Geological Sciences

The course will consist of lectures followed by the observation -with a petrographic microscope- of thin sections representative of the definitions and concepts explained. The program includes: - definition of grain size and texture; - definition and identification of the different types of carbonate matrix; - identification of the main skeletal and non-skeletal components of carbonate rocks; - classification of carbonate rocks according to Dunham (1962) and Embry & Klovan (1973); - identification of the depositional environment as interpretable from thin section observation; - description and identification of the main carbonate cements, as well as their genesis; - description of the main diagenetic environments identifiable in thin sections.

It is strongly recommended that students have followed the Geology 1 course and are able to identify carbonate rocks in hand samples. It is also preferable that students have followed the Petrography course and are, therefore, familiar with the use of the petrographic microscope.

- Flügel, E., & Munnecke, A. (2010). Microfacies of carbonate rocks: analysis, interpretation and application (Vol. 976, p. 2004). Berlin: springer. - Dunham R.J. (1962) Classification of carbonate rocks according to depositional texture, In: W. E. Ham, ed., Classification of Carbonate Rocks: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 1, 108-121. - Embry A.F. & Klovan J.E. (1971) A Late Devonian reef tract on northeastern Banks Island, Norhwest Territories: Canadian Petroleum Geology Bulletin 19, 730-781. - Lokier, S. W., & Al Junaibi, M. (2016). The petrographic description of carbonate facies: are we all speaking the same language?. Sedimentology, 63(7), 1843-1885.

Attendance is strongly recommended.

The exam will consist of a 1-hour long practical and written test. Each candidate will be required to observe and describe 3 thin sections under the microscope, classify them, identify the depositional environment as well as indicate their diagenetic features.

The course consists of 48 hours, divided into 24 lectures that will be conducted with the support of the petrographic microscope.