Sedimentary rocks

Jane Dowell
Sedimentary rocks are formed through a series
of processes: erosion, deposition,
compaction, and cementation.
 Erosion
Erosion is the wearing away of rock due to wind,
water or ice. The result of erosion is
sediment.
 Deposition
Deposition is when the sediments from erosion
settle out of the wind, water and ice and are
left or deposited in a different place.
 Burial of Sediment
Most sediment are deposited in depressions
called sedimentary basins that contain layers
and layers of sediment.
The most bottom layers are under pressure
and temperature which is lithification
Lithificationthe physical and chemical
processes that transform sediments in to
sedimentary rocks.
 Compaction (1st step of Lithification)
Sediments build up over time and press down
on the layers below. This squeezes the layers
so that the particles or grains stick together.
Cementation (2nd Step of Lithification)
Minerals that are dissolved in water start to
crystallize. These crystallized minerals glue
the solids or grains together.
 Types of Bedding
(Horizontal layering)
Graded Bedding
layering in which the
particle sizes
progressively get
heavier and coarser
toward the bottom
layers
 Types of Bedding
(Horizontal layering)
Cross Bedding
layering formed in
an inclined
fashion. Layers of
sediment move
forward across a
horizontal surface.
Cross Bedding
 Types of Sedimentary Rocks
Geologist classify sedimentary rocks according
to the type of sediments they have. There are
three major groups of sedimentary rocks:
clastic, organic, and chemical.
 shale Clastic Rocks
Clastic rocks are your basic sedimentary rock.
They are formed from broken bits and pieces of
other rocks that were eroded and deposited a long
time ago.
These rock pieces were squeezed together.
The particles can be the size of sand or large and
jagged. They also have open spaces and can be
classified by their level of Porosity.

Sandstone

Breccia
 Organic Sedimentary Rocks
Organic sedimentary rocks are made from the
remains of plants and animals.
These get deposited, compacted, and
cemented just like rock sediments.
Coal and limestone are two examples.
Sometimes limestone can have fossils in it.

Limestone

Coal
 Chemical Rocks
When the minerals that are dissolved in a solution
crystallize, chemical rocks are formed. Also called
Evaporites.
One type of limestone can form this way when
calcite is dissolved in lakes and becomes crystallized.
Halite is another example of a chemical rock.

Limestone

Pink Halite
 Uses of Sedimentary Rock
Building
White House is made of
sandstone a very
popular sedimentary
rock
Industrial use
Use in smelting
(separating ) iron ore
Information about
Earths past (fossils)