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    Bouma Sequence

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    Aiman Azahar
    The Bouma sequence describes the ideal structure of turbidites, which are sediment deposits formed by turbidity currents. It consists of 5 layers labeled A through E that fine upwards in grain size, with layer A being the coarsest deposited under high energy and layer E being the finest deposited under calm conditions. In reality, not all layers may be present due to erosion. Layer A contains massive gravelly sand and layer B contains parallel bedded finer sand. Layer C has cross-bedded sand and ripple marks. Layers D and E contain parallel laminations and pelagic mud. The sequence represents the transition from high to low energy deposition from a turbidity current.

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    Bouma Sequence

    Uploaded by

    Aiman Azahar
    1K views3 pages
    The Bouma sequence describes the ideal structure of turbidites, which are sediment deposits formed by turbidity currents. It consists of 5 layers labeled A through E that fine upwards in grain size, with layer A being the coarsest deposited under high energy and layer E being the finest deposited under calm conditions. In reality, not all layers may be present due to erosion. Layer A contains massive gravelly sand and layer B contains parallel bedded finer sand. Layer C has cross-bedded sand and ripple marks. Layers D and E contain parallel laminations and pelagic mud. The sequence represents the transition from high to low energy deposition from a turbidity current.

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    The Bouma sequence describes the ideal structure of turbidites, which are sediment deposits formed by turbidity currents. It consists of 5 layers labeled A through E that fine upwards in grain size, with layer A being the coarsest deposited under high energy and layer E being the finest deposited under calm conditions. In reality, not all layers may be present due to erosion. Layer A contains massive gravelly sand and layer B contains parallel bedded finer sand. Layer C has cross-bedded sand and ripple marks. Layers D and E contain parallel laminations and pelagic mud. The sequence represents the transition from high to low energy deposition from a turbidity current.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    1K views3 pages

    Bouma Sequence

    Uploaded by

    Aiman Azahar
    The Bouma sequence describes the ideal structure of turbidites, which are sediment deposits formed by turbidity currents. It consists of 5 layers labeled A through E that fine upwards in grain size, with layer A being the coarsest deposited under high energy and layer E being the finest deposited under calm conditions. In reality, not all layers may be present due to erosion. Layer A contains massive gravelly sand and layer B contains parallel bedded finer sand. Layer C has cross-bedded sand and ripple marks. Layers D and E contain parallel laminations and pelagic mud. The sequence represents the transition from high to low energy deposition from a turbidity current.

    Copyright:

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    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
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    The document discusses the Bouma sequence, which describes the ideal ordering of sediment layers deposited by turbidity currents. Each layer (A through E) represents decreasing energy levels as the current wanes.

    Layer A contains coarse grains and is structureless due to high depositional energy. Layer B has finer grains and parallel bedding. Layer C has cross-bedding and ripple marks. Layer D has parallel laminations. Layer E contains pelagic mud.

    In general, grain size decreases from the bottom (coarsest in Layer A) to the top (finest in Layer E) as energy levels decrease in the waning turbidity current.

    NAME: WAN MUHAMMAD AIMAN BIN WAN AZAHAR

    STUDENT ID: 13421

    PROGRAMME: PETROLEUM ENGINEERING

    Bouma sequence

    The Bouma sequence is all about a specific classic set of turbidites, or


    sedimentary beds or layer that has been deposited by water- sediment
    turbidity current. Turbidites is the deposit formed by turbidity current.
    Turbidity currents are turbid, sub-aqueous, density flows driven by
    gravity. They can form on slopes of less than 1 degree and can flow uphill
    as they can travel at 100kph (60mph). They form when an unstable build-
    up of sediment is triggered to collapse due to a storm, earthquake or
    other triggering event. The Bouma sequence specifically describing about
    medium-sized grain variety. The medium- sized grain variety can be
    obtained at certain continental slope or continental rising. It is divided into
    five layers or bed, A, B, C, D, and E. Both beds A and E are at the bottom
    and at the top. In some real Bouma structure, some bed or layer may be
    missing or the structure is incomplete. Bouma sequences just show us the
    ideal sequence of turbidites.

    It is unusual to see all of a complete Bouma cycle, as successive turbidity


    currents may erode the unconsolidated upper sequences. Alternatively,
    the entire sequence may not be present depending on whether the
    exposed section was at the edge of the turbidity current lobe or upslope
    from the deposition centre and manifested as a scour channel filled with
    fine sands grading up into pelagic ooze.

    In theory, a complete Bouma sequence comprises sediments that fine


    upwards, consisting of a lowermost layer of coarse, chaotic clastic
    sediments deposited under conditions of high depositional energy overlain
    by successively finer grained and better stratified sediments like sands
    and mud deposited under calmer conditions that are labelled as Units A
    though E. In practice, however, the chaotic, high-energy nature of
    turbidite deposition can alter or remove underlying sediments so that
    incomplete sequences of sediments typically remain preserved.

    Starting from turbidite A, which is the bottom part of the sedimentary


    structure. Turbidite A is the coarsest grain layer in the sedimentary
    structure of the Bouma sequence. This layer only contained coarse grain
    because it is deposited under high velocity of turbidity current. Turbidite A
    is basically is a structureless massive sand with eroded base that contain
    massive amount of gravel. Laying upon turbidite A is Turbidite B. Turbidite
    B has finer grain size compare to grain size in Turbidite A. Turbidite B is
    characterized by its parallel bedding. More specific, parallel bedded sands
    produced by the upper flow regime. The next upper layer is Turbidite C.
    Turbidite C has finer grain size compare to turbidite A and B. It has cross
    bedding structure. The cross bedding structure is characterized by cross
    laminated sands with ripple marks. On top of Turbidite C, laying Turbidite
    D. Td is characterized by parallel laminations, as is Te, which represents
    deposition of clay from suspension during a quiescent period of time
    between depositions from sandy turbidity currents. Turbidite E consists of
    pelagic and hemi pelagic mud.

    That pelagische situation of Turbidity E represents an interface between


    turbidity deposited one on the other (cyclic deposit). The units A to D are
    deposited in relatively short time (few hours until days), while unit E
    usually needs several ten thousand years for it. The units A to D are
    mainly out shelf material and fossils built up, the unit E consists however
    of particles of the Pelagials and plankton. Usually not all five units are
    delivered, there the following cloudy stream, the finer units C, D and E
    already deposited often already before the solidification erode. The units
    A and B however are enough rarely into that distal Range and remain
    therefore more frequent. The power of a Bouma sequence varies from few
    centimetres to several meters.

    Reference

    1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouma_sequence
    2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbidite

    3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithofacies

    4. Slatt, R.M. (2006). Stratigraphic Reservoir Characterization for


    Petroleum Geologist, Geophysicist and Engineers. United Kingdom.

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