"The particles that form a sedimentary rock are called sediment, and may be composed of geological detritus (minerals) or biological detritus (organic matter)."
Study of the formation, classification, and properties of rocks that are deposited and lithified at the Earth's surface.
Introduction to Sedimentary Rocks: This topic provides an introduction to sedimentary rocks, including their formation, composition, and classification.
Sedimentology: Sedimentology is the study of sedimentary processes and how they affect the formation and characteristics of sedimentary rocks.
Types of Sedimentary Rocks: This topic covers the various types of sedimentary rocks, including clastic, chemical, and organic.
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks: Clastic sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and lithification of mineral or rock fragments.
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks: Chemical sedimentary rocks are formed from the precipitation of minerals from solution.
Organic Sedimentary Rocks: Organic sedimentary rocks are formed from the remains of plants and animals.
Fossils: Fossils are preserved remains or traces of living organisms found in sedimentary rocks.
Stratigraphy: Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers and their relationships to one another.
Paleontology: Paleontology is the study of fossils and the evolution of life on Earth.
Diagenesis: Diagenesis is the process of physical and chemical changes that occur in sedimentary rocks after they are deposited.
Sedimentary Structures: Sedimentary structures are physical features in sedimentary rocks that provide clues about their formation.
Depositional Environments: Depositional environments are the specific locations where sedimentary rocks are formed.
Sedimentary Basins: Sedimentary basins are geologic structures that contain thick accumulations of sedimentary rocks.
Petroleum Geology: Petroleum geology is the study of sedimentary rocks that contain oil and natural gas deposits.
Economic Importance of Sedimentary Rocks: Sedimentary rocks are important resources for construction materials, energy, and mineral resources.
Sandstone: A clastic sedimentary rock composed of sand-sized grains of mineral, rock or organic material cemented together by a mineral matrix, particularly silica or calcium carbonate.
Shale: A fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of clay minerals and small amounts of other minerals, such as quartz and feldspar.
Limestone: A sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate, formed from the accumulation and consolidation of shells, coral, and other marine debris.
Conglomerate: A clastic sedimentary rock composed of rounded grains larger than 2 mm in diameter, tightly cemented together.
Breccia: Similar to conglomerate, but with angular grains instead of rounded ones.
Chert: A hard, dense, and fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of silica.
Coal: A sedimentary rock composed primarily of carbon, formed from the remains of plant material that were compressed over time.
Diatomite: A soft, fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of the frustules (skeletal remains) of diatoms, a type of algae.
Evaporite: A sedimentary rock formed from the evaporation of saline water, such as gypsum and halite.
Siltstone: A fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of silt-sized grains, typically quartz or feldspar.
Claystone: A fine-grained sedimentary rock composed mainly of clay minerals.
Oolite: A sedimentary rock composed of small, spherical grains called ooids, which are usually composed of calcium carbonate.
Arkose: A type of sandstone with high feldspar content, often deposited in a terrestrial environment.
Marl: A type of limestone with a high clay content.
Dolomite: A sedimentary rock composed of calcium magnesium carbonate, formed from the alteration of limestone.
Tuff: A volcanic rock formed from the consolidation of ash and other volcanic debris.
Coquina: A clastic sedimentary rock composed of loosely cemented shells and shell fragments.
Sponge spicule: A sedimentary rock composed of the spicules of sponges, which are elongated structures of silica or calcium carbonate.
Loess: A fine, wind-deposited sedimentary rock formed from the accumulation of silt-sized mineral grains, typically quartz or feldspar.
Ferruginous: A sedimentary rock composed of iron-rich minerals, such as hematite or goethite.
"Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of mineral or organic particles at Earth's surface, followed by cementation."
"The geological detritus is transported to the place of deposition by water, wind, ice or mass movement, which are called agents of denudation."
"The sedimentary rock cover of the continents of the Earth's crust is extensive (73% of the Earth's current land surface), but sedimentary rock is estimated to be only 8% of the volume of the crust."
"Sedimentary rocks are often deposited in large structures called sedimentary basins."
"Sedimentary rocks are also important sources of natural resources including coal, fossil fuels, drinking water, and ores."
"The study of the sequence of sedimentary rock strata is the main source for an understanding of the Earth's history, including palaeogeography, paleoclimatology, and the history of life."
"The scientific discipline that studies the properties and origin of sedimentary rocks is called sedimentology."
"The study of sedimentary rocks and rock strata provides information about the subsurface that is useful for civil engineering, for example in the construction of roads, houses, tunnels, canals, or other structures."
"The particles that form a sedimentary rock are called sediment and may be composed of geological detritus (minerals) or biological detritus (organic matter)."
"The geological detritus originated from weathering and erosion of existing rocks, or from the solidification of molten lava blobs erupted by volcanoes."
"Biological detritus was formed by bodies and parts (mainly shells) of dead aquatic organisms, as well as their fecal mass, suspended in water and slowly piling up on the floor of water bodies (marine snow)."
"Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause these particles to settle in place."
"Sedimentary rocks are deposited in layers as strata, forming a structure called bedding."
"Sedimentary rocks have also been found on Mars."
"The sedimentary rock cover of the continents of the Earth's crust is extensive (73% of the Earth's current land surface)."
"Sedimentology is part of both geology and physical geography and overlaps partly with other disciplines in the Earth sciences, such as pedology, geomorphology, geochemistry, and structural geology."
"Sedimentary rocks are important sources of natural resources including coal, fossil fuels, drinking water, and ores."
"Sedimentary rock is estimated to be only 8% of the volume of the crust."
"The geological detritus is transported to the place of deposition by water, wind, ice, or mass movement."