Fossils found within the shale will help to further narrow the possible environment of deposition. The type of sediment indicates the environment of deposition. Sediments wash off of the continent onto the shelf and range in size from coarse sand closest to the continent fining to clays. In some areas coral reefs or carbonate muds dominate the shelf. Sediments on the slope consist of fine silts and clays.
Sediments consist of sands, silts and clays from shelf.
Calcareous and siliceous deposits are the most common. Dunes of cross bedded sands often form. Sediments consist of sands, silts and clays interlayered by meandering streams. Sands are found in point bars and along stream banks and bottoms, clays and silts are found on the floodplain. Each of the environments above contain distinct sediments.