Knowledge Geological Comments and techniques and understanding skills Candidates should be able d. Sedimentary rocks Identify the named to distinguish between [breccia, conglomerate, sedimentary rocks in hand clasts, matrix and cement. sandstone, shale, specimens, rock exposures evaporites, limestone] and diagrams/photographs See Practical Guidance from observation of their have diagnostic Sheet 4. colour, texture [use of properties [colour, sediment comparators to texture, reaction with See Practical Guidance determine grain size, shape acid] mineralogies and Sheet 5. and sphericity], [coarse >2 other diagnostic mm, fine <1/16 mm], reaction features. with 0.5 mol dm−3 hydrochloric acid, mineralogy and other diagnostic features. See Practical Guidance Sheet 7. Construct and apply a classification system/key to identify the named sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rock type Use the characteristics of is dependent upon the sedimentary rocks, including environment of their distinctive sedimentary deposition: textures, structures, Shallow mineralogy and their fossil marine: content, as seen in hand [limestone, specimens, rock exposures, sandstone, diagrams and photographs to conglomerate] interpret their environments Deep marine: of deposition. [turbidites, black shale] Terrestrial: Analyse sedimentary rock deposited in formations on simple rivers and deltas geological maps, cross- [shale, sections and graphic logs to sandstone, interpret geological conglomerate, structure and the history of coal] sedimentation. deposited by See Practical wind and water in Construct a simple graphic Guidance Sheet 8. deserts [breccia, log from bed thickness desert and grain size data. sandstone] deposited by precipitation from saline water during evaporation [evaporites – halite and gypsum] deposited by ice [glacial till/tillite].
Knowledge and understanding Geological techniques and skills Comments d. Sedimentary rocks [breccia, conglomerate, sandstone, shale, evaporites, limestone] have diagnostic properties [colour, texture, reaction with acid] mineralogies and other diagnostic features. Identify the named sedimentary rocks in hand specimens, rock exposures and diagrams/photographs from observation of their colour, texture [use of sediment comparators to determine grain size, shape and sphericity], [coarse >2 mm, fine <1/16 mm], reaction with 0.5 mol dm−3 hydrochloric acid, mineralogy and other diagnostic features. Construct and apply a classification system/key to identify the named sedimentary rocks. Candidates should be able to distinguish between clasts, matrix and cement. See Practical Guidance Sheet 4. See Practical Guidance Sheet 5. See Practical Guidance Sheet 7. Sedimentary rock type is dependent upon the environment of deposition: Shallow marine: [limestone, sandstone, conglomerate] Deep marine: [turbidites, black shale] Terrestrial: deposited in rivers and deltas [shale, sandstone, conglomerate, coal] deposited by wind and water in deserts [breccia, desert sandstone] deposited by precipitation from saline water during evaporation [evaporites – halite and gypsum] deposited by ice [glacial till/tillite]. Use the characteristics of sedimentary rocks, including their distinctive sedimentary textures, structures, mineralogy and their fossil content, as seen in hand specimens, rock exposures, diagrams and photographs to interpret their environments of deposition. Analyse sedimentary rock formations on simple geological maps, cross- sections and graphic logs to interpret geological structure and the history of sedimentation. Construct a simple graphic log from bed thickness and grain size data. See Practical Guidance Sheet 8.