10: Sedimentary Rocks
- Page ID
- 29667
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Explain the differences between the four kinds of sedimentary rocks: clastic, chemical, biochemical, and organic.
- Describe some of the specific kinds of rocks in each of the four categories, and the depositional environments in which they form.
- Describe the various terrestrial and marine sedimentary depositional environments and explain how the formation of sedimentary basins is related to plate tectonic processes.
- Apply your understanding of the features of sedimentary rocks, including grain characteristics, sedimentary structures, and fossils, to the interpretation of past depositional environments and climates.
- Explain what groups, formations, and members are in sedimentary rocks, and why such terminology is used.
- 10.1: Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
- This page explains how clastic sediments turn into sedimentary rocks through lithification, involving compaction and cementation processes. Compaction decreases pore spaces due to the weight of overlying sediments, while cementation binds grains through mineral precipitation from groundwater.
- 10.2: Chemical and Biochemical Sedimentary Rocks
- This page explains chemical and biochemical sedimentary rocks, highlighting the role of organisms in biochemical rock formation, particularly limestone in marine environments. It describes tufa and travertine as chemical sedimentary rocks, and dolostone as a product of dolomitization. Chert can form through both processes.
- 10.3: Organic Sedimentary Rocks
- This page discusses the formation of organic sedimentary rocks, particularly coal, which originates from decaying plant and animal matter in humid, low-oxygen environments. The process transforms organic material into peat, which, under pressure and temperature over time, evolves into lignite, bituminous coal, and finally anthracite.
- 10.4: Depositional Environments and Sedimentary Basins
- This page explores depositional environments where sediments accumulate, categorized into terrestrial, marine, and transitional types like glacial, fluvial, and deltaic. It highlights the role of tectonic processes in sedimentary rock formation and sediment preservation in basins. The impact of sea-level changes, both eustatic and relative, on these environments is also discussed.
- 10.5: Sedimentary Structures and Fossils
- This page examines the connection between sedimentary rocks and their depositional environments, detailing how features such as mineralogy and grain properties reveal formation processes. It discusses sedimentary structures like bedding and ripples that indicate past conditions and highlights the role of fossils in dating these environments. The page concludes with practice exercises aimed at enhancing understanding of sedimentary structure interpretation and concept integration.
- 10.6: Groups, Formations, and Members
- This page discusses how geologists classify sedimentary rocks into formations, groups, and members for better mapping and understanding. It highlights the Nanaimo Group on Vancouver Island as a case study, illustrating a 5000 m thick sequence of diverse rock layers from the Cretaceous Period, consisting of 11 formations characterized by various depositional settings influenced by tectonic activity.
- 10.7: Chapter 10 Summary and Key Term Check
- This page covers the classification and formation of sedimentary rocks, detailing clastic, chemical, biochemical, and organic types. It explains clastic rocks' categorization by grain size, with examples like sandstone and shale, while highlighting limestone as a key chemical rock. Organic rocks, including coal, are formed from plant material. Additionally, it addresses depositional environments, sedimentary structures, fossils, and the classification of sedimentary sequences for mapping.