This publication consists of papers delivered at an International Symposium of the International Association of Sedimentologists held at Beijing, Peoples' Republic of China in August, 1988. The theme of the symposium was sedimentology related to mineral deposits and incorporated meetings of three International Geological Correlation Programmes (IGCP) Projects; IGCP 219 on Comparative Lacustrine Sedimentology in Space and Time, IGCP 226 on Manganese Deposits, and IGCP 254 on Metalliferous Black Shales. This book is intended for earth scientists and advanced students studying/working in the areas of sedimentology, petroleum geology, ore geology and economic geology.