture video, exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx)
26. Reefs, cool-water and microbial carbonates
Files: Lecture videos (reefs, cool-water, microbial), exercise (pdf or Word), lecture slides (pptx for reefs, cool-water, microbial)
1. San Benito Gravels. This is the first stratigraphic column measured. The facies are fairly straightforward but the section is logistically challenging to measure. Students describe facies and interpret depositional environments, relating shifts in deposition to changes in base level (from tectonics, sea level, etc.).
Files: Field trip and assignment guide (pdf or Word), stratigraphic column template (pdf).
2. Pebble Beach/Pigeon Point. A classic example of submarine fan deposits. Students measure one large and one detailed section at Pebble Beach, and make observations of the deposits at Pigeon Point. The exercise involves integrating all of the information to reconstruct depositional processes and facies, and to infer the nature and causes of depositional cyclicity.
Files: Field trip and assignment guide (pdf or Word), stratigraphic column template (pdf).
3. Montara State Beach. This is the final project for the class and challenges student to synthesize material on coastal depositional environments and apply their knowledge of sequence stratigraphy. Students measure a section, describe facies and interpret depositional environments, and infer the nature and drivers of base level changes that led to the observed facies succession.
Files: Field trip and assignment guide (pdf or Word), stratigraphic column template (pdf).
There are some nice resources online to replace or supplement physical hand samples and thin sections. I compiled some of these when I had to shift to remote teaching during COVID-19 in spring 2020. Those resources are below:
Carbonate hand samples and thin sections