How are Sedimentary Rocks Formed
Sediments: Small Pieces of rocks and minerals that settle in a liquid
- Sedimentary rock is formed when sediments become cemented together by dissolved minerals
- These minerals cement sediments together when the liquid they are in evaporates and leaves them connected to pieces of other rocks or the remains of once living things.
- Some sedimentary rocks are formed from the remains of living things.
Classifying Sedimentary Rocks
There are two types of Sedimentary Rocks
- Clastics
· Clastics are sedimentary rocks formed from pieces of other rock
· Classified by the size of their sediments
· 4 types of Clastics
o Shale
§ Formed from mud and silt
§ Smallest sediments
§ Has a fine texture
· Particle size is 1/256 mm or less
o Sandstones
§ Formed from pieces of sand
§ Has a medium texture
· Particle size between 1/16 to 2 mm
o Conglomerates
§ Formed from pieces of gravel
· Particle size is 2mm or greater
- Nonclastics
· Sedimentary rocks formed from dissolved minerals or the remains of once living things
· 2 types of Nonclastics
1. Chemicals sedimentary rocks
o Formed from dissolved minerals
2. biochemical sedimentary rocks
formed from the remains of living things |
