Tom Dodd

Biography

Senior Geologist with a keen interest in sedimentology (both ancient, and recent). Key focus on deepwater sedimentary environments, process and products. Specialises in deep-lacustrine sedimentary systems. Comfortable working in all sedimentary environments, in a range of basin settings, across the globe (both domestic and overseas). Enthusiasm for using multi-proxy approaches for understanding sedimentary basins. Interested in applied science, nominally around predicting subsurface heterogeneity and the impact that has on fluid flow (all fluid types).

Research and scholarship

Deep Lacustrine Systems: Sedimentary Processes, Environments of Deposition and Controls on Lacustrine Sequence Stratigraphy: the North Falkland Basin, Falkland Islands

Background and Overview

Lacustrine and deep-lacustrine systems contain a wide range of sedimentary deposits, and in some ways are comparable to those formed in classical “basin-margin” depositional settings. However, the basin-scale controls on sedimentation, within lacustrine basins, can also be quite different to that of marine settings. Lacustrine basins are often considered as “closed systems” and typically not directly affected by controls such as eustatic sea level variability. For this reason, these sedimentary packages quite likely record a strong tectonic signal, which is rarely explored fully. Furthermore, the difference in basin-fluid-fill (freshwater versus seawater) has the potential to strongly control the sedimentary deposits laid down within it (i.e. differences in density contrasts for subaqueous sediment gravity flow processes). The potential for a visibly contrasting suite of sedimentary deposits formed in lacustrine basins, versus that of marine basins, is apparent.

Aims

The main aim of the project is to holistically examine the sedimentary basin fill of the North Falkland Basin, Falkland Islands. Through this, the various sedimentary processes and environments of deposition will be outlined. Sequence stratigraphical packages will be mapped using 3D seismic data and the controls on individual packages will be investigated. Internally, individual sedimentary systems will be mapped, and more importantly, characterised, providing a classification scheme for these systems in lacustrine basins. In addition, the timing, provenance and controls of sand input into the North Falkland Basin remain enigmatic and require investigation. Finally, conclusions from these studies will be used to inform basin-scale controls on sedimentation within lacustrine basins, in general.

School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
William Smith Building
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG

Tel: +44 (0) 1782 733615
School email: gge@keele.ac.uk

Follow the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment

Thomas J.H. Dodd

Biography

Research and scholarship