| Optical microscopy can, for example, inform about the not-always-so-obvious origin of quartz grains<ref name=Mllkn2013 /><ref name=Schbr1996>Schieber, J., 1996, Early diagenetic silica deposition in algal cysts and spores: A source of sand in black shales?: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 66, p. 175–183.</ref><ref> Milliken, K. L., W. L. Esch, R. M. Reed, and T. Zhang, 2012a, [https://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/2012/08aug/BLTN11129/BLTN11129.HTM Grain assemblages and strong diagenetic overprinting in siliceous mudrocks, Barnett Shale (Mississippian), Fort Worth Basin, Texas]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 96, p. 1553–1578.</ref>, the formation history of small spots of cherty-looking material<ref name=Mllknea2007 />, depositional parameters<ref name=Schbr1999 /><ref name=Lzrea2015a /><ref name=Lzrea2015b /><ref name=McqkrTlr1996 /><ref>Wilson, R., and J. Schieber, 2014, Muddy prodeltaic hyperpycnites in the Lower Genesee Group of Central New York, USA: Implications for mud transport in epicontinental seas: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 84, p. 866–874. | | Optical microscopy can, for example, inform about the not-always-so-obvious origin of quartz grains<ref name=Mllkn2013 /><ref name=Schbr1996>Schieber, J., 1996, Early diagenetic silica deposition in algal cysts and spores: A source of sand in black shales?: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 66, p. 175–183.</ref><ref> Milliken, K. L., W. L. Esch, R. M. Reed, and T. Zhang, 2012a, [https://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/2012/08aug/BLTN11129/BLTN11129.HTM Grain assemblages and strong diagenetic overprinting in siliceous mudrocks, Barnett Shale (Mississippian), Fort Worth Basin, Texas]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 96, p. 1553–1578.</ref>, the formation history of small spots of cherty-looking material<ref name=Mllknea2007 />, depositional parameters<ref name=Schbr1999 /><ref name=Lzrea2015a /><ref name=Lzrea2015b /><ref name=McqkrTlr1996 /><ref>Wilson, R., and J. Schieber, 2014, Muddy prodeltaic hyperpycnites in the Lower Genesee Group of Central New York, USA: Implications for mud transport in epicontinental seas: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 84, p. 866–874. |
− | When examined closely, many mudstone successions also show a wide variety of primary sedimentary structures and bioturbation features at thin-section scale and can provide excellent clues to sedimentary conditions, such as the presence of bottom currents<ref name=Schbr1999 /><ref>Schieber, J., J. B. Southard, and K. G. Thaisen, 2007, Accretion of mudstone beds from migrating floccule ripples: Science, v. 318, p. 1760–1763.</ref>, event deposition<ref name=Schbr1989 /><ref name=Schbr1999 /><ref>Loucks, R. G., and S. C. Ruppel, 2007, [https://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/2007/04apr/BLTN06059/BLTN06059.HTM Mississippian Barnett Shale: Lithofacies and depositional setting of a deep-water shale-gas succession in the Fort Worth Basin, Texas]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 91, no. 4, p. 579–601.</ref><ref> Macquaker, J. H. S., S. J. Bentley, and K. M. Bohacs, 2010, Wave-enhanced sediment-gravity flows and mud dispersal across continental shelves: Reappraising sediment transport processes operating in ancient mudstone successions: Geology, v. 38, p. 947–950.</ref> and microbial mats<ref name=Schbr1999 /><ref name=Schbr1989 />, as well as to substrate consistency<ref name=LbzSchbr><ref name=WtzlUchmn>Wetzel, A., and Uchman, A., 1998, Biogenic sedimentary structures in mudstones—an overview, ‘’in’’ J. Schieber, W. Zimmerle, and P. Sethi, eds., Shales and mudstones, Volume I: Stuttgart, Germany, E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nagele u. Obermiller), p. 351–369.