Mud and Mudstones : Sediment Dispersal, Lithofacies Variability and Organic Carbon Preservation

Lithofacies variability in fine-grained sedimentary successions is poorly known relative to that present in other sedimentary strata. In most existing models, researchers have argued that the mechanisms that underpin facies variability are produced by a combination of detrital inputs to the basin, primary production in the water column and diagenesis once the grains have been produced. In order to investigate the validity of these models, a fine-grained, mudstone succession (Cleveland Basin) exposed on the Yorkshire Coast of NE England has been investigated using a combination of field, optical, electron optical, and geochemical methods. Analyses reveal that there is a great deal of cryptic lithofacies variability preserved on