Recognition of sandstone depositional environment: a grain-shape approach, with example from North Padre Island

Conference · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6533696

Mazzullo, J; Sims, D

The shapes of 8,000 fine quartz sand grains from Malaquite Beach, North Padre Island, were analyzed with the Fourier shape technique. It was found with this technique that dune sands can be differentiated easily from beach sands on the basis of both their gross and fine (roundness) shape characteristics. The analysis of samples from transects across the beach and dunes also reveals a high degree of grain-shape variation within these environments. This variation is due to the effects of hydrodynamic and aerodynamic sorting by swash and wind currents respectively. The Fourier technique provides a rapid and objective manner to discriminate between beach sands and dune sands, and can be applied to ancient as well as modern sands with equal facility.

• Research Organization: Texas A and M Univ., College Station
• OSTI ID: 6533696
• Report Number(s): CONF-8310301-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull.; (United States) Journal Volume: 67:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580100* -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
CHALCOGENIDES
CLASSIFICATION
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CURRENTS
DEPOSITION
GRAIN SIZE
GULF COAST
MICROSTRUCTURE
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUARTZ
ROCKS
SAND
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHAPE
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SIZE
USA
WATER CURRENTS
WIND