Sedimentary Rocks - Guided Reading and Study

Small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things are called ____.

• sediment

• gravel

• pebbles

• dust

Is the following sentence true or false? Sedimentary rocks form from particles deposited by water and wind. True or False?

• True

• False

List three forces that can carry sediment.

• a. water b. wind c. ice

• d. gravity e. magnetism f. electricity

• g. sound h. light i. heat

• j. pressure k. tension l. friction

What happens to rock fragments and other materials carried by water?

• They are deposited somewhere else.

• They dissolve completely.

• They evaporate into the air.

• They turn into living organisms.

The process in which thick layers of sediment press down on the layers beneath them is called compaction.

• True

• False

Complete the flowchart to show how sediment is turned into sedimentary rock and what happens to it at each step.

• Sedimentary Rock Formation: Sediment -> Deposition - particles are loosely packed -> a. compaction -> b. cementation -> Sedimentary Rock

• Sedimentary Rock Formation: Sediment -> Erosion - particles are broken down -> a. weathering -> b. transportation -> Sedimentary Rock

• Sedimentary Rock Formation: Sediment -> Melting - particles are liquefied -> a. cooling -> b. solidification -> Sedimentary Rock

• Sedimentary Rock Formation: Sediment -> Metamorphism - particles are altered -> a. heat -> b. pressure -> Sedimentary Rock

Is the following sentence true or false? It takes millions of years for sedimentary rock to form.

• True

• False

Geologists classify sedimentary rock based on:

• color and texture

• mineral composition

• fossil content

• all of the above

List the three major groups of sedimentary rock.

• Intrusive, Extrusive, Coarse Grained

• Clastic, Organic, Chemical

Is the following sentence true or false? The same process forms all types of sedimentary rock.

• True

• False