Advances and Frontiers in Sedimentology Research

Abstract

In the past three years, sedimentology has witnessed multi-dimensional breakthroughs in theoretical paradigms, technical methods, and application fields. The theoretical framework centered on the "source - sink - transport" system has been further refined, and key progress has been made in the research of deep-water sedimentary processes, the formation and storage mechanisms of deep and ultra-deep carbonate rocks, and fine-grained sedimentary systems. The deep integration of high-precision chronology, high-resolution geophysical exploration, and artificial intelligence technologies has facilitated a leap from qualitative description to quantitative forward modeling of sedimentary processes. Meanwhile, the cross-fusion of sedimentology with global change, planetary geology, and unconventional energy exploration has deepened, forming a new understanding of "sedimentary sphere science". This article systematically reviews the core progress in these areas, focusing on the expansion of the source-sink system, the innovation of deep-water sedimentary dynamic mechanisms, the microscopic breakthroughs in carbonate rocks and fine-grained sediments, and the intelligent transformation of technical methods. It also looks forward to the future development direction of the discipline, aiming to provide references for theoretical innovation and resource and environmental applications in sedimentology.