ERTH 1006 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5-6: Lithification, Petrified Wood, Mudcrack
8 Oct 2015
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Sediment: loose, solid particles of minerals that originate from weathering and erosion or precipitation from solution, including secretion by organisms in water. Types of sediment include: gravel which is bigger than 2mm, sand which is between 2mm and. 0. 06mm and mud (clay and slit) which is less than 0. 06mm. Most sediment is transported some distance by wind, gravity, water or ice, while being transported the sediment continues to weather. Rounding: the grinding away of sharp edges and corners during transportation so that they become round. Sorting: process by which sediments grains are selected and separated according to grain size. Deposition: when transported sediments settle down (eg come to a rest) Lithification: the term for the process of converting sediments to sedimentary rock. Lithification can be done by compaction where loose sediment grains are packed tightly together or through cementation where precipitation of cement around sediment grains binds them into a firm, coherent rock.