</ref> and more subtle forms of animal–sediment interaction<ref name=Schbr2003 /><ref name=Pmbrtnea2008>Pemberton, S. G., J. A. MacEachern, M. K. Gingras, and T. D. Saunders, 2008, Biogenic chaos: Cryptobioturbation and the work of sedimentologically friendly organisms: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 270, no. 3, p. 273–279.</ref>. See [[Mudstone nomenclature]], and [[Laminasets, beds, and bedsets]], as well as all of the case study chapters (Bohacs and Ferrin<ref> Bohacs, K. M., and A. Ferrin, 2022, Monterey Formation, Miocene, California, USA—A Cenozoic biosiliceous-dominated continental slope to basin setting: A billion-barrel deep-water mudstone reservoir and source rock, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 475–504.</ref>, Bohacs and Grabowski<ref>Bohacs, K. M., and G. J. Grabowski, 2022, Green River formation, Laney Member, Eocene, Wyoming, USA—A balanced-fill lake system with microbial carbonate and oil shale, an analog for part of the South Atlantic pre-salt, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 505–536.</ref>; Bohacs and Guthrie<ref> Bohacs, K. M., and J. M. Guthrie, 2022, Chimney Rock Shale Member, Paradox Formation, Utah: Paleozoic, shallow carbonate-dominated shelf-to-basin billion-barrel source rocks, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 223–248.</ref>; Bohacs et al<ref> Bohacs, K. M., O. R. Lazar, R. D. Wilson, and J. H. S. Macquaker, 2022d, Mowry Shale–Belle Fourche Shale, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, USA—A Mesozoic clastic-biosiliceous shelf system: A prolific source rock with associated mudstone reservoir potential, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 395–474.</ref><ref>Bohacs, K. M., J. H. S. Macquaker, and O. R. Lazar, 2022e, Kimmeridge Clay Formation, United Kingdom—A Mesozoic clastic-carbonate shelf-to-intrashelf basin system: An outcrop-to-subsurface analog for the Haynesville, Vaca Muerta, and Bazhenov formations, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 345–394.</ref>, Campo et al.<ref> Campo, C., A. Morelli, A. Amorosi, L. Bruno, D. Scarponi, V. Rossi, K. M. Bohacs, and T. Drexler, 2022, Last glacial maximum depositional sequence, Po River Plain, Italy—Ultra-high resolution sequence stratigraphy of a Cenozoic coastal-plain-to-shallow-marine Foreland Basin, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 537–598.</ref>; Lazar and Schieber<ref> Lazar, O. R. and J. Schieber, 2022, New Albany Shale, Illinois Basin, USA—Devonian carbonaceous mudstone accumulation in an epicratonic sea: Stratigraphic insights from outcrop and subsurface data, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 249–294.</ref>; Potma et al.<ref> Potma, K., R. Jonk, and K. M. Bohacs, 2022, Canol Formation, Northwest Territories, Canada—An outcrop-to-subsurface analog for the Paleozoic Horn River Shale-gas play, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 295–344.</ref> for other representative examples. | + | When examined closely, many mudstone successions also show a wide variety of primary sedimentary structures and bioturbation features at thin-section scale and can provide excellent clues to sedimentary conditions, such as the presence of bottom currents<ref name=Schbr1999 /><ref>Schieber, J., J. B. Southard, and K. G. Thaisen, 2007, Accretion of mudstone beds from migrating floccule ripples: Science, v. 318, p. 1760–1763.</ref>, event deposition<ref name=Schbr1989 /><ref name=Schbr1999 /><ref>Loucks, R. G., and S. C. Ruppel, 2007, [https://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/2007/04apr/BLTN06059/BLTN06059.HTM Mississippian Barnett Shale: Lithofacies and depositional setting of a deep-water shale-gas succession in the Fort Worth Basin, Texas]: AAPG Bulletin, v. 91, no. 4, p. 579–601.