The study of sediments and sedimentary rocks continues to be a core topic in the Earth Sciences and this book provides the reader with a concise account of their composition, mineralogy, textures, structures, diagenesis and depositional environments. The earlier editions of this book have been used by successive generations of students for more than 40 years, and it is the standard text on the subject in many universities throughout the world. This fourth edition is a comprehensive update and expansion of the previous editions with substantially updated new references and suggestions for further reading. The new co-author Stuart Jones has brought his expertise in clastic sedimentology to the rewritten chapters on sandstones and mudrocks. The addition of colour images throughout the text enhances the book immeasurably and will aid the student in petrographic work.

Maurice E. Tucker graduated from Durham University and obtained his PhD from the University of Reading. He spent nearly 30 years at Durham University and is now a Visiting Professor at the University of Bristol.

Stuart J. Jones graduated in Geology from Aberystwyth University and received his PhD from the University of Reading. He is currently an Associate Professor of Sedimentology at Durham University.

1 INTRODUCTION: BASIC CONCEPTS AND APPROACH
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Basic Concepts
1.3 Methodology

2 SILICICLASTIC SEDIMENTS I: SANDSTONES, CONGLOMERATES AND BRECCIAS
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Sediment Texture
2.3 Sedimentary Structures
2.4 Palaeocurrent Analysis
2.5 Detrital Components of Siliciclastic Sediments
2.6 Classification of Siliciclastic Sediments
2.7 Petrography and Origin of Principal Sandstone Types
2.8 Sandstone Composition, Provenance and Tectonic Setting
2.9 Sandstone Diagenesis
2.10 Porosity and Permeability
2.11 Sediment Routing Systems
2.12 Depositional Environments of Sandstones and Coarser Clastics
2.13 Facies Sequences, Controls and Sequence Stratigraphy

3 SILICILASTIC SEDIMENTS II: MUDROCKS
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Textures and Structures of Mudrocks
3.3 The Colour of Mudrocks
3.4 Mineral Constitutents of Mudrocks
3.5 The Formation and Distribution of Clay Minerals in Modern Sediments
3.6 Diagenesis of Clay Minerals and Mudrocks
3.7 Mudrocks and Their Depositional Environments

4 CARBONATE SEDIMENTS: LIMESTONES AND DOLOMITES
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Techniques for the Study of Carbonate Sediments
4.3 Mineralogy of Carbonate Sediments
4.4 Carbonate Production and Factories
4.5 Components of Carbonate Rocks
4.6 Classification of Limestones
4.7 Limestone Grain-Size and Texture
4.8 Sedimentary Structures of Limestones
4.9 Carbonate Diagenesis
4.10 Dolomitisation and Dedolomitisation
4.11 Silification of Limestones
4.12 Porosity in Carbonate Sediments
4.13 Carbonate Depositional Environments and Facies
4.14 Carbonate Sequence Stratigraphy and Forward Modelling

5 EVAPORITES
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Evaporite Deposits and Depositional Environments
5.3 Gypsum and Anhydrite
5.4 Halite
5.5 Other Evaporite Minerals and Their Occurrence
5.6 Evaporite Dissolution and Replacment
5.7 Evaporite Sequences and Discussion
5.8 Evaporites Through Time
5.9 Evaporites, Diapirism, Deformation and Decollement

6 SEDIMENTARY IRONSTONES AND IRON-FORMATIONS
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Source and Transportation of Iron
6.3 Formation of the Principal Iron Minerals
6.4 Occurrence and Petrography of Iron Minerals
6.5 Precambrian Iron-Formations and Phanerozoic Ironstones
6.6 Bog Iron Ores
6.7 Ferromangenese Nodules and Crusts, and Metalliferous Sediments

7 SEDIMENTARY PHOSPHATE DEPOSITS
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Mineralogy
7.3 Nodular and Bedded Phosphorites
7.4 Bioclastic and Pebble-Bed Phosphorites
7.5 Guano and Ocean-Island Phosphorites

8 COAL AND PETROLEUM
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Modern Organic Deposits
8.3 Ancient Organic Deposits
8.4 Coal and the Coal Series
8.5 Coal Petrology
8.6 Coal Formation and Rank
8.7 Occurrence of Coal
8.8 Formation of Kerogen
8.9 Petroleum

9 CHERTS AND SILICEOUS SEDIMENTS
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Chert Petrology
9.3 Bedded Chert
9.4 Nodular Chert
9.5 Non-Marine Siliceous Sediment and Chert