Geol 464: Carbonate Geology

Semester 062 2007

Lecture 6

Classification Schemes: Dunham Classification

Dunham Classification
Texture and allochem type incorporated into classification
sediment deposited in calm vs agitated waters grain vs mud support mud-bearing vs mud-free sediment bound (biologically) depositional texture recognizable

Dunhams Classification with modifications by Embry and Klovan Depositional Depositional texture recognizable Is based upon: texture not Components not bound together during deposition Components recognizable were bound Recognition of the texture fabric of the rock Contains carbonate mud Lacks mudand together (clay / fine silt) and is during grain Binding or control texturedeposition by in-place Grain of supported Mud supported supported organisms Less than More than 10% grains 10% grains Wackestone Packstone Mudstone Amount of lime mudGrainstone Boundstone Crystalline Support of the grains Amount of grains
5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Floatstone
(large grains) 30 mm

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone Bafflestone

100 mm

100 mm

Is depositional texture recognizable?

Depositional texture not Components not bound together during deposition Components recognizable were bound Contains carbonate mud Lacks mud together (clay / fine silt) and is during grain deposition Grain Mud supported supported supported Less than More than 10% grains 10% grains Mudstone Wackestone Packstone Grainstone Boundstone Crystalline Depositional texture recognizable
5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Floatstone
(large grains) 30 mm

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone Bafflestone

100 mm

100 mm

Silicified Oolitic Grainstone (secondary replacement of carbonate by quartz)

Ooid lime grainstone

Rock contains mud. Is the rock grain or mud supported?

Depositional texture not Components not bound together during deposition Components recognizable were bound Contains carbonate mud Lacks mud together (clay / fine silt) and is during grain deposition Grain Mud supported supported supported Less than More than 10% grains 10% grains Mudstone Wackestone Packstone Grainstone Boundstone Crystalline Depositional texture recognizable
5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Floatstone
(large grains) 30 mm

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone Bafflestone

100 mm

100 mm

Crinoidal packstone The crinoid skeletal fragments are an off white to greyish brown color, whereas the matrix is yellowish brown.

Mollusk/echinoid lime packstone

If the rock is mud supported, is there more than 10% grains?

Depositional texture not Components not bound together during deposition Components recognizable were bound Contains carbonate mud Lacks mud together (clay / fine silt) and is during grain deposition Grain Mud supported supported supported Less than More than 10% grains 10% grains Mudstone Wackestone Packstone Grainstone Boundstone Crystalline Depositional texture recognizable
5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Floatstone
(large grains) 30 mm

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone Bafflestone

100 mm

100 mm

 Wackestones are carbonate rocks which are matrix-supported; i.e., there are more than 10% grains, but the fine grain clay size matrix essentially surrounds the grains.

Fossiliferous lime wackestone

If the rock is mud supported, is there more than 10% grains?

Depositional texture not Components not bound together during deposition Components recognizable were bound Contains carbonate mud Lacks mud together (clay / fine silt) and is during grain deposition Grain Mud supported supported supported Less than More than 10% grains 10% grains Mudstone Wackestone Packstone Grainstone Boundstone Crystalline Depositional texture recognizable
5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Floatstone
(large grains) 30 mm

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone Bafflestone

100 mm

100 mm

Lime Mudstone

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Depositional texture not Components not bound together during deposition Components recognizable were bound Contains carbonate mud Lacks mud together (clay / fine silt) and is during grain deposition Grain Mud supported supported supported Less than More than 10% grains 10% grains Mudstone Wackestone Packstone Grainstone Boundstone Crystalline Depositional texture recognizable
5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Floatstone
(large grains) 30 mm

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone Bafflestone

100 mm

100 mm

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Lime rudist floatstone

Floatstone
(large grains) 30 mm

2.5 cm

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Depositional texture not Components not bound together during deposition Components recognizable were bound Contains carbonate mud Lacks mud together (clay / fine silt) and is during grain deposition Grain Mud supported supported supported Less than More than 10% grains 10% grains Mudstone Wackestone Packstone Grainstone Boundstone Crystalline Depositional texture recognizable
5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Floatstone
(large grains) 30 mm

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone Bafflestone

100 mm

100 mm

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Lime rudist mud-rich rudstone

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

2.5 cm

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Rudstone
(large grains) 30 mm 30 mm

Lime rudist grain-rich rudstone

2.5 cm

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Depositional texture not Components not bound together during deposition Components recognizable were bound Contains carbonate mud Lacks mud together (clay / fine silt) and is during grain deposition Grain Mud supported supported supported Less than More than 10% grains 10% grains Mudstone Wackestone Packstone Grainstone Boundstone Crystalline Depositional texture recognizable
5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm 5 mm

Floatstone
(large grains)
30 mm

Rudstone
(large grains)
30 mm 30 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone Bafflestone

100 mm

100 mm

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Boundstone
5 mm

Framestone
1m

Bindstone

100 mm

Framestone

Bafflestone
100 mm

Framestone
1m

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Lime coral framestone

Bindstone

100 mm

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Algal stromatolite dolobindstone

Bafflestone
100 mm

Modifications by Embry and Klovan (1972)

Algal-plate lime bafflestone