Sedimentation in geologic history: Recycling vs. evolution or recycling with evolution

Recycling as outlined by Garrels and Mackenzie (1971) is the basic process responsible for the formation, preservation, destruction and composition of sedimentary masses during geologic history. However, several sedimentological and geochemical trends are difficult to reconcile with a simple recycling model and would therefore require an evolutionary approach superimposed on the general recycling. These evolutionary trends are observable on an integrated time scale of the order of 10⁸–10⁹ years. The author believes that the majority of the observed “apparent” sedimentological and geochemical trends might be compatible with two to three variables, such as the evolution of the crust, and possibly .