Sedimentary Rocks

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Sedimentary Rock Noun

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[sed-uh-men-tuh-ree rok]

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Sedimentary Rock

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A rock type formed when sediments are deposited in layers, then compacted and cemented together over a long period.

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Example: This diagram shows how layers of sediment settle on the sea bed and are squeezed together by pressure (compression) from above, eventually hardening into sedimentary rocks.

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Sediments Noun

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[sed-uh-muhnts]

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Sediments

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Small, naturally occurring fragments of minerals, rocks, or organic matter that have been broken down from larger materials.

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Example: This diagram shows how sediments, which are small pieces of rock, are transported by water as dissolved load, suspended load, and bedload.

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Weathering Noun

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[weth-er-ing]

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Weathering

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The natural process that breaks down rocks and other materials on Earth's surface into smaller pieces without moving them.

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Example: This image shows four different types of weathering, such as frost action and biological weathering, which are processes that break down rocks into smaller pieces.

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Erosion Noun

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[ih-roh-zhuhn]

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Erosion

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The geological process where weathered rock, soil, and sediment are moved from one location to another by natural forces.

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Example: Wind acts as an agent of erosion, moving sediment like dust and sand from one place to another through processes like suspension, saltation, and creep.

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Deposition Noun

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[dep-uh-zish-uhn]

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Deposition

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The geological process where sediments, soil, and rocks settle in a new location after being transported by natural agents.

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Example: Water flowing from the steep mountain slows down on the flat land, causing it to drop the sediment it carries, which is the process of deposition.

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Compaction Noun

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[kuhm-pak-shuhn]

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Compaction

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The process by which the weight of overlying materials presses sediments together, reducing the space between individual particles.

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Example: This diagram shows how loose sediments (left) are squeezed by pressure, forcing out water and air to become tightly packed (right), which is compaction.

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Cementation Noun

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[see-men-tey-shuhn]

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Cementation

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The process where dissolved minerals crystallize and act as a natural glue, binding sediment particles together into solid rock.

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Example: This diagram shows how minerals (the 'cement') fill the spaces between sediment grains, gluing them together to form a sedimentary rock.

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Organic materials Noun

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[or-gan-ik muh-teer-ee-uhls]

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Organic materials

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Substances derived from the remains of once-living organisms, such as plants and animals, often found within sediments.

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Example: This diagram shows how channels from old organic materials, like roots or worms, create spaces in soil for water to pass through (infiltration).

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Chemical precipitates Noun

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[kem-i-kuhl pri-sip-i-teyts]

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Chemical precipitates

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Solid materials that form and are left behind when minerals dissolved in water crystallize as the water evaporates.

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Example: This diagram shows how a solid, called a precipitate, forms and settles at the bottom of a liquid solution, a key process in forming some sedimentary rocks.

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Pressure Noun

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[presh-er]

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Pressure

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The continuous physical force exerted on or against an object by something in contact with it, crucial for rock compaction.

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Example: This diagram shows that pressure is a force applied over a specific unit area.