</ref><ref> Macquaker, J. H. S., S. J. Bentley, and K. M. Bohacs, 2010, Wave-enhanced sediment-gravity flows and mud dispersal across continental shelves: Reappraising sediment transport processes operating in ancient mudstone successions: Geology, v. 38, p. 947–950.</ref> and microbial mats<ref name=Schbr1999 /><ref name=Schbr1989 />, as well as to substrate consistency<ref name=LbzSchbr /><ref name=WtzlUchmn>Wetzel, A., and Uchman, A., 1998, Biogenic sedimentary structures in mudstones—an overview, ‘’in’’ J. Schieber, W. Zimmerle, and P. Sethi, eds., Shales and mudstones, Volume I: Stuttgart, Germany, E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nagele u. Obermiller), p. 351–369.</ref> and more subtle forms of animal–sediment interaction<ref name=Schbr2003 /><ref name=Pmbrtnea2008>Pemberton, S. G., J. A. MacEachern, M. K. Gingras, and T. D. Saunders, 2008, Biogenic chaos: Cryptobioturbation and the work of sedimentologically friendly organisms: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 270, no. 3, p. 273–279.</ref>. See [[Mudstone nomenclature]], and [[Laminasets, beds, and bedsets]], as well as all of the case study chapters (Bohacs and Ferrin<ref> Bohacs, K. M., and A. Ferrin, 2022, Monterey Formation, Miocene, California, USA—A Cenozoic biosiliceous-dominated continental slope to basin setting: A billion-barrel deep-water mudstone reservoir and source rock, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 475–504.</ref>, Bohacs and Grabowski<ref>Bohacs, K. M., and G. J. Grabowski, 2022, Green River formation, Laney Member, Eocene, Wyoming, USA—A balanced-fill lake system with microbial carbonate and oil shale, an analog for part of the South Atlantic pre-salt, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 505–536.</ref>; Bohacs and Guthrie<ref> Bohacs, K. M., and J. M. Guthrie, 2022, Chimney Rock Shale Member, Paradox Formation, Utah: Paleozoic, shallow carbonate-dominated shelf-to-basin billion-barrel source rocks, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 223–248.</ref>; Bohacs et al<ref> Bohacs, K. M., O. R. Lazar, R. D. Wilson, and J. H. S. Macquaker, 2022d, Mowry Shale–Belle Fourche Shale, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, USA—A Mesozoic clastic-biosiliceous shelf system: A prolific source rock with associated mudstone reservoir potential, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 395–474.</ref><ref>Bohacs, K. M., J. H. S. Macquaker, and O. R. Lazar, 2022e, Kimmeridge Clay Formation, United Kingdom—A Mesozoic clastic-carbonate shelf-to-intrashelf basin system: An outcrop-to-subsurface analog for the Haynesville, Vaca Muerta, and Bazhenov formations, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 345–394.</ref>, Campo et al.<ref> Campo, C., A. Morelli, A. Amorosi, L. Bruno, D. Scarponi, V. Rossi, K. M. Bohacs, and T. Drexler, 2022, Last glacial maximum depositional sequence, Po River Plain, Italy—Ultra-high resolution sequence stratigraphy of a Cenozoic coastal-plain-to-shallow-marine Foreland Basin, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 537–598.</ref>; Lazar and Schieber<ref> Lazar, O. R. and J. Schieber, 2022, New Albany Shale, Illinois Basin, USA—Devonian carbonaceous mudstone accumulation in an epicratonic sea: Stratigraphic insights from outcrop and subsurface data, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 249–294.</ref>; Potma et al.<ref> Potma, K., R. Jonk, and K. M. Bohacs, 2022, Canol Formation, Northwest Territories, Canada—An outcrop-to-subsurface analog for the Paleozoic Horn River Shale-gas play, in K. M. Bohacs and O. R. Lazar, eds., Sequence stratigraphy: Applications to fine-grained rocks: AAPG Memoir 126, p. 295–344.</ref> for other representative examples. |