The thesis of this paper is that sedimentary characteristics will become increasingly important in the search for oil. Emphasis is placed on the increase in quantification of sedimentary data; new and more complete studies of sedimentary environments; application of the techniques to ancient sediments; and the development and improvement of methods for recording the quantitative data in map form. A brief review is given of some trends in modern sedimentation, illustrated by particle roundness and sphericity, as an introduction to quantitative sedimentary studies. The viewpoint is extended to environments of sedimentation, approached as "closed systems" with boundary conditions, materials, and energy sources as the basic subjects of study. The data of quantitative environm ntal studies lend themselves to presentation on contour-type maps and surfaces, and some of the geometrical properties of such maps and surfaces are reviewed. A classification of maps is given, to indicate the wide range of sedimentary data both recent and ancient, suitable for presentation in this manner.