Sedimentary Rock Evonia Hogan SCI - 245 Physical Geology Axia of University of Phoenix May 30, 2009

Sediment originates from the erosion of pre-existing rocks that have been broken down through weathering.

Sedimentary rock is formed by individual particles that are bound together into a cohesive unit. After a layer of sediment is buried, either by the accumulation of more sediment or by tectonic processes, it is placed under higher pressure, leading to compaction. Sedimentary rock can be made up of particles derived from the weathering and erosion of igneous rock as well. Sedimentary rock is one of the most abundant rock on the planet. They cover over 60% of the continental surface and most of the ocean floor.

Sedimentary rocks are composed nearly entirely (>95%) of three types of rocks, mudstones, sandstones, and carbonates. Of these groups, the mudstones are the most abundant, followed by sandstones and then carbonates. The remaining sedimentary rocks are composed of evaporites, bedded chert, bedded phosphate, and bedded iron ore. These rocks make up less than 5% of the sedimentary rocks. (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/everyday_geology/89686)

Sedimentary rocks are formed thru a process called lithification. Lithification can be accomplished by one of three methods. These methods consist of compaction, cementation and re-crystallization. Lithification can be the result of all or some of these methods.

Compaction is the reduction of pore space in sediment as a result of the weight of overlying sediments. Compaction is the first step in lithification.

Cementation is the process in which substances dissolved in pore water precipitate out and form a matrix in which grains of sediment are joined together.

Re-crystallization is the formation of new crystalline mineral grains from old ones. This is the layered arrangement of strata in a body of sediment or sedimentary rock. In the process of re-crystallizing, crystals that were separate can grow together.

There are three main types of sedimentary rocks, Clastic, Biogenic and Chemical sediment.

Clastic rocks are made up of individual particles or clasts. They differ in size and shape and are derived from eroded rock debris. Sediment formed from fragmented rock and mineral debris produced by weathering and erosion. Clasts may become rounded and sorted during transport by water and wind, but they typically remain unsorted during transport by glaciers or as a result of mass wasting.

They are classified by sizes that can be boulder, pebble, cobble, sand, silt or clay. Boulder is the size of a baseball or larger. Its size is 256mm or more in measurement. Cobble is the size of a chickens egg. Its size is 64 and 256mm in measurement.

Pebble is the size of a pea. Its size is between 2 and 64mm in measurement.

Sand is the size of the head on a pin. Its size is 1/6 to 2mm in measurement.

The silt is around the size of salt. Its size is 1/256mm to 1/16 in measurement.

The clay is the size of a grain of flour which can form shale rock. Its size is less than 1/256mm in measurement

Chemical sediment is formed by the precipitation of minerals dissolved in lake, river, or sea water. All surface water and groundwater contains dissolved chemicals that eventually find their way to a lake or sea. Most chemical sedimentary rocks contain only one important mineral, such as calcite, dolomite, gypsum, or halite

Biogenic sediment, that is primarily composed of plant and animal remains, or precipitates as a result of biologic processes. This includes the hard parts of large animals, such as shells, bones, and teeth, as well as fragments of plant matter, such as wood, roots, and leaves. Limestone is the most abundant biogenic sedimentary rock.

Volcaniclastic sediments are another kind of clastic sediment. This is where all of the clasts are made from a volcanic origin.

Basically, all sedimentary rock is created by the deposition of sediment that has been laid down in layers over many years. The pressure from the many layers of sediment compresses itself into a rock that may be formed from many types of sediment.

The individual layers can be analyzed by geologist to determine what was happening in the environment during certain time frames in our past. Each layer holds

the secret to what the worlds terrain might have been experiencing. It also helps us to understand what types of life forms may have been here and when they were here.

References Sedimentary rock. (2008, May 4). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 08:38, May 30, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sedimentary_rock&oldid=294342710 Introduction to Sedimentary Rocks, (2002, February 25). Retrieved 7:45, May 31, 2009, from http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/everyday_geology/89686