Sedimentary sequences revealed in WSU sediment tank

December 15, 2006

Students in GEL 3400 (Sed/Strat) were treated to a new demonstration this semester, thanks to the efforts of Dave Lowrie and Larry Lemke.

Students in GEL3400 hypothesize about the effects that a simulated fall and rise in sea level will have on stratal geometries and stacking patterns of the stratigraphic sequences developed in the new sedimentation. — Students in GEL3400 hypothesize about the effects that a simulated fall and rise in "sea level" will have on stratal geometries and stacking patterns of the stratigraphic sequences developed in the new sedimentation.

Throughout much of the semester, Dave was busy building a sedimentation tank, modeled after the Delta Box designed by the National Center for Earth-surface Dynamics (NCED) at the University of Minnesota. The idea came to Wayne State by way of Larry, who attended the NSF-sponsored Cutting Edge Workshop on Teaching Sedimentary Geology in the 21st Century last summer.

Dave added a few refinements and improvements to enhance the stability and performance of the model. As a result, the Sed/Strat students were able to watch as a sedimentary wedge (analogous to a passive continental margin) formed in response to changes in base level and sedimentation rate that are controlled in the tank.

This demonstration helps students to visualize the development of many key components of sequence architecture, including unconformities, flooding surfaces, condensed sections, and systems tracts.

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