Fractal and its application to sedimentology

In the paper,the foundation,development,basic conception and general characteristics of fractal and the calculating method of the fractional dimension are expounded briefly, and the current situation and prospect of the fractal application in sedimentology are discussed stressly. Both sedimentary process and sedimentary record behave the fractal feature of the self similarity structure. External form and internal texture of the sediments and the distribution of the grain size of the sediments are of fractal feature very well, and the size of the fractional dimension is the quantitative index of the complexity of the background when they are formed. The further analysis on the multi fractal feature of the sedimentary body is the base of the fractal simulation and forecast, and it is the key of the application of the fractal theory to sedimentology.