GEOL 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Chert, Uniformitarianism, Travertine
Document Summary
Explain the steps necessary to form a sedimentary rock. Explain what textural elements help classify sedimentary rocks. Explain size, shape, and sorting with respect to sedimentary rocks. Classify the different types of sedimentary rocks. Compare and contrast detrital and chemical sedimentary rocks. Explain the concept of maturity with respect to sediment found within a sedimentary rock. 75% of continents are covered by sedimentary rocks. Some sedimentary rocks contain fossils (clues to the past) Sediment: loose fragments (grains) produced by breakdown (weathering) of rocks or precipitation of a chemical process. Physical/chemical breakdown of preexisting rocks at the earth"s surface. Particles carried away from original location where it can accumulate. Occurs when wind/water can no longer carry particles, particles settle out, accumulate. Older particles buried under younger particles: lithification. Process of compacting particles and cementing them together. 3 groups based on origin of sediment particles. Particle size is primary bases for distinguishing different detrital sedimentary rocks.