Traditionally, sedimentology is a discipline using a naturalist approach (geologist hammer). This session aims at bringing together sedimentologists, geophysiscists, geochemists and engineers to share methods that can be useful in the field of sedimentary research.

Sub surface investigations such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) have proven to be very efficient in imaging the structures and stratification patterns over a wide range of grain sizes and depth. Belong that, geoelectrical methods, such as Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Self-Potential (SP), can image preferential water flows, a proxy for permeability.

Geomorphological studies benefit from Terrestrial and airborne Laser Scanner (TLS, LiDAR) whereas photogrammetry (ground or aerial: kite, drone…) bring low-costs similar results.

In front of a cliff, high-resolution TLS or panoramic photography (e.g. Gigapan) allow sedimentary architectures reconstructions and grain size determination of otherwise not-accessible outcrops.

Direct petrophysical measurements bring estimates of the permeability of consolidated sandstones.

In the lab, photographic focus bracketing, micro-computer tomography (micro-CT), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterize individual grains even for consolidated material.

Numerical simulations are also concerned here, since they allow to test the impact of forcing factors on stratigraphic architectures and spatial distribution of sediments.

Geochemical investigation have also proven to be very useful in dating or studies of provenance, with consequent results in the field of weathering processes and large scale transport.

When outcrop cannot be accessed, logs permit to obtain well data (e.g. gamma ray, density, neutron and sonic logs) particularly useful in stratigraphy, and cores permit to carry chemostratigraphic investigation.

This list is not exclusive, and we encourage contributions presenting all types of tools and techniques to characterize sedimentary rocks and examples of their results.