knowledge of the physical, biological, and chemical characteristics and depositional environments of nonmarine sedimentary deposits has increased significantly over the last decade. Correspondingly, there has also been an increase in our ability to apply this knowledge to the exploration and exploitation of contained energy resources and minerals. Much of this latter knowledge is dissiminated in the literature of a variety of fields and is, therefore, not always readily available to the exploration geologist.

This paper represents an attempt to provide an overview of recent research in this rapidly expanding field of knowledge and to show how knowledge of paleodepositional environments is of central importance to exploration for economic deposits contained within nonmarine sedimentary rocks. Emphasis in this paper is placed on the use of nonmarine depositional models in uranium, petroleum, and coal exploration, as these three resources are of critical importance as energy resources. A short review is also included of nonmarine depositional models in metallic and nonmetallic exploration.