THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF THE STUDY OF THE SEDIMENTARY STRATA BEDDING

Abstract

The bedding of sedimentary strata is the most noticeable and widespread sedimentological feature. In a general geological literature, often there is only a statement of its presence and distribution globality, but often there is no explanation for its occurrence, or it differs significantly. An analysis of previous studies has established that a large number of factors are involved in its formation. It is shown that such physical factors as gravity and the dynamics of the sediment transport environment are more global in nature and manifest themselves in all sedimentation environments, in contrast to geological factors. The last factors also play a significant role in the formation of bedding, as well as sedimentogenesis in general, but they have a subordinate significance, since they do not always appear. In the study of lithogenesis is observed some inconsistency, when mainly geological factors are used in the description of sedimentogenesis, and physical and chemical factors are used at different stages of diagenesis. Another inconsistency is much more attention given, in theoretical and practical geological studies, to a quantitative study of the thickness of sediment compared to the area of their distribution. Almost no attention is paid to the study of dependencies between these geometrical quantities, quantitatively characterizes the sedimentary bed. However, such dependencies are present at least in the sedimentary strata, which covers the northern part of the Ukrainian shield. The study of such dependencies in any territories can contribute to a quantitative assessment of factors influencing sedimentogenesis, and also have significant practical significance.