Sedimentology

Sedimentology encompasses the study of modern sediments such as sand,silt, and clay, and the processes that result in their formation (erosion and weathering), transport, deposition and diagenesis. Sedimentologists apply their understanding of modern processes to interpret geologic history through observations of sedimentary rocks and sedimentary structures.

Sedimentary rocks cover up to 75% of the Earth's surface, record much of the Earth's history, and harbor the fossil record. Sedimentology is closely linked to stratigraphy, the study of the physical and temporal relationships between rock layers or strata.

The premise that the processes affecting the earth today are the same as in the past is the basis for determining how sedimentary features in the rock record were formed. By comparing similar features today to features in the rock record—for example, by comparing modern sand dunes to dunes preserved in ancient aeolian sandstones—geologists reconstruct past environments.

Society

A society is a group of people involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Societies are characterized by patterns of relationships (social relations) between individuals who share a distinctive culture and institutions; a given society may be described as the sum total of such relationships among its constituent members. In the social sciences, a larger society often evinces stratification or dominance patterns in subgroups.

Insofar as it is collaborative, a society can enable its members to benefit in ways that would not otherwise be possible on an individual basis; both individual and social (common) benefits can thus be distinguished, or in many cases found to overlap.

A society can also consist of like-minded people governed by their own norms and values within a dominant, larger society. This is sometimes referred to as a subculture, a term used extensively within criminology.

Society for Sedimentary Geology

The Society for Sedimentary Geology is an international not-for-profit, scientific society based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is commonly referred to by its acronym SEPM, which refers to its former name, the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists.

The Society’s reason for being is to disseminate scientific information on sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleontology, environmental sciences, marine geology, hydrogeology, and related specialties. Members benefit from both gaining and exchanging information pertinent to their geologic specialties. Information is dispersed via the publication of two major scientific journals, the Journal of Sedimentary Research (JSR) and PALAIOS, and the organization of technical conferences and short courses. It also publishes a monthly magazine for its members, The Sedimentary Record.

Conferences

The Society arranges research conferences based on topics that are relevant to members and show promise of progress. They are meant to focus the attention of specialists with diverse expertise on some theme of mutual interest and stimulate new research areas or approaches. They are designed to encourage summaries of new, incomplete research, and invite open speculation. Field trips, poster sessions, core workshops, and laboratory experiments are often included as part of a conference.

Sedimentary Geology (journal)

Sedimentary Geology is a peer-reviewed scientific journal about sediments in a geological context published by Elsevier. About its scope the journal states it ranges "from techniques of sediment analysis to geodynamical aspects of sedimentary-basin evolution.".

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