Sedimentologie en die toepassing daarvan

Inaugural lecture--Department of Geology, Rand Afrikaans University, 18 September 1986@@Sedimentology is a young profession which started to develop into maturity about 25 years ago, mainly through incentives from the petroleum industry which applies the science in exploration to and production of natural oil and gas. Scientific method in sedimentology comprises studies of modern processes of sedimentation and their resultant sediments, and a comparison of this data with properties of sedimentary rocks in order to establish the evolvement of ancient sedimentary environments through time. The analysis of modern sedimentary systems finds application in environmental management with particular reference to the prediction of possible changes and adjustments in sedimentary complexes, such as coastal, river and desert systems, with time. Sedimentology is also applied to exploration and extraction of mineral deposits because a major part of these are of sedimentary origin. However, this potential has not been fully utilized as yet, so that the future of the science probably lies in the increasing demand for a better understanding of our natural environment for management and manipulation purposes; in the exploration to deep seated mineral deposits through basin analyses, and in detailed studies of sedimentary ore deposits for optimum utilization, both in mining and metallurgy. In near future, major international scientific programmes are to be developed on global sedimentary systems and historic events.