1 Introduction.- Sedimentary environments and facies.- Relationship between facies, sequences and stratigraphy.- Methods of environmental diagnosis.- Geometry.- Lithology.- Sedimentary structures.- Palaeocurrent patterns.- Fossils.- Sub-surface environmental interpretation.- Interpretation of vertical grain size profiles from geophysical logs.- The use of the dipmeter in sub-surface facies analysis.- Summary.- References.- 2 River Deposits.- Introduction: Recent alluvium.- Alluvium of meandering rivers.- Alluvium of braided rivers.- The Torridon Group (PreCambrian) of northwest Scotland: description and discussion.- Basal facies: description.- Basal facies: interpretation.- Grey facies: description.- Grey facies: interpretation.- Red facies: description.- Red facies: interpretation.- Devonian sediments of south Wales and the Catskill Mountains, USA: description.- Devonian sediments of south Wales and the Catskill Mountains, USA: interpretation.- Discussion.- Economic aspects.- Sub-surface diagnosis of fluvial deposits.- Sub-surface diagnosis of braided fluvial deposits.- Sub-surface diagnosis of meandering fluvial deposits.- References.- 3 Wind-Blown Sediments.- Recent eolian sediments.- Eolian deposits of Western USA: description.- Eolian sandstones of Western USA: discussion.- General discussion of eolian sediments.- Economic significance of eolian deposits.- Sub-surface diagnosis of eolian deposits.- References.- 4 Lake Deposits.- Recent lakes.- The Green River Formation (Eocene) Rocky Mountains, USA: description.- Green River Formation: discussion of environment.- General discussion of ancient lake deposits.- Economic aspects.- Sub-surface diagnosis of lacustrine deposits.- References.- 5 Deltas.- Shorelines: a general statement.- Recent deltas.- Carboniferous deltaic sedimentation of Northern England.- Type 1: description.- Type 1: interpretation.- Type 2: description.- Type 2: interpretation.- General discussion of deltaic sedimentation.- Economic significance of deltaic deposits.- Sub-surface diagnosis of deltaic deposits.- References.- 6 Linear Terrigenous Shorelines.- Introduction: Recent linear terrigenous shorelines.- Cretaceous shorelines of the Rocky Mountains, USA: description.- Coal-bearing facies.- Sheet sand facies.- Laminated shale facies.- Cretaceous shorelines of the Rocky Mountains, USA: interpretation.- General discussion of linear terrigenous shorelines.- Economic significance of linear terrigenous shorelines.- Regressive sand sheets.- Transgressive sand sheets.- Shoestring barrier sands.- Sub-surface diagnosis of barrier sands.- References.- 7 Mixed Terrigenous: Carbonate Shorelines.- A Libyan Miocene shoreline: description and discussion.- Skeletal limestone facies.- Laminated shale facies.- Interlaminated sand and shale facies.- Cross-bedded sand and shale facies.- Calcareous sandstone channel facies.- General discussion of the Miocene shoreline of the Sirte basin.- General discussion and economic aspects.- References.- 8 Shelf Deposits: Carbonate and Terrigenous.- Introduction: a general theory of shelf sea sedimentation.- Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) deposits of the Williston basin, North America: description.- Charles facies.- Mission Canyon facies.- Lodgepole facies.- Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) sediments of the Williston basin, North America: interpretation.- Discussion of carbonate shelf sediments.- Terrigenous shelf deposits.- Economic aspects.- Sub-surface diagnosis of shelf deposits.- References.- 9 Reefs.- Summary of Recent reefs.- Permian reefs of West Texas: description.- Permian reefs of West Texas: discussion.- Leduc (Devonian) reefs of Canada: description.- Leduc (Devonian) reefs of Canada: interpretation.- The Bu Hasa reef oil field, Abu Dhabi: description.- The Bu Hasa reef oil field, Abu Dhabi: interpretation.- General discussion of reefs.- Factors controlling reef geometries and facies.- The reef: evaporite: euxinic shale association.- Diagenesis of reefs.- Economic geology of ancient reefs.- Sub-surface diagnosis of reefs.- References.- 10 Deep Sea Sands.- Deep sea sands defined.- Diagnostic characteristics of turbidites.- Recent deep sea sands.- Discussion of origin of turbidites.- Upper Jurassic deep sea sands of Sutherland, Scotland: description.- Upper Jurassic deep sea sands of Sutherland, Scotland: interpretation.- Description of the Annot trough flysch, Alpes Maritimes.- Discussion of the Annot trough sandstones.- Deep sea sands: concluding discussion.- Economic aspects of flysch and turbidites.- Sub-surface diagnosis of deep sea sands.- References.- 11 Pelagic Deposits.- Introduction: Recent pelagic deposits.- Triassic-Jurassic deposits of the Meditteranean: description.- Clay shales, marls, and micritic limestones.- Radiolarian cherts.- Nodular red limestones.- Triassic-Jurassic deposits of the Meditteranean: interpretation.- General discussion of pelagic deposits.- Economic significance of deep-sea deposits.- References.- 12 Conclusions.- Sedimentary models: mythical and mathematical.- Sedimentary models: mythical.- Sedimentary models: mathematical.- References.- Author Index.