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SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

(c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa
 Sedimentary rocks
• Sedimentary rocks form at low temperatures and pressures at the surface of Earth
owing to deposition by water, wind, or ice and or chemically precipitated from solution,
or secreted by organisms, and deposited in loose layers on the Earth’s surface.
• Sedimentary rocks are characterized particularly by the presence of layers, although
layers are also present in some volcanic and metamorphic rocks, and by distinctive
textures and structures. Many sedimentary rocks are also distinguished from igneous
and metamorphic rocks by their mineral and chemical compositions and fossil content.
• Sedimentary rocks cover roughly three-fourths of Earth's surface. They have special
genetic significance because their textures, structures, composition, and fossil content
reveal the nature of past surface environments and life forms on Earth.
• Sedimentary rocks provide our only available clues to evolution of Earth's landscapes
and life forms through time.
• Sedimentary rocks contain minerals and fossil fuels that have economic significance.
Petroleum, natural gas, coal, salt, phosphorus, sulfur, iron and other metallic ores, and
uranium are examples of some of the extremely important economic products that
occur in sedimentary rocks.
Origin of Sedimentary Rocks

The processes involved in the creation of sedimentary rocks are weathering [1], mass wasting [2],
deposition, lithification, and diagenesis.

[1] more of this on Weathering and Soil lesson

[2] more of this on Mass Movement lesson
 Processes involved in the formation of sedimentary rocks

Rocks from sediments

● Buried sediments may undergo physical and chemical changes collectively
called diagenesis, these changes can result in lithification— the conversion of
loose sediments to solid sedimentary rock.
Compaction: Particles of sediment are forced closer together by the weight
of sediment building up above them.
Recrystallization: Certain minerals in sedimentary deposits may be
recrystallized, fine
particles giving rise to coarse crystals. Thus lime mud forms calcite crystals,
and amorphous silica forms quartz crystals.
Solution: Certain minerals in a sedimentary deposit may be dissolved away.
Solution occurs in evaporites, limestones, and sandstones.
Authigenesis: Precipitation of minerals within a sediment as this is being
formed. They come from watery solutions percolating through pore spaces in
the sediment. New minerals may replace those that have dissolved. For
instance, clay minerals replace feldspars.
Cementation: Authigenic minerals filling pore spaces can cement the
particles of sediment together, converting this to sedimentary rock. Major
natural cements are calcium carbonate, iron oxides, and silica.
Adams and Lambert,2006. Earth Science: An illustrated guide to science
Common terms for sedimentary rocks
used by geologists
Formation - consist of a single rock type or several different rock types. To qualify as a formation, a
body of rock should be easily recognizable in the field and be thick and laterally extensive enough to
show up well on a geologic map. Although sedimentary rocks are most commonly designated as
formations, bodies of igneous and metamorphic rock that meet these qualifications also are named
and are called formations.
Formations are often named for the geographic locality where they are well exposed and were first
defined. Names also include the dominant rock type— for example, the Kennon Limestone, Taal Tuff.
If the formation contains more than one abundant rock type, the word formation is used in the name
instead of a rock type, as in the Guadalupe Formation, Manila Formation, Calatagan Formation.
Contact - is the surface between two rocks of different types or ages. Contacts separate formations
and separate different rock types or layers within a single formation. In sedimentary rocks, contacts
are usually bedding planes.
Group – two or more formations are lumped together. For example: Batan Group, Barcelona Group
Member – a subdivision of formation. For example: Guadalupe Formation is composed of Diliman Tuff
and Alat conglomerate
Types of Sedimentary Rocks

A. Detrital

These are rocks that form from

lithification of quartz and other
minerals, rock fragments (also
called clasts), and clay.

Detrital sedimentary rocks are also

known as clastic sedimentary rocks.

These rocks are distinguished based

on their particle sizes.

Shale and sandstone are the first

and second most abundant detrital
sedimentary rocks respectively.

(c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa
 Types of Sedimentary Rocks

B. Chemical

These are rocks that (c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa
form from precipitates of
chemical sediments.
Chemical sedimentary
rocks are also known as
non-clastic sedimentary
rocks.

Limestone is the most

abundant chemical
sedimentary rock formed
from tests (shells) of
microscopic organisms
(planktons) such
foraminifera and
coccolithophores.

(c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa
Types of Sedimentary Rocks

C. Organic

Coal is a unique sedimentary rock because it is made of organic matter.

Plant parts that have been chemically altered for millions of years produce
coal deposits.
Relative abundances of sedimentary rock types

Thompson and Turk: 1998, Introduction to Physical Geology

Detrital/Clastic sedimentary rocks

Conglomerate

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Detrital/Clastic sedimentary rocks
How do you differentiate shale, mudstone, and silt
stone?

(c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa

(c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa
Detrital/Clastic sedimentary rocks
Thompson and Turk: 1998, Introduction to Physical Geology

Sandstone is lithified sand. (a) A sandstone cliff above the Colorado River, Canyonlands, Utah. (b) A
close-up of sandstone. Notice the well-rounded sand grains.
Chemical/Non- Clastic sedimentary rocks

(c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa
Chemical/Non- Clastic sedimentary rocks

(c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa

Rock salts, which are also chemical sedimentary rocks, are examples of evaporites that form when
water rich with salt evaporates leaving halite (NaCl) precipitates.
Chemical/Non- Clastic sedimentary
rocks

Other sea-dwelling microscopic organisms

(planktons) such radiolarians and diatoms
produce microcrystalline glass-like (silica) shells
that form cherts.

(c) Earth, an introduction to physical geology 11th ed. – Tarbuck, Lutgens, Tasa
 Organic sedimentary rocks

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Some Examples of Sedimentary Structures

1. Bed

Bed is also known as stratum (strata, plural) and it is the smallest division of stratified (or bedded)
sedimentary rock, consisting of a single distinct sheet-like layer of sedimentary material, separated from the
beds above and below by bedding planes which mark a break in sedimentation.
Cross-bedding
2. Mud cracks

These are also known as dessication cracks. They are irregular fractures in a crudely polygonal pattern
formed by the shrinkage of clay, silt or mud in the course of drying under the influence of atmospheric
surface conditions.

Thompson and Turk: 1998, Introduction to Physical Geology

 3. Ripple Marks

These are structures that indicate agitation by water (current or waves) or wind.

Thompson and Turk: 1998, Introduction to Physical Geology

Ripple marks in billion-year-old mud rocks in eastern Utah.

 Fossils in sedimentary rocks

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Common depositional environment of sedimentary rocks
Uses of sedimentary rocks

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Uses of sedimentary rocks
As fuel (Coal)

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Uses of sedimentary rocks
The Geologic Timescale

As geologic time markers

IMPORTANCE OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS IN CIVIL
ENGINEERING

Source:
https://theconstructor.org/building/uses-sedimentary-rocks/25071/