- Docente: William Cavazza
- Credits: 7
- SSD: GEO/02
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Geology and Land Management (cod. 8027)
Learning outcomes
The course focuses on the understanding of sedimentary basins
within the framework of plate tectonics and integrates aspects of
stratigraphy, sedimentology, geophysics, geodynamics, sedimentary
petrology, and low-temperature thermochronology. Specific topics
include: lithospheric stretching and flexure, strike-slip tectonics
and basin formation, dynamic topography, sediment
generation/transport/deposition, diagenesis and petrophysical properties, applications to hydrocarbon prospecting
and the evaluation of water resources.
Course contents
The Earth's lithosphere: definitions, flexural rigidity, vertical deformation profiles. Sedimentary basins resulting from lithospheric extension: geophysical background, the McKenzie model, symmetric and asymmetric rifting, lithospheric detachments, active vs. passive rifting, aulocogens, passive continental margins, intracratonic depressions, structural inversion. Basins resulting from lithospheric flexure: geodynamic settings, retroforeland basins, proforeland basins, lithospheric roll-back, large-scale lithospheric buckling. Orogenic wedge critical taper theory. Stratigraphic patterns associated with lithospheric flexure: foreland basin depozones. Dynamic topography. Basins associated with strike-slip faulting. Sediment generation and dispersal: weathering rates, mechanical and chemical denudation, suspended and dissolved matter. Sedimentation rates. Sediment compaction and lithification. Subsidence analysis. Petrophysical properties. Sediment thermal evolution: vitrinite reflectance, Raman spectroscopy, clay-mineral transformations, fission-track analysis.
Readings/Bibliography
PowerPoint presentations.
Assessment methods
Mid-term test(s) and final oral exam.
Teaching tools
Databases, geological maps, computer software.
Office hours
See the website of William Cavazza