Purposes of Sedimentology Laboratory
According that sea beds are one of the most unknown parts of the earth, their sedimentological and geological studies to determine the mutual effects of water environments on intermediate environments and lands and inversely, is very essential.
The most important purposes of sedimentology and sedimentary geochemistry include:
- Distribution and dispersion study of sediments of region
- Study of sedimentary environments and sub-environment of region
- Hydrological study of region
- Geochemical study of land & sea sediments of region
- Study of origin of seabed sediments
- Study of the past sedimentary environment
- Study of the past climate
- Geographical study of the past time
- Past ecological study
There are 7 sedimentologists (M.S. degree) and 3 technicians in Applied Research Center of Geology Survey of Iran that works to achieve the above mentioned goals in sedimentology laboratory of marine geology.
Sea bed sediments after sampling are delivered into laboratory and then, different tests including particle graining, Calcimetry, morphoscopy of grains, XRD analysis for measurement of clay minerals as well as analysis of major and trace elements using ICP are performed.

Some equipments of this laboratory such as Laser particle sizer are only in this laboratory. 
The main purpose of marine geology laboratory of Applied Research Center of Karaj is to study and design the sedimentology maps of Iran's sea beds. This laboratory consists of a preparation unit which samples are prepared using desalting separation technique. Then, samples are delivered into sedimentology laboratory and after weighting, they are allowed to settle for 24 hours. Then, samples are separated using wet chemistry method in an ultrasonic bath. Note that grains larger than 63 micron and grains smaller than 63 micron are separated by sieve shaker & laser particle sizer, respectively. Ultimately, statistics parameters of sediments are calculated. Note that tissue and form of sediments are studied by binoculars and percentage of clastic carbonates is determined, too.