Environmental Analysis

Abstract

Most of the previous chapters have dealt with the practical aspects of studying sedimentary rocks, particularly those that are observed in the field. Once collected and organized, they provide the basis for understanding the origin of the rock, especially the environment and processes of deposition. Neglect during the initial planning and subsequent data collection will doom the final phase of interpretation to failure. Time must be spent formulating the goal of the study and plan of attack. Once in the field, your observations and measurements should be made with the greatest care. This takes time, but not as much as a return trip to redo a poorly done job.