University of Warsaw - Central Authentication System
Strona główna

Sedimentary rocks in practice

General data

Course ID: 1300-WM-PSSS
Erasmus code / ISCED: 07.304 Kod klasyfikacyjny przedmiotu składa się z trzech do pięciu cyfr, przy czym trzy pierwsze oznaczają klasyfikację dziedziny wg. Listy kodów dziedzin obowiązującej w programie Socrates/Erasmus, czwarta (dotąd na ogół 0) – ewentualne uszczegółowienie informacji o dyscyplinie, piąta – stopień zaawansowania przedmiotu ustalony na podstawie roku studiów, dla którego przedmiot jest przeznaczony. / (0532) Earth science The ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) code has been designed by UNESCO.
Course title: Sedimentary rocks in practice
Name in Polish: Praktikum z sedymentologii skał osadowych
Organizational unit: Faculty of Geology
Course groups: (in Polish) Przedmioty modułowe do wyboru na I semestrze I roku st. na kierunku geologia poszukiwawcza
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores): 3.00 Basic information on ECTS credits allocation principles:
  • the annual hourly workload of the student’s work required to achieve the expected learning outcomes for a given stage is 1500-1800h, corresponding to 60 ECTS;
  • the student’s weekly hourly workload is 45 h;
  • 1 ECTS point corresponds to 25-30 hours of student work needed to achieve the assumed learning outcomes;
  • weekly student workload necessary to achieve the assumed learning outcomes allows to obtain 1.5 ECTS;
  • work required to pass the course, which has been assigned 3 ECTS, constitutes 10% of the semester student load.
Language: Polish
Type of course:

elective courses
Prerequisites (description):

Before participation in class student should have the basic knowledge of the exogenous processes, particularly of clastic sedimentary environments. It is recommended that students participating in the class activities have passed: “Physical geology”, “Geomorphology & Quaternary geology”.
Short description:

Practical extension of the knowledge of sedimentology and presentation of selected methods of sedimentological researches.

The students perform analyses of rock samples and sediments during classes and in cores store.

Students learn new research methods and become familiar with the practical use of graphical and geological software.

Along with the other courses on sedimentology participation in class allows to become acquainted with sedimentological issues.
Full description:

The course is further development of knowledge, especially practical abilities in sedimentology for level II students. It allows to meet with with traditional and new methods of sedimentological studies as well as practical use of graphical and geological software. Along with the other classes on sedimentology (i.e. “Sedimentology of evaporites”, “Limestones and environment of their formation”, “Analysis of sedimentary basins”) participation in class allows to get a broad knowledge of sedimentological issues.

Class 1. Classes with use of archive data and artificial model.

a. re-construction of paleogeography and sedimentary environment based on purpose-made profiles. This include the identification of sedimentary structures, petrographic and faunistic composition to reconstruct the environments of deposition with the use of lithofacies code. Distribution of profiles on a specially designed polygon will show spatial distribution of facies and their changes in time.

b. sedimentological analysis of sections from flood terraces of selected rivers of Polish Lowland based on data from Vistula, Bug and Pilica valleys with use of lithofacies code

c. identification of provenance of clastic material and transport mode based on analysis of petrographic composition of alluvial gravels (middle Vistula valley). The source areas of clastic material and may be interpreted with further use of geological maps.

Classes 2 and 4. In cores store students will perform the macroscopic description of the cores presented (selected to show the greatest diversity of lithology and sedimentary structures). The field classes will prepare students to work in the cores store, especially to make field notes - detailed description of the lithological and sedimentological features, required for further graphical analysis and boreholes correlation.

Classes 3 and 5. Computer classes. Interpretation of borehole data, analysis of cores and geophysical data (further work on material described in cores store). Students prepare and present results of analyses with use of computer applications (CorelDraw, LogPlot).

Classes 6. Classes with the use archive data.

a. analysis of sandy fraction – variability of textural parametres and petrographic composition in deposits from different environments (glacial till, glacifluvial, alluvials of Narew and Vistula rivers, shore of Baltic, preglacial sands, „detrital Sarmatian”, Miocene marine sands, dune, initial dune)

b. analysis of gravels – variability of textural parametres and petrographic composition of material from ten different environments in deposits from different environments (glacial till, glacifluvial, sandur, alluvials of Narew San, and Vistula rivers, shore of Baltic, preglacial gravels, „detrital Sarmatian”, Snochowice gravels)

c. based on the spatial variability of the petrographic composition and cartographic materials supplied it will be possible to identify source areas of clastic material and transport mechanisms. This would allow to re-construct the sedimentary environment and palaeogeography of shallow marine “detrital Sarmatian” of eastern Ponidzie area.
Bibliography: (in Polish)

1. Aksamitowska, A. 2003. Środowiska sedymentacji i rozwój depozycji osadów górnego czerwonego spągowca w rejonie Poznania. Przegląd Geologiczny, 51(2), 168-174.

2. Allen, J.R.L. 1970. Physical Processes of Sedimentation.

3. Gradziński, R., Kostecka, A., Radomski, A. & Unrug, R. 1986. Zarys sedymentologii. Wydawnictwa Geologiczne, Warszawa, 628 pp.

4. Kiełt, M. 2009. Strukturalne i sedymentologiczne zastosowanie otworowych profilowań geofizycznych. Geofizyka, T.2., 1-428. Toruń, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek.

5. Martin, A. J. 2000. Flaser and wavy bedding in ephemeral streams: a modern and an ancient example. Sedimentary Geology, 136(1-2), 1-5.

6. Miall, A.D. 2013. The geology of fluvial deposits. Springer.

7. Nichols, G. 2009. Sedimentology and stratigraphy. John Wiley & Sons. 8. Pettijohn, F.J., Potter, P.E. & Siever, R.E. 1972. Sand and Sandstone.

9. Reading, H.G. 2004. Sedimentary Environments and Facies. Blackwell Science.

10. Rutkowski, J. 1976. Uwagi o sedymentacji detrytycznych osadów sarmatu na obrzeżeniu Gór Świętokrzyskich. Prace Geologiczne PAN Oddział w Krakowie, 100, 1-71. Warszawa.

11. Shepard, F.P. 1954. Nomenclature based on sand-silt-clay ratios. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 24, 151-158.

12. Wagner, R. 1988. Ewolucja basenu cechsztyńskiego w Polsce. Geological Quarterly, 32(1), 33-52.

13. Waksmundzka, M. I. 2010. Sequence stratigraphy of Carboniferous paralic deposits in the Lublin Basin (SE Poland). Acta Geologica Polonica, 60(4), 557-597.

14. Zieliński, T. 1995. Kod litofacjalny i litogenetyczny – konstrukcja i zastosowanie. W: Mycielska-Dowgiałło, E. & Rutkowski, J. (red.) Badania osadów czwartorzędowych (Researches of Quaternary Sediments). Wydział Geografii i Studiów Regionalnych UW, 220-235.

15. Zieliński, T. 1998. Litofacjalna identyfikacja osadów rzecznych. W: Mycielska-Dowgiałło, E. (Ed.) Struktury sedymentacyjne i postsedymentacyjne w osadach czwartorzędowych ich wartość interpretacyjna, Wydział Geografii i Studiów Regionalnych UW, 193-260.

16. Zieliński, P., & Issmer, K. 2007. Propozycja kodu genetycznego osadów środowiska eolicznego. Przegląd Geologiczny, 56(1).

17. Zieliński, T., & Pisarska-Jamroży, M. 2012. Jakie cechy litologiczne osadów warto kodować, a jakie nie?. Przegląd Geologiczny, 60(7), 387-397.
Learning outcomes:

The intended result of learning is the ability to collect and analyze data to reconstruct environments and processes of deposition as well during individual as group work.

After completing the course, students skillfully use different methods of sedimentary rock investigation, they also use basic graphic (CorelDraw), calculating (Excel) and geological programs (LogPlot).
Assessment methods and assessment criteria:

Classes consist of 6 blocks composed of theoretical presentations, field- and classroom work. Field exercises are marked on the basis of activities performed by the students and their field measurements and drawings.

Classroom work is marked by evaluation of graphic attachments (mostly prepared in digital version) presenting results of analyses.

Grading, according to evaluation of work and graphic attachments.
Practical placement:

Not applicable

Classes in period "Winter semester 2023/24" (past)

Time span: 2023-10-01 - 2024-01-28
Selected timetable range:
Navigate to timetable
Type of class:
Placement, 30 hours, 6 places more information
Coordinators: Marcin Górka
Group instructors: Marcin Górka, Małgorzata Kozłowska, Maciej Łoziński
Students list: (inaccessible to you)
Examination: Course - Grading
Placement - Grading
Course descriptions are protected by copyright.
Copyright by University of Warsaw.
Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28
00-927 Warszawa tel: +48 22 55 20 000 https://uw.edu.pl/ contact accessibility statement USOSweb 7.0.3.0 (2024-03-22)