IDENTIFICATION OF SEDIMENTARY STRUCTURES AND THEIR

DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN SHALE DEPOSITS OF TUIRIAL AREA,

MIZORAM : INSIGHTS FROM MEGASCOPIC STUDY

By

LALNUNMAWII
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
MZU REGISTRATION NO. : 1705133
ROLL NO. : 20/GEOL/015

Dr. SUSHEEL KUMAR

SUPERVISOR
1.INTRODUCTION
1.1 DEFINITION
• fine-grained sedimentary rock that forms from the compaction of
silt and clay-size mineral particles commonly called “mud”.
• category of sedimentary rocks are known as “mudstones”.
• It is fissile and laminated
• Laminated rock is made up of many thin layers.
• Fissile rock readily splits into thin pieces along the
laminations.
1.2 Composition of Shale

Composed mainly of clay-sized mineral grains.

Tiny grains are usually clay minerals such as illite, kaolinite, and
smectite other clay sized mineral particles such as quartz, chert and
feldspar.
Constituents include organic particles, carbonate minerals, iron oxide
minerals, sulide minerals and heavy mineral grains.
Other constituents in the rock are determined by
the shale’s environment of deposition ang the colour
of the rock.
1.3 Depositional Environment

 Deposition in quiet, non-turbulent water.

 Deep sea environment or far away from high energy.

 Offshore and away from high-energy surf zone.

 Eg. : lagoonal, floodplains, tidal-flats, deltaic environments.

2.GEOLOGY OF THE STUDY AREA
3. OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of the study are :

1. to identify the sedimentary structures present in the shales.

2. to identify the depositional environment of the shale.
4.METHODOLOGY
Two parts of methodology has been involved :

1. Literature survey, field observations and sample

collection and detailed study of the area.
2. Laboratory work
5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Location 1 : Tuikhurhlu
GPS : 23°44’49’’N
92°48’49’’E

SAMPLE MB#21
Total thickness : 40mm
Megascopic features : very fine grained grey shale with thinly
parting silty shale

Sedimentary structures
1. Lenticular bedding - formed by interbedded mud and ripple
cross-laminated sand in which the ripples or sand lenses are
discontinuous
2. Wavy lamination - a finer scale bedding which is less than 1cm
thick
 MB#22
SAMPLE MB#22

Total thickness : 26mm 30.76 Dark grey

Light grey

Megascopic features : silt-sized grained, light grey in colur 19.23

Dark grey

Light grey
with thinly bedded siltstone(clastic dyke is observed within 11.53
Dark grey

15.38
the sample)
23.07

Sedimentary structure

1. Lenticular bedding - formed by interbedded mud and

ripple cross-laminated sand in which the ripples or sand
lenses are discontinuous

2. Wavy lamination - a finer scale bedding which is less

than 1cm thick
SAMPLE MB#23 MB#23

Total thickness : 34mm

Megascopic features : light to dark grey, fine 100

Dark grey
grained shale with thinly parting siltstone

Sedimentary structure

1. Parallel lamination - parallel lamination with

alternate very fine layer of siltstone is
observed
SAMPLE MB#24
MB#24
Total thickness : 10mm

Megascopic features : light to dark grey fine

100

grained shale with thinly parting sand

Sedimentary structure

1. Lamination - a finer scale bedding which

is less than 1cm thick
 MB#25

Location 2 : Tuirial
GPS : 23°44’0’’N 33.33

92°48’35’’E Grey

Green
66.66

SAMPLE MB#25
Total thickness : 30mm

Megascopic features : olive grey very fine grained

shale
Striation indicating the movement direction in the
fault plane was observed
SAMPLE MB#26

Total thickness : 34mm

Megascopic features : olive grey fine grained shale with

the bottom part more greyish in colour

Sedimentary Structure

1. Ichnofossils – ichnofossils which are in the form of

burrows are observed and as a result of which this
sample may be considered as a bioturbated rock.
 MB#27
SAMPLE MB#27
Total thickness : 37mm 8.1
5.4 Light
grey
16.21
Dark grey
Light
grey
Megascopic features : fine light grey shale intercalated with 21.62
Dark grey
Light
greyish coloured sandstone with shale being the dominant 13.51 grey
Dark grey
rock 18.91
Light
grey

16.21

Sedimentary Structure
1. Lenticular bedding - formed by interbedded mud and
ripple cross-laminated sand in which the ripples or sand
lenses are discontinuous
2. Cross lamination - a thin layering which forms at an
angle to the main bedding plane and which are of
inclined layers is observed
 CONCLUSION

The rocks deposited in the study area i.e., Tuikhurhlu and Tuirial area are mostly of
Shales, though some other sedimentary rocks like sandstones, mudstones, silty
sandstones and mudstones are also deposited. Thus, after thorough investigation and
examinations of various structures found in the samples that have been collected
from various sites at, it may thus be concluded that the rocks in this area have been
deposited in some shallow marine sedimentary environment.