Sedimentary Geology and Hydrogeology

Earth’s sediments record over 4 billion years of environmental evolution and host our modern societies’ water resources. This subject gives a broad introduction to the sedimentary record of Earth’s history as well as groundwater systems in sedimentary aquifers. Topics covered include facies analysis and petrology of carbonate, terrigenous and chemical sediments; techniques used in stratigraphic analysis; sedimentary geochemistry and its applications; post-depositional processes, including diagenesis and weathering, that alter rocks after their formation; chemical interactions between minerals and groundwater in weathered rocks and weathering products; application of sedimentary geology to understanding sediment-hosted resources; characterisation of surface and groundwater systems; rock properties affecting groundwater flow; water balance; groundwater resource

• 1Explain the history and evolution of the Earth's surface processes and assess the evidence used to develop this history
• 2Evaluate and interpret stratigraphy and basin analysis, and their applications
• 3Synthesize evidence to explain the atmospheric evolution of the Earth and its effect on sedimentary systems, climate and the evolution of life
• 4Describe and interpret modern and ancient sedimentary rocks
• 5Describe the processes responsible for sedimentary basin development, including subsidence and uplift mechanisms
• 6Apply skills for measuring and describing stratigraphic sections in the field or in the laboratory
• 7Describe the principles of groundwater flow
• 8Identify the factors controlling groundwater budgets and groundwater resources