Prerequisite:

Second-cycle Bologna degree or a university (level VII) degree.

Content (Syllabus outline):

• Introduction to carbonate systems
• Modern carbonate platforms and comparison with ancient carbonate depositional systems
• Carbonate sediment components; limestone and dolomite classification
• Carbonate environments and facies mosaics
• Carbonate shelves and ramps
• Carbonates, evaporites and siliciclastics
• Platform interior carbonate facies
• Reefs and sandbodies on platform margins and ramps
• Slope and pelagic carbonates
• Continental carbonates
• Sequence stratigraphy
• Introduction to diagenesis
• Porosity and rock fabrics in carbonates
• Limestone diagenesis, diagenetic environments and porosity evolution
• Dolomitisation and dolostones
• Karstification of carbonate rocks
• Paleokarst
• Sedimentology of carbonate reservoirs and aquifers
• Tectonics of carbonate rocks

Readings:

• James, N.P. and Dalrymple, R.W., 2010: Facies Models 4, Geological Society of Canada,
  GeoText 6, 3, 323-586.
• Schlager, W., 2005: Carbonate Sedimentology and Sequence Stratigraphy, SEPM Concepts in Sedimentology and Paleontology, #8, 1-200.
• Tucker, M.E. & Wright, V.P., 1990: Carbonate Sedimentology. – Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1-482, Oxford.
• McIlreath, I.A. & Morrow, D.W., 1990: Diagenesis. – Geoscience Canada Reprint Series 4, Geological Association of Canada, 1-125; 277-316, Ottawa, Canada.
• Ford, D.C., Williams, P., 2007. Karst Hydrogeology and Geomorphology. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1-102; 209-270; 321-400.
• Palmer, A.N., 2007. Cave geology. Cave Books, 1-454, Dayton, Ohio.

Fundamental reviews from journals: Earth-Science Reviews, Sedimentology, Sedimentary Geology, Journal of Sedimentary Research.

Objectives and competences:

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to provide a deeper, advanced knowledge in geology of sedimentary carbonates with a final emphasis in porosity and applied aspects. It takes students from basic concepts and principles of classification and terminology through carbonate platform facies and geometries to diagenesis (including karstification), porosity evolution and tectonics. Additional emphasis is put on past (palaeokarst) and recent karstification of carbonates worldwide and in Slovenia Topic of the course will combine lectures, field examples and laboratory examination of the corresponding materials.

Competences

Develop a research-level understanding of fundamental concepts and selected topics in carbonate sedimentology

Intended learning outcomes:

The students will learn to:

• distinguish the main types of carbonate platform geometries and their variability;
• operate with carbonate facies concepts and models on different scales – from thin section to seismic-scale;
• understand the primary controls on carbonate deposition in space and time;
• understand types of karstification based on lithology and climate;
• distinguish development of primary and secondary porosity in carbonate rocks;
• understand principles of dolomitisation processes and products;
• summarise the main aspects of carbonate reservoirs and aquifers, and compare them with those developed in siliciclastic rocks.

Learning and teaching methods:

• Lectures
• Lab work/tutorials
• Field work
• Seminar
• Independent work assignments
• Consultations
• e-Learning

Assessment:

• Long written assignments 30 %
• Presentations 20 %
• Final examination (written/oral) 50 